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Precious Blood returns to the Eucharist
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July 11, 2023BROWNSVILLE — Starting on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in June, the faithful in the Diocese of Brownsville once again have permission to receive the Precious Blood of Christ as part of the Eucharist.
In a letter issued May 3 to the clergy of the diocese, Bishop Daniel E. Flores gave his assent to resume the distribution of the Precious Blood at Mass in the diocese beginning on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 11, at the discretion of the pastors. The permission to resume actually began on the evening of June 10 during that weekend’s vigil Masses.
Bishop Flores provided in his letter a rationale for the elements of Holy Communion, explaining that reception of the Eucharist is complete even without inclusion of the Precious Blood.
“We receive the whole Mystery of Christ even if we only receive one specie. We honor Christ present whole and entire, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in each of the consecrated elements of his Body and Blood. To receive from the Chalice is an efficacious reminder of his Blood poured out in the supreme act of Charity, just as receiving Christ’s Body is an effective sign that the whole of his bodily life, united to the WORD, was handed over and raised up for our salvation.”
Few parishes have so far adopted the change; one reported exception was Our Lady of Perpetual Help in McAllen, which offered the Precious Blood as part of Communion on June 11. Elsewhere, most pastors appear to be waiting or opting for a future date after more preparation. One of those is Father Greg Labus of St. Joseph Parish in Edinburg.
“Personally, I’m very grateful that (Bishop Flores) is allowing us to have the chalice again. However, I’m not going to just jump in,” Father Labus told The Valley Catholic. “Here’s an opportunity. … I’m taking this time to use it for catechesis and formation for my extraordinary ministers first, and (then) for the entire assembly.
“So, I’m looking at the first Sunday of Advent. I think that will give me plenty of time to do the catechesis and the formation, just to make sure that we’re all on the same page, that we all understand that this is not ‘I’m going to receive some wine.’ No, this is the Precious Blood of Christ, under the physical form of wine.”
Father Labus echoed Bishop Flores’ framework in his remarks.
“… The teaching (is) that you don’t have to receive both,” he said. “Now the fullness of the sign as the Second Vatican Council teaches is to receive (the Eucharist) under the Species of Bread and the Species of Wine. But you don’t have to.”
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that erupted in the spring of 2020 resulted that year in suspension of distribution of the Precious Blood during Communion in the diocese, one of the extraordinary steps Bishop Flores took at that time to minimize risk for the faithful. Since the Precious Blood is distributed by means of one or more shared chalices, Bishop Flores continued to urge caution in his May 3 letter, noting that the clergy should advise communicants not to participate if they are ill.
“Remind them also that if they feel sick in any way, they should not receive the Precious Blood,” he wrote.
With mutations of the virus, widespread vaccinations and new treatments diminishing the threat of serious illness, the World Health Organization declared an end to the pandemic emergency in early May, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared an end to the public health emergency soon after. However, officials consider the virus a continuing global health risk, and new infections still occur, although in much smaller numbers than during the height of the pandemic. “We want to be prudent always, especially in concerns of health,” Father Labus said.
