Blessed Body and Blood

Document Title

Blessed Body and Blood
Question from on 07-11-2007:
Is it appropriate to dip the blessed body into the blessed blood and given in communion? If so, where is it referenced.
Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 07-11-2007:
It is not permitted for the person receiving Holy Communion to dip the Body of Christ into the Blood of Christ. The priest or minister distributing Holy Communion may, however, give Holy Communion by intinction, that is, by the priest/minister being the one who dips the Host into the Precious Blood. In this case, Holy Communion must be received on the tongue.

The practice of self-dipping was condemned by the U.S. bishops in the document "Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of American," # 50: "The communicant ... is never allowed to self- communicate, even by means of intinction."

The permissibility of giving both the Body and Blood together by intinction is envisioned in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal #287. Again, it must be the priest or minister who intincts the Host and gives it to the person on the tongue.

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