Here's a note that comes in from anonymous, actually just a moment ago, saying,

should I refrain from receiving Holy Communion?

The essence of the email, I can't fight this strong feeling that I should be receiving communion

both by eating the body and drinking the blood as Jesus commanded,

since the church teaches this as a heresy, should I refrain from receiving communion at all? Thank you.

Let's try to answer both questions. Don't refrain from receiving communion unless you're in the state

of serious sin. I can't think of any other reason why you would want to refrain from receiving

communion. It's the bread of life, obviously, and Jesus says if you eat his flesh and drink

his blood, you will live forever, and that's the Holy Eucharist. So unless you're in the state of mortal

sin, no, I don't think you should refrain from receiving Holy Communion. But let's address the underlying

issue. And here's how you put it in your email. So I'll just go with the language that you use

there. You said, should I be receiving communion by eating both eating the body and drinking the blood?

Well, here's the thing.

Please underline this in your mind.

Please emphasize this in your mind.

That in Holy Communion, in the Holy Eucharist, and in either species, a species is just a term

to refer to the host or the precious blood in the chalice. What once was bred and once was wine

with a little drop of water added to it, have now become, in the consecration, the miracle of transubstantiation,

they have become the very body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. Now, you may know this,

but for those who don't, or who might need a refresher, that's what happens at Mass. That's the

miracle of transubstantiation. And so what once was bread and once was wine is no longer bread and wine,

although the appearances in every respect physically speaking remain. So it still looks like bread

...