San Jose Bishop Believes Laity "Well Instructed": Communion Under Both Kinds

Edit: the practice of Communion under both kinds was another practice which occurred both before and after the Council, appearing at first as an abuse and then as the Church wanted to relax discipline, it was permitted. Despite having a spotty pedigree going back to the Hussite heresy of Utraquism just before the Protestant Revolt got going, the Bishop of San Jose finds this a practice to encourage, and even believes that the laity is "well instructed".

Utraquism, briefly stated, means this: Man, in order to be saved, must receive Holy Communion when he wishes and where he wishes, under the forms of bread and wine (sub utraque specie). This, said the Hussite leader, is of Divine precept. For, "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you" (John 6:54).

On the contrary, most Catholics are poorly formed and many of them do not understand the Holy Eucharist at all. One study conducted by Georgetown University indicates that only 12% of Catholics actually go to Mass every Sunday, so it's difficult to see how this practice should be promoted if the Bishop is basing that on how well-educated Catholics are.

 Edit

 

“Not only permitted but also encouraged and expected”

San Jose bishop issues letter clarifying diocesan policy regarding Communion under both kinds

November 7, 2011

Dear Fathers, Deacons and Parish Liturgists,

In light of recent statements by the bishops of the Dioceses of Phoenix and Madison regarding the limited use of Holy Communion under both kinds, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify our normative practice in our own local Church.

In the Diocese of San Jose, Communion under both kinds is permitted whenever it may seem appropriate to the Priest to whom a community has been entrusted, provided that the conditions set in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 283, have been satisfied, namely:

The faithful have been well instructed;

There is no danger of profanation of the Sacrament; [That's a bold and, sorry to say, difficult statement to believe considering the way that Eucharistic "Ministers" don't seem to know what they're doing most of the time we've witnessed them.]

and

There is no danger of the rite becoming difficult because of the large number of participants or some other reason. 

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