For almost ten thousand years, grapes have been fermented to create wine.
From Christ’s first miracle at the Wedding at Cana to being made into the blood of the New Covenant at the Last Supper, it is no secret that wine has played an integral part in Christianity. From the earliest celebrations of the Lord’s Supper, the drink was used in celebration of the Eucharist!
However, the faithful are under no obligation to receive the Eucharist in both forms. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1390):
“Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace.”
Consequently, some may choose not receive to the Blood of Christ from the Communion chalice out of hygienic concerns. But how concerned should they really be?
The 1943 study “Survival of Bacteria on the Silver Communion Cup” investigated the potential role of the silver chalice as a vector for infectious diseases. Through a series of experiments, the researchers found that bacteria placed on the silver surface died off rapidly, with a significant reduction in numbers even under conditions mimicking actual use. They demonstrated that the transmission of bacteria from one person to another via the common use of the chalice was minimal.
Their findings also indicated that the silver chalice has a bactericidal effect and that hygienic practices such as wiping the chalice further reduce the presence of bacteria. Based on their experimental evidence, they concluded silver communion cup is unlikely to play a significant role in spreading infectious diseases during Mass!
“The evidence… indicates that bacteria swabbed on the polished surface of the silver chalice die off rapidly… in practice the silver communion cup is not an important vector of infectious disease.”
Similarly, the 2020 study “COVID-19 and Holy Communion” discussed concerns about the potential transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, through the shared communion cup. Although the theoretical risk of viral transmission exists, they said the “data do not provide any support for the suggestion that the practice of sharing a common communion cup can contribute to the spread.”
Both historical and modern studies seem to suggest that the use of a shared chalice during Communion poses minimal risk for the transmission of infectious diseases, reassuring the faithful that their participation in receiving the Blood of Christ is safe!
Photo credit: Sidney de Almeida / Shutterstock.com
