In the Catholic tradition, communion under both kinds refers to receiving the Eucharist under both the consecrated host (the Body of Christ) and the consecrated wine (the Blood of Christ). [La communion sous les deux espèces est la réception, dans l’Église catholique romaine, de l’Eucharistie sous les deux « espèces » (c’est-à-dire le pain et le vin consacrés)].

Communion under both kinds consists of receiving both kinds (the consecrated bread and wine) of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church. Christian denominations that adhere to the doctrine of communion under both kinds consider a Eucharist that does not include both bread and wine to be invalid, while others believe that the presence of bread and wine is preferable but not essential. In some traditions, the second element may be grape juice rather than wine.

Regarding the Eucharist as a sacrifice, communion under both kinds is an integral part of the integrity and essence of the rite and cannot be omitted without violating Christ’s precept: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). This is implicitly mentioned by the Council of Trent (Sessions XXI, c. 1; XXII, c. 1), and the Second Vatican Council emphasized that “the dogmatic principles established by the Council of Trent remain intact.” The General Instruction of the Roman Missal specifies that the people “should share the cup when permitted. Communion is then a clearer sign of participation in the sacrifice being celebrated.”

In the early Church, communion was generally administered and received under both kinds. Paul mentions this practice in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (11:28). However, there also existed in the early Church the custom of receiving communion under only one kind in certain cases: for example, when the faithful took home a portion of the Eucharist after Sunday services and received communion during the week, or when the Eucharist was brought to the sick.

In the 20th century, Catholic liturgical reformers began to advocate for a return to communion under both kinds, drawing on Church practice before the 13th century. The issue sparked lively debate at the Second Vatican Council, culminating in a compromise. The following text was ultimately published by the bishops: “Communion under both kinds may be granted, when the bishops deem it appropriate, not only to clerics and religious, but also to the laity, in cases determined by the Apostolic See, for example, to the newly ordained at the Mass of their ordination, to the newly professed at the Mass of their religious profession, and to the newly baptized at the Mass following their baptism.” The regular use of communion under both kinds requires the bishop’s permission, but in many countries, bishops have granted general authorization to administer Holy Communion in this way. In the United States, Notre-Dame’s study of Catholic parish life showed that in 1989, slightly less than half of the parishes surveyed offered the chalice to their faithful.

Text from French Wikipedia translated by Google.