January 22, 2023, 12:00 PM

Just before the Priest receives Holy Communion, he breaks off a small piece of the consecrated host and places it in the Chalice. Why? This liturgical action of the mixing of a particle of the Sacred Host with the Precious Blood is called commingling. The Priest says quietly, “May this commingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to those who receive it.” These words show the significance of the action and express the desire that the promise of Jesus will be fulfilled when we receive Holy Communion. Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (John 6:54). This expresses our desire that we may receive life from Him who is life itself. Historically, the commingling action came about from the practice of the local Bishop sending a small part of a host that he had consecrated to each of his Parish Churches. This signified the unity of the Bishop with all his Parishes. The Pastors commingled the small piece of the host they received from the Bishop in their own Chalices as a sign of unity. Over the centuries the original meaning of this practice was lost, and the Church discontinued this practice. Today, commingling can be seen as an image of the Resurrection since the Holy Body and Precious Blood are “reunited” in the Chalice. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 83, says that this commingling action is to “signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the Body of Jesus Christ, living and glorious.” Now you know!