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Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 5th

When I arrived as Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake, I was informed that some parishioners would like to return to the option of receiving the consecrated wine at weekend Mass. The practice was discontinued during the covid virus pandemic. I turned the discussion over to the Worship and Spiritual Life Commission and they recommended that the option be returned. With that, we are beginning this weekend, October 4 & 5th, with the distribution of consecrated wine.
The practice of offering the cup of consecrated wine to communicants was re-started in the wake of the Second Vatican Council which ended in 1965 but continues to guide us in many pastoral practices throughout the world in our Catholic Church. Receiving under both kinds was common up to the 12th century. The bishops of Vatican Council II believed that the fullness of Jesus’ words, “Take and eat; take and drink,” is accomplished if it is possible to make the option available. The Council of Trent taught that when we receive either the host or from the chalice, we are receiving the fullness of Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity. Receiving both species is not required to receive the fullness of the sacrament.
Besides our personal belief in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated Sacred Species, to ensure appropriate reverence it is also necessary to ensure proper distribution within the “space” of the church or chapel, as well as having enough delegated Communion Ministers. We have both at Our Lady of the Lake Parish and so returning the availability of receiving from the Cup to church goers seemed appropriate by the Worship Commission. It is a personal decision on the part of each communicant whether or not to receive. Common sense should guide us with coming to Mass on the weekend, or even during the weekday, and that is to stay home when one has a temperature, or has some cold symptoms, that should refrain us from receiving from the Cup.
In light of the recent attacks against churches, discussion has returned regarding some kind of safety plan at Our Lady of the Lake Church. The dialogue will include local law enforcement and fire safety personnel. I’ll keep you informed as we develop a plan. -Msgr. Greg