The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""344 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.whether administered in one or both forms, thefaithful gain nothing by receiving under both kinds,and lose nothing by receiving under one form. Consequently, we nowhere find our Saviour requiringthe communion to be administered to the faithfulunder both forms ;but He has left this maltei tobe regulated by the wisdom and discretion of theChurch, as He has done with regard to the mannerof administering Baptism.Our Redeemer, it is true, has said : Drink yeall of this." But it should be remembered thatthese words were addressed not to the people atlarge, but only to the Apostles, who alone were alsocommanded, on the same occasion, to consecrate Hisbody and blood in remembrance of Him. Now wehave no more right to infer that the faithful areobliged to drink of the cup, because the Apostleswere commanded to drink of it, than we have tosuppose that the laity are required or allowed toconsecrate the bread and wine, because the powerof doing so was at the last Supper conferred on theApostles.It is also true that our Lord said to the people:Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, anddrink His blood, ye shall not have life in you."Butthis command is literally fulfilled by the laity whenthey partake of the consecrated bread, which, as wehave seen, contains Christ the Lord in all His integrity. Hence, if our Saviour has said "Whoso:eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath ever-