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LATEST NEWS U.S. Norms for Holy Communion One ancient symbol of unity and love in many cultures is the sharing of food, eating from the same plate and drinking from the same cup. St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, said "Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes". (1 Cor., 11 :26). This human symbolism reflects divine realities during the Communion Rite at Mass. For example, the U.S. norms for Holy Communion under both kinds remind us that, because of its symbolism, the preferred form by which the faithful receive the blood of Christ is to drink directly from the chalice (Girm No. 42). During the history of the church, other methods for distributing the Eucharist under both kinds have also been used. Among them is the method of "Intinction" by which the priest dips the consecrated host into the chalice and the faithful receive on the tongue (Girm. 287: Norms, No. 49). The communicant, including Extraordinary Minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of "Intinction". Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
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