ely in the hands of the
recipient, and not merely offered to be accepted with the fingers.

The words 'meekly kneeling' in this rubric exclude prostration,
which is not kneeling.

The expression 'to anyone,' coupled with the use of the singular
number in the address to the recipient, obliges the Priest to repeat
the words of administration in delivering the Sacrament to each
communicant separately.

The rubric is not clear on the point, whether the Priest should
give the Sacrament of the Body as soon as he has pronounced the
words 'The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ,' (when the communicant
may be supposed to have made an act of faith in the mystery of the
Sacrament,) or whether he should give it at the end of the whole of
the first sentence of administration, as he says the word 'Take.'
At all events, he should not wait until he has completed the second
sentence.

The words of administration should be distinctly pronounced, so as
to be audible to the communicant. See note e, p. 28.

125. And the Minister that delivereth the Cup to any one shall say,
The Blood, &c.

Although the word 'Minister' is used for priest in the preceding
rubric and elsewhere, yet in this place it implies an important
distinction between a Priest and a Deacon, the latter being forbidden
by ancient Canons of the Church to deliver the Bread. And when it
is declared in the Ordination of Deacons that it appertaineth to
the office of a Deacon to help the Priest in the distribution of
the Holy Communion, this help must be confined to the distribution
of the Wine.

The rubric for the delivery of the species of Bread (directing it
to be given into the hands of the communicants), seems to govern
generally the administration of the Cup, though the words 'into
their hands' do not occur in this rubric. Thus, the omission of
these words leaves it open to the discretion of the Minister to
retain his hold of the Cup while the communicant uses his hands for
the purpose of guiding it. But in no case should the communicant
abstain from using the hands at all, unless absolutely disabled
from doing so.

It is to be noted that the directions of the rubrics on the subject
of the administration of the Sacrament, are intended for the
guidance of the Priest. No similar details are specified for the
acts of the communicants. Hence the celebrant will use a wise
discretion in not enforcing exact uniformity in the mode of reception
adopted by individuals, provide