Expert: Sal - 10/3/2006

Question
Hi sal,

 I have a question I was curious on doing your own communion at home can you? Can you take regular bread and make it a symbol of christ and can you use grape juice as well for the blood of christ? I want to do my own communion at hom with my family and on the holidays too. As a catholic I was wondering if Jesus excepts that? An will that make him pleased. An is my bloodline from the Tribe of Gad or Joseph I am puerto rican and 85% of the culture is catholic and the other half is Christian. Were spanish yes, but most like native indian can you help?

Yours truely
Jacqueline

Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

Communion can be done at home, but it is not advisable. You cannot use regular bread and grape juice or you will only have bread and grape juice. You must use unleavened bread and wine. These things must first be consecrated by a priest before they can be used for communion. Then they will become the Body and Blood of Christ not a mere symbol. Most priests will not allow communion in the home on a regular basis especially if they are not present. There is too many chances for the Body and Blood to be unintentionally mistreated. Such as dropping pieces of the host or spilling the wine.   

I do not know what bloodline you may be from. However, it is extremely unlikely that you are from Gad or Joseph. You are probably not part of any Jewish line.

God Bless,
Sal