Germs in the Chalice?

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Currently browsing thread: Germs in the Chalice? Petersen Oct 31, 2009 05:31:35

Germs in the Chalice?
Petersen email Posted on: Oct 31, 2009 05:31:35	Does Communion Cup Runneth Over With Germs? By William Lobdell, Times Staff Writer\|January 01, 2005 http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/01/ local/me-beliefs1 Church member J.H. Brittain worried about the spread of disease caused by hundreds of parishioners drinking from the same Communion cup. The Englishman wrote to the editors of the Lancet, an international medical journal: "I venture to think that there is a strong prima facie case against the use of one cup, but the task of the hygienic innovator would be made much easier if he could cite actual example of contagion." Brittain wrote the letter in 1903, and a century later, no evidence has surfaced proving what so many churchgoers intuitively fear: that the Communion chalice contains more than wine. They suspect that the cup, used by scores of fellow worshippers during a service, teems with germs that could cause colds, the flu or worse. "People who sip from the Communion cup don't get sick more often than anyone else," said Anne LaGrange Loving, a New Jersey microbiologist who has conducted one of the few studies on the subject. "It isn't any riskier than standing in line at the movies." Traditional worry over illness-producing microbes lurking in the Communion cup had been heightened because of an earlier national shortage of flu shots. From Boston to Seattle, congregants within denominations that use a common cup have been urged in church bulletins and from the pulpit not to take a sip if they are sick. Some have gone further. Priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vt., have been ordered by their bishop to stop offering the Communion cup until the spring. The Archdiocese of San Francisco took similar measures during a flu outbreak. In California, it appears there has been no formal declaration from any denomination to refrain from taking a drink from the Communion cup. However, many local church leaders, like those with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, have offered common-sense suggestions to reduce the chance of infections. Those include having their ministers wash their hands thoroughly before Communion, wipe the chalice rim thoroughly after each sip, and wash the cup with soap and hot water after each service. A written statement by the Los Angeles archdiocese also asked those in church "to be considerate of others and not drink from the chalice when sick." For Christians, whether to sip from the cup is no small decision. The act of Communion, in which worshipers eat a piece of bread or wafer and drink wine or, in some cases, grape juice, replicates the Last Supper. According to Gospel accounts, on the night before his Crucifixion, Jesus instructed his disciples to remember his imminent sacrifice by bread, which represented his broken body, and wine, which symbolized his spilled blood. Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans are among the denominations that use a single Communion cup. Others, including Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and many evangelical congregations, pass out individual or disposable mini-cups. Concerns about catching a disease date to the 19th century and have spiked during epidemics, whether diphtheria and tuberculosis in the late 1800s, polio in the first half of the 20th century or AIDS in the 1980s. The Very Rev. Peter D. Haynes, rector of St. Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Parish Church in Corona del Mar, said he brought in infectious-disease specialists in the late 1990s to soothe his congregants' worries over catching the AIDS virus from the Communion cup. "One doctor said, 'The number of bugs you can get from a Communion cup don't have a prayer,' " Haynes recalled. "The chances of getting sick are less than talking after the [service] with someone who has a cold." Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said inquiries about Communion cup dangers have been small but steady over the years. "Theoretically, there's a risk," spokeswoman Bonnie Hebert said. "But the risk is so small it's probably undetectable." Loving, the microbiologist, said the risk of infection is reduced because the chalice is wiped after each sip, the alcohol in the wine can kill germs and, unlike ceramic cups, the silver and gold used in most chalices don't harbor microbes. "There is a difference sipping from a Communion cup and sipping a cup of coffee that someone left on the curb," she said. Loving, a community college professor and Episcopalian, decided to undertake in 1995 the first of two studies because "I'm a microbiologist and attend church. I had some concerns about what goes on at the Communion rail." Her first study, conducted in a laboratory, investigated whether germs were transferred to the wine during intinction, or the dipping of the bread or wafer into the wine that's done in some churches. Participants were asked not to wash their hands before the tests and to shake hands with two to 10 others in the study, as they would during a service's "passing of the peace." Loving found some bacteria had been transferred to the wine and that the microbes would then be absorbed by the bread. But next she wanted to find out whether illnesses were caused by Communion. In 1997, she surveyed 681 people in New Jersey over a 10-week period and found no difference in illness rates among those who attended church and received Communion, those who attended church and didn't receive Communion, and those who never attended church. "This even held true for the participants who attended church and received the sacraments every single day during the 10 weeks," she wrote. Some in the pews take a practical approach to sipping from the Communion cup. If Oralie Enos, 75, hears a lot of coughing and sniffling, she will pass on the wine and receive only the wafer, a practice the Catholic Church believes completes the rite. "It's not something I worry about," said the Orange resident. "People have been receiving the cup for so many years, and you never hear of any problems." Many who take Communion believe science and God are at work to prevent disease. Renate Goutier, 48 of Huntington Beach, says that as a mother of four, she has plenty of experience with how germs are spread and doesn't worry much about drinking from the Communion cup. In addition, she believes she has extra protection. As a Catholic, she believes that during Communion, she receives the actual body and blood of her savior. "On a spiritual level, this is Jesus Christ I'm receiving." HT: Jottings and Such by Julie Stiegemeyer

Germs in the Chalice?

Petersen
email
Posted on:
Oct 31, 2009 05:31:35

Does Communion Cup Runneth Over With Germs?
By William Lobdell, Times Staff Writer|January 01, 2005
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/01/ local/me-beliefs1

Church member J.H. Brittain worried about the spread of disease caused by hundreds of parishioners drinking from the same Communion cup.

The Englishman wrote to the editors of the Lancet, an international medical journal: "I venture to think that there is a strong prima facie case against the use of one cup, but the task of the hygienic innovator would be made much easier if he could cite actual example of contagion."

Brittain wrote the letter in 1903, and a century later, no evidence has surfaced proving what so many churchgoers intuitively fear: that the Communion chalice contains more than wine. They suspect that the cup, used by scores of fellow worshippers during a service, teems with germs that could cause colds, the flu or worse.

"People who sip from the Communion cup don't get sick more often than anyone else," said Anne LaGrange Loving, a New Jersey microbiologist who has conducted one of the few studies on the subject. "It isn't any riskier than standing in line at the movies."

Traditional worry over illness-producing microbes lurking in the Communion cup had been heightened because of an earlier national shortage of flu shots. From Boston to Seattle, congregants within denominations that use a common cup have been urged in church bulletins and from the pulpit not to take a sip if they are sick.

Some have gone further. Priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vt., have been ordered by their bishop to stop offering the Communion cup until the spring. The Archdiocese of San Francisco took similar measures during a flu outbreak.

In California, it appears there has been no formal declaration from any denomination to refrain from taking a drink from the Communion cup.

However, many local church leaders, like those with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, have offered common-sense suggestions to reduce the chance of infections.

Those include having their ministers wash their hands thoroughly before Communion, wipe the chalice rim thoroughly after each sip, and wash the cup with soap and hot water after each service.
A written statement by the Los Angeles archdiocese also asked those in church "to be considerate of others and not drink from the chalice when sick."

For Christians, whether to sip from the cup is no small decision. The act of Communion, in which worshipers eat a piece of bread or wafer and drink wine or, in some cases, grape juice, replicates the Last Supper.

According to Gospel accounts, on the night before his Crucifixion, Jesus instructed his disciples to remember his imminent sacrifice by bread, which represented his broken body, and wine, which symbolized his spilled blood.

Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans are among the denominations that use a single Communion cup. Others, including Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and many evangelical congregations, pass out individual or disposable mini-cups.

Concerns about catching a disease date to the 19th century and have spiked during epidemics, whether diphtheria and tuberculosis in the late 1800s, polio in the first half of the 20th century or AIDS in the 1980s.

The Very Rev. Peter D. Haynes, rector of St. Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Parish Church in Corona del Mar, said he brought in infectious-disease specialists in the late 1990s to soothe his congregants' worries over catching the AIDS virus from the Communion cup.

"One doctor said, 'The number of bugs you can get from a Communion cup don't have a prayer,' " Haynes recalled. "The chances of getting sick are less than talking after the [service] with someone who has a cold."

Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said inquiries about Communion cup dangers have been small but steady over the years.

"Theoretically, there's a risk," spokeswoman Bonnie Hebert said. "But the risk is so small it's probably undetectable."

Loving, the microbiologist, said the risk of infection is reduced because the chalice is wiped after each sip, the alcohol in the wine can kill germs and, unlike ceramic cups, the silver and gold used in most chalices don't harbor microbes.

"There is a difference sipping from a Communion cup and sipping a cup of coffee that someone left on the curb," she said.

Loving, a community college professor and Episcopalian, decided to undertake in 1995 the first of two studies because "I'm a microbiologist and attend church. I had some concerns about what goes on at the Communion rail."

Her first study, conducted in a laboratory, investigated whether germs were transferred to the wine during intinction, or the dipping of the bread or wafer into the wine that's done in some churches.
Participants were asked not to wash their hands before the tests and to shake hands with two to 10 others in the study, as they would during a service's "passing of the peace."

Loving found some bacteria had been transferred to the wine and that the microbes would then be absorbed by the bread.

But next she wanted to find out whether illnesses were caused by Communion. In 1997, she surveyed 681 people in New Jersey over a 10-week period and found no difference in illness rates among those who attended church and received Communion, those who attended church and didn't receive Communion, and those who never attended church.

"This even held true for the participants who attended church and received the sacraments every single day during the 10 weeks," she wrote.

Some in the pews take a practical approach to sipping from the Communion cup. If Oralie Enos, 75, hears a lot of coughing and sniffling, she will pass on the wine and receive only the wafer, a practice the Catholic Church believes completes the rite.

"It's not something I worry about," said the Orange resident. "People have been receiving the cup for so many years, and you never hear of any problems."

Many who take Communion believe science and God are at work to prevent disease.

Renate Goutier, 48 of Huntington Beach, says that as a mother of four, she has plenty of experience with how germs are spread and doesn't worry much about drinking from the Communion cup. In addition, she believes she has extra protection. As a Catholic, she believes that during Communion, she receives the actual body and blood of her savior.

"On a spiritual level, this is Jesus Christ I'm receiving."

HT: Jottings and Such by Julie Stiegemeyer

Comments...

Nov 10, 2009 14:47:54 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Carl Vehse
William Lobdell: "Loving, the microbiologist, said the risk of infection is reduced because the chalice is wiped after each sip, the alcohol in the wine can kill germs and, unlike ceramic cups, the silver and gold used in most chalices don't harbor microbes"

In a previous paper, "The Effects of Receiving Holy Communion on Health," (Anne Lagrange Loving, Lisa F. Wolf; Journal of Environmental Health, Vol. 60, 1997), Loving had stated:

"Wine in the chalice has been tested in both church and laboratory settings (16,20,22-24). Chalice rims have been tested for bacteria after people have sipped (12, 22, 24), as have the purificator cloths that are used to wipe chalice rims between sips (12, 26). The heavy metals used to make most chalices have been tested for antibacterial activity, as have glass and pottery (20, 26, 29). Wafers have been tested for sterility and for their ability to transfer microbes when dipped in wine (9, 27). Without exception, every one of these studies has drawn the same conclusion: Some bacteria do survive in the wine, on the chalice rim, or on a wine-soaked wafer significantly longer than the time that normally elapses between one parishioner's participation and the next. The potential for spread of infection during this religious ritual does exist."

Noted references:
9. Marty, M.E. (1992), "Intinct, I Think," Christian Century, 103:79.
12. Page, C.G. (June 27, 1925), "The Common Cup," The Churchman, p.13.
16. Anders, H.S. (April 3, 1897), "Infection by Common Cups," Public Health, p.662.
20. Forbes, C. (March 7,1894), "Presentation to a Joint Meeting of the Session and Trustees of the Central Presbyterian Church of Rochester, N.Y."
22. Gill, O.N. (1988), "The Hazard of Infection from the Shared Communion Cup," J. Infect, 16:3-23.
23. Godfrey, W.H. (1939), "Communion Cup and Bacteria," JAMA, 112:2555.
24. Gregory, K.F., J.A. Carpenter, and G.C. Bending (1967), "Infection Hazards of the Common Communion Cup," Can. J. Public Health, 58:305310.
26. Hobbs, B.C., J.A. Knowlden, and A. White (1967), "Experiments on the Communion Cup," J. Hyg. (Camb), 65:37-48.
27. Loving, A.L. (1995), "A Controlled Study on Intinction: A Safer Alternative Method for Receiving Holy Communion," J. Envtl. Health, 58:24-28.
29. Burrows, W., and E.S. Hemmens (1943), "Survival of Bacteria on the Silver Communion Cup," J. Infect. Dis., 73:180-190.
Nov 10, 2009 09:31:08 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Pr. Tom Fast
Go talk to one of those folks who go around testing grocery stores and restaurants for contamination and the like. I've got some folk in my congregation who do that. If you really want to worry about catching something while you eat, you best avoid going out to eat and eat from your own garden. I'm just sayin' Let's not strain out the gnats and swallow the microbes. Haha!
Nov 09, 2009 09:54:16 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Peter
I'm all for the Common Cup, but if it becomes a source of division, what's the point?
- Nov 09, 2009 11:01:00 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Erich Heidenreich DDS
  That is an excellent point.
Nov 09, 2009 09:30:51 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Charles Wiese
You are much more likely to die from Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Chronic Lower Respirtatory Diseases, Unintentional Injuries, Diabetes, or Alzheimer's than you are any form of Pneumonia or Flu. My guess is that more people die from strokes because they are worried about H1N1 than the flu itself. I've seen studies that say you are more likely to contract the flu from conversations after church than from the chalice. There are also dangers with people having to handle the individual cups and spreading germs that way. I think a better solution would be to advise people who are concerned about getting sick to seat themselves in a place where they will be among the first to go up for communion and vice versa for those concerned about infecting others.
- Nov 09, 2009 10:59:37 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Erich Heidenreich DDS
  Mr. Wiese, you wrote: "I've seen studies that say you are more likely to contract the flu from conversations after church than from the chalice."
  
  Please post references for these studies you say you have seen. To my knowledge, no such study has ever been conducted or published. Opinions to that effect exist, but opinions vary widely. The same goes for your comment about the "dangers" of individual cups.
  
  As for the various risks of morbidity and mortality from various causes, risks vary according to individual factors. And, as I have noted below, some risks are avoidable while others are not. Risk management is a fascinating science.
Nov 08, 2009 17:46:07 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Josh Osbun
If anyone thinks that there is anything to worry about with the "pandemic" of swine flu that is so obviously destroying our world (and apparently our Communion practices), check out this article from the WHO. Here are some key excerpts:

"You will not be able to tell the difference between seasonal flu and influenza A(H1N1) without medical help. Typical symptoms to watch for are similar to seasonal viruses and include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose. Only your medical practitioner and local health authority can confirm a case of influenza A(H1N1)."

and

"If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough or sore throat:

* stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds;
* rest and take plenty of fluids;"

So basically, if you contract H1N1, congratulations: you have the flu. And certainly no one has EVER survived having the flu.

But the point is that if you do happen to contract H1N1, you probably didn't get it from the chalice. After all, "no evidence has surfaced" that anyone ever got sick from drinking from the chalice.

Furthermore, "pandemic" is such a sensational word. Essentially, all it means is that a certain disease has been discovered in different parts of the world.

HOLY COW!!! THEY FOUND FLU ALL OVER THE WORLD!!! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!

But did you know that the WHO changed the definition of "pandemic" prior to classifying H1N1 as a pandemic? It's all right here.

Here's a quote from this article:

"That’s because the definition of pandemic has changed on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website since May 2009. The earlier version defines pandemic as: 'An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity, resulting in epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness.' In the lookalike document that currently appears on the WHO Web site, the definition of pandemic has changed to: 'A disease epidemic occurs when there are more cases of that disease than normal. A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic of a disease. An influenza pandemic may occur when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity.'"

Oh, look at that. The phrase, "enormous numbers of deaths and illness" is gone in the new definition. How convenient.

As of November 1, 2009 in the United States there were 4,399 deaths attributed to H1N1. Seasonal flu typically kills 30,000-50,000 annually. So you can see how severely H1N1 is hitting us. That is to say, it is approximately 90% less lethal than your typical flu.

Bottom line, if you want to be fanatical go right ahead and use THE INDIVIDUAL CUP THAT HAS BEEN MANHANDLED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY DIDN'T WASH THEIR HANDS AHEAD OF TIME. Fine. Whatever. I don't care. If it really floats your boat, you can even pretend like you're loving your neighbor better than I am or holding to a certain commandment better than I am.

Incidentally, have you ever stopped to wonder how many people touched:
- the door handle that you're grabbing on the way into church;
- the hymnal that you're holding during the service;
- the chancel rail that you're using to support yourself as you kneel; or
- the pastor's hand that you're shaking as you leave church?

But no, by all means. Bash the chalice. Because THAT'S where you're going to get sick.
- Nov 09, 2009 09:18:01 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Erich Heidenreich DDS
  Mr. Osbun,
  
  I am very sorry to have upset you.
  
  My intent was not in any sense to "bash the chalice." I am sorry if my words did not come across as intended. It does appear from your sarcastic language, however, that it is your intent to "bash" those of us who use individual cups, making out that we are somehow uninformed or scientifically illiterate. My professional knowledge of infectious disease and modes of transmission is quite complete. And, yes, I have considered all the other modes of transmission you mention. As I stated below, "there are many other efficient ways one can catch diseases. Some of them are avoidable, some are not."
  
  My only intent was to correct the false and misleading information contained in the above story.
  
  Your comparison of H1N1 to seasonal influenza is also misleading. The H1N1 virus is proving to be much more lethal to young people than the typical seasonal influenza. Seasonal influenza typically kills elderly people who are already nearing death's door. In total years of life lost, this pandemic will dwarf any seasonal flu outbreak.
  
  Don't believe everything you read from the WHO or CDC. These are unfortunately political organizations more than scientific think tanks, and there is too much we still don't know about this current disease outbreak. The real cost of this pandemic will only be seen in hindsight. In addition I will point out that those with certain conditions such as asthma (three of my seven children and myself), are at a much higher risk of serious complications from this new virus.
  
  Perhaps this is all too distant from those who have not had any experience with it. We have had local people in our small town who have died from this virus, and there are more who are currently fighting for their lives on respirators. We live in a county in Michigan that has been extremely hard hit by this outbreak, and the cost is very painful to those who have had to experience the loss of loved ones.
  
  Please forgive those of us who are inclined to take whatever precautions we feel are practicable to reduce the risk to our families. We are not doing so out of naïveté, nor should my words be seen as "bashing the chalice." As I stated below, "I agree that the common chalice is a wonderful symbolic tradition, just as Scripture teaches that breaking bread from a common loaf symbolizes our unity in Christ."
  
  Please forgive me for any offense I have caused you or others.
  
  Erich Heidenreich, DDS
Nov 08, 2009 06:59:19 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Erich Heidenreich DDS
Were we not in the middle of a dangerous influenza pandemic, I would refrain from commenting. I regret to tell you that this story is full of half-truths and misinformation.

For instance, the "microbiologist" in this story is credited with holding that "the alcohol in the wine can kill germs." Apparently this microbiologist doesn't know much about the science of disinfection. Standards for surface disinfection indicate that it takes 10 minutes for a solution of 79% ethanol to adequately disinfect environmental surfaces. Fortified wine doesn't have anywhere near that high of an ethanol content. And, even if it did, there isn't even a 10 second lapse of time between communicants, let alone 10 minutes. If all I did was wipe my dental tools with fortified wine 10 seconds before treating the next patient with them, I would be knowingly exposing that patient to pathogenic levels of microbes, the dental board would suspend my license to practice dentistry, and patients could rightfully sue me.

Furthermore, if the woman quoted from the CDC really thinks that "the risk is so small that it is undetectable", why does the same CDC statement she is referring to recommend that "churches may wish to consider advising their congregations that sharing the communion cup is discouraged if a person has an active respiratory infection (i.e., cold or flu) or moist or open sores on their lips (e.g., herpes)." This strange and often-quoted "undetectable risk" statement from the CDC is taken out of context from a letter that also states:

"Experimental studies have shown that bacteria and viruses can contaminate a common communion cup and survive despite the alcohol content of the wine. Therefore, an ill person or asymptomatic carrier drinking from the common cup could potentially expose other members of the congregation to pathogens present in saliva."

Don't even get me started on myths about the antimicrobial nature of "silver cups", the efficacy of "purificator cloths," etc., etc.

I will agree, however, that there are many other efficient ways one can catch diseases. Some of them are avoidable, some are not.

God does not give us any promise that we are somehow supernaturally protected from disease transmission at the communion rail, and sound microbiological science clearly teaches against the use of common drinking vessels. I have no problem with those who feel the common cup is the only proper way to receive the blood of Christ. I agree that the common chalice is a wonderful symbolic tradition, just as Scripture teaches that breaking bread from a common loaf symbolizes our unity in Christ. I do have a problem, however, with those who accuse or imply that those of us who prefer individual cups are being "fearful", are scientifically uninformed, or are not taking the Sacrament faithfully.

When I wear a mask and gloves to treat patients, sterilize my instruments properly, and wipe all environmental surfaces down with disinfectant at least 10 minutes prior to treating the next patient, I do not do these things out of fear. I do them out of love for my neighbor and in accordance with the Fifth Commandment. The same is true regarding my use of individual cups.

Peace and blessings to you,

Erich Heidenreich, DDS
Nov 07, 2009 22:44:58 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Mike Miller
Amen. And, I believe, Christians (and all Americans) need to learn to work the other end of the equation -- the immune system -- by improving their nutrition and lifestyle. Without making light of valid concerns, that's also my response to the swine flu hysteria.
Nov 04, 2009 16:05:11 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Jason Thompson
So here's what science tells us about our communion practices: Chalice is better than individual cups; passing the peace is not a good practice. I can live with that.
- Nov 05, 2009 07:31:32 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Jane
  Yep, Jason. I was thinking exactly the same thing.
Nov 03, 2009 14:59:11 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Pr. Tom Fast
I've had some elderly folks trip and be physically harmed on their way down the chancel steps. So it is clearly possible to be harmed as you receive the Body and Blood of Christ----not by the Body and Blood of Christ, which is pure Healing and Life---but by other things also present. Of course the best news is that though I may be injured by what is present as I receive the Blood, whatever injuries are incurred will ultimately be overcome by the Blood anyway. Yet it is nice to hear that science has concluded there aren't enough germs on the chalice to be much of a threat. Good news and helpful for our parishioners. Thanks for making the article available.
Nov 03, 2009 13:37:49 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Josh Osbun
I gave this article to my Pastoral Theology 2 professor, and we talked about it as a class today. One of my classmates said that he recently saw a Roman Catholic priest on one of the news talk shows who said that the whole usage of the common cup is nothing but an American innovation and we should return to the historic practice of individual cups, especially in light of the potential of contracting some disease.

Apparently you don't really have to know any theology in order to be a part of the R.C.C. just so long as you submit to the pope.

But I guess we've known that for about 500 years now.
Oct 31, 2009 11:09:34 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Esget
Love it. *Still* no evidence.
Oct 31, 2009 08:11:44 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Brian Westgate
The Church sings: "No poison can be in the Cup, which my Physician sends me."
Oct 31, 2009 07:00:11 Re: Germs in the Chalice? - Osbun
Without commenting on some of the theology in the article, it is nice to read that scientists who have considered the situation seem in agreement that the chalice will not cause one to become ill.
To fear that one can be physically harmed through faithful reception of the Body and Blood of Christ is simply beyond me. Nevertheless, thank you for attempting to reassure all of us in this matter.
I especially liked the comment from the 1903 issue of The Lancet.
Pax

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