Why are we doing this? And is it safe?
By Fr Steve Lake
First, let me address why?
The short answer to the 'why?'-question is that it is an historic practice with symbolic theological significance that dates back, at least, to Jesus and the Last Supper...but more likely, all the way back to the first Passover meal in Egypt. No joke.
As St Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17:
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
The word 'cup' in the original Greek (as well as English translation) is singular. Why? Because in communion we are united as one body with Jesus Christ our LORD in His self-sacrificial suffering and death. His body singular is broken for us. His blood is poured out for us from a singular source. And we who partake are one body. So it is theologically and symbolically rich and meaningful.
Paul's practice in Corinth was in keeping both with the LORD Himself passing a single cup about the table at the Last Supper and in the prior practice of devout Jews at the Passover Seder.
Then, following the apostolic practice, we find credible evidence through the church fathers that a common cup was the normative practice...to where, by the time of the English Reformation, in Cranmer's first Book of Common Prayer (1549), a common cup was prescribed...all the way up to today.
Suffice to say, it has an ancient and rich history.
And in keeping with that history: the common cup was the only mode of service at Church of the Resurrection up until the COVID-19 pandemic. We used to do it. Exclusively. So we want to return to our prior practice. (But as I announced on Sunday, we will for a transitional season also still offer the tiny individual cups.)
The skeptical still might ask: Is it safe?
I am convinced it is.
Here are 5 good reasons why:
First, the alcohol in communion wine can kill off many (if not all) pathogens. Our wine has 18% alcohol. FYI: that's pretty strong!
Second, our communion chalice is gold plated (like most). Gold or silver both have anti-microbial properties. Some (if not all) germs bite the dust upon landing!
Third, we use a clean white linen called a purificator to wipe off the surface after each person drinks, then we turn it a quarter turn. Studies indicate that using a purificator reduces the presence of germs by up to 90%. That revolving quarter turn also helps.
Fourth: past experience.
When Church of the Resurrection did it before, we had no known outbreaks of contagious illness. We did it--and we lived to tell!
Frankly, that has also been my experience (Fr. Steve's) in over 3 decades within the Anglican church and nearly 15 as a priest. It is a priestly practice to consume the remaining wine all the way down to the dregs!
Now, perhaps that is also due to parishioners being responsible, and opting out of the common cup if they have any reason to believe they are sick or contagious.
Indeed, let me urge you: please do opt out of the common cup if you are ill or might be contagious! Just for that week. Even communion in one kind--the bread alone--is still valid communion.
Finally, here's a look at the science.
Numerous epidemiological studies have asked this question--and come back in the negative (especially since the COVID-19 pandemic).
For instance, this study from the National Institutes of Health surveys the scientific evidence. Here's a key quote:
Loving and Wolf, in a prospective study with 681 participants, showed that there was no significant health difference between individuals who received Holy Communion as often as daily and those who did not attend Christian services at all. Based on these findings, in 1998 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there had never been an outbreak of infection related to the communion cup and that a theoretical risk of transmitting infectious diseases by using a common communion cup exists, but that the risk is so small that it is undetectable.
They also point out that another study, focusing on Catholic priests who (like Anglican priests), usually consume what remains in the cup all the way down to the dregs have never shown a greater risk for contagious illness.
Here is another study of the evidence regarding the common cup and COVID-19. The author refers to a study in the Anglican Church of Canada during the 1980s conducted during the height of the HIV pandemic. Even then, there was no evidence of parishioners contracting HIV or other illnesses through the common cup.
Another study shows that any germs which might remain do not appear to be enough to infect someone who drinks after them.
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