especially happen in receiving the blood,
for, if incautiously handled, it might easily be spilt. And because
the multitude of the Christian people increased, in which there are
old, young, and children, some of whom have not enough discretion to
observe due caution in using this sacrament, on that account it is a
prudent custom in some churches for the blood not to be offered to
the reception of the people, but to be received by the priest alone.

Reply Obj. 1: Pope Gelasius is speaking of priests, who, as they
consecrate the entire sacrament, ought to communicate in the entire
sacrament. For, as we read in the (Twelfth) Council of Toledo, "What
kind of a sacrifice is that, wherein not even the sacrificer is known
to have a share?"

Reply Obj. 2: The perfection of this sacrament does not lie in the
use of the faithful, but in the consecration of the matter. And hence
there is nothing derogatory to the perfection of this sacrament; if
the people receive the body without the blood, provided that the
priest who consecrates receive both.

Reply Obj. 3: Our Lord's Passion is represented in the very
consecration of this sacrament, in which the body ought not to be
consecrated without the blood. But the body can be received by the
people without the blood: nor is this detrimental to the sacrament.
Because the priest both offers and consumes the blood on behalf of
all; and Christ is fully contained under either species, as was shown
above (Q. 76, A. 2).
_______________________

QUESTION 81

OF THE USE WHICH CHRIST MADE OF THIS SACRAMENT AT ITS INSTITUTION
(In Four Articles)

We have now to consider the use which Christ made of this sacrament
at its institution; under which heading there are four points of
inquiry:

(1) Whether Christ received His own body and blood?

(2) Whether He gave it to Judas?

(3) What kind of body did He receive or give, namely, was it passible
or impassible?

(4) What would have been the condition of Christ's body under this
sacrament, if it had been reserved or consecrated during the three
days He lay dead?
_______________________

FIRST ARTICLE [III, Q. 81, Art. 1]

Whether Christ Received His Own Body and Blood?

Objection 1: It seems that Christ did not receive His own body and
blood, because nothing ought to be asserted of either Christ's doings
or sayings, which is not handed down by the authority of Sacred
Scripture. But it is not narrated in the gospels that He ate His own