Ritual Conformity / Interpretations of the Rubrics of the Prayer-Book Agreed Upon by a Conference Held at All Saints, Margaret-street, 1880-1881

by Unknown

THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

260. Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life; therefore, to the intent they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infectious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publickly administered in the Church; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same.

261. But if the sick person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house: then he must give timely notice to the Curate, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him, (which shall be three, or two at the least,) and having a convenient place in the sick man's house, with all things necessary so prepared, that the Curate may reverently minister, he shall there celebrate the holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, here following.

The opening direction of this rubric evidently contemplates regular and frequent opportunities of access to the public administration of the Holy Communion in church, such as would suffice for times of great danger and distress; and therefore implies frequent celebrations as a permanent system. Otherwise, it would be mere hypocrisy to exhort men to the often receiving thereof, and that, not only in time of pestilence, &c., but generally and habitually. A special order for those not able to come to church was unknown in the Church until 1549. Previously to that date no provision was made for their case, except by the reservation of some of the Blessed Sacrament from the open Communion in the church, and its conveyance to them afterwards; and in the Book of 1549, the order was introduced for use on such days as there was no open Communion in church. The word 'reverently' may be best satisfied by as near an approximation to the ceremonial of the open Communion in the church as can be attained, in regard of the ornaments of the Church and Minister. In addition to the usual vessels for the celebration of the Holy Communion, the Minister will do well to provide himself with a spoon, for the administration of the species of Wine to very feeble persons.

Cases will occur where the difficulty of swallowing even very small quantities of either the Bread or the Wine is almost insuperable. Administration in both kinds may, in some of these cases, be still attained by placing a minute particle of the Bread in the spoon with some of the Wine, or conversely by touching the Wine in the cup with the corner of the piece of Bread which is to be given to the sick person.

In cases of long infirmity, as of bedridden people without acute illness, the analogy of the Office of Private Baptism would seem to hold good, and to admit of the introduction of the other parts of the Order of Holy Communion, besides those appointed for the Communion of the Sick.

262. After which the Priest shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the holy Communion, beginning at these words [Ye that do truly &c.]

263. At the time of the distribution of the holy Sacrament, the Priest shall first receive the Communion himself, and after minister unto them that are appointed to communicate with the sick, and last of all to the sick person.

264. But if a man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or for lack of company to receive with him, or by any other just impediment, do not receive the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood, the Curate shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefore, he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his Soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth.

The instruction ordered to be given to the sick man, under certain circumstances, of unavoidable impediment to his receiving the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood 'that he nevertheless doth eat and drink Christ's Body and Blood,' must be understood to mean that physical incapacity to eat and drink does not cut off the sick man from the benefits of Holy Communion. But this rubric does not justify any wilful or habitual neglect of receiving the Sacrament itself.

265. When the sick person is visited, and receiveth the holy Communion all at one time, then the Priest, for more expedition, shall cut off the form of the Visitation at the Psalm [In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, &c.] and go straight to the Communion.

266. In the time of the Plague, Sweat, or such other like contagious times of sickness or diseases, when none of the Parish or neighbours can be gotten to communicate with the sick in their houses, for fear of the infection, upon special request of the diseased, the Minister may only communicate with him.