ADVICE CONCERNING THE CHALICE (Anglican Church of Canada)

Were there any significant risk to the eucharistic practices of the Anglican church for so many centuries it would seem likely that insurance actuarial tables would reflect an increased risk for Anglican priests, who have been performing the ablutions for centuries. In fact the opposite is true.

Nevertheless, eucharistic ministers should be instructed in the proper way to wipe the chalice between communicants. Some procedures that are helpful include: (1) wiping the chalice on the inside of the rim as well as on the outside with an vertical movement, (2) opening the purificator to its full size so that a clean part is used for each communicant and (3) wiping the chalice so that the next communicant does not drink out of the same place on the cup. Similarly, chalices should be washed with soap and water following each Eucharistic liturgy.       It must be pointed out that while the relative risk is low, it is not impossible that infection could be transmitted. This is particularly true of communicants with low resistance to infection, i.e. cancer patients on immunosuppressant therapy, and persons with AIDS.

Intinction
Intinction (dipping the host in the wine) is in use in many (churches). There is, however, real concern that many of the modes of intinction used in parishes do not diminish the threat of infection, and some may actually increase it. Hands, children’s and adult’s, are at least as likely to be a source of infection (often more so) as lips. Retention of the wafer in the hand of the recipient then intincting it means that the wafer, now contaminated by the hand of the recipient, is placed in the wine, thus spreading the infection to it. The use of an intinction chalice would make no difference in this instance.

If a priest retains the wafer, intincts it, and places it on the tongue of the communicant there is the possibility of his/her hand coming in contact with the tongue, and thereafter spreading the contamination. Meticulous technique would avoid this however, and it would seem better to trust in the technique of one individual (the priest) than in the individual techniques of the communicants should they do the intinction themselves. Therefore, this is the only method of intinction permitted in Roman Catholic parishes.(8) A separate chalice used only for intinction by the priest would be effective in this instance. For parishes using communion “stations”, the priest might intinct wafers at one, while others administer the elements in the customary fashion at another.

Hands are at least as likely to be a source of infection (often more so) as are lips.

However, the fact that the fullness of grace is received through either the Host or Precious Blood means that IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF RECEIVING FROM THE CHALICE YOU SHOULD RECEIVE ONLY THE HOST. Christ is not divided!