Episcopal Language EPISCOPAL LANGUAGE • General Terms • Titles • Worship • Seasons, Feasts & Holy Days • Items Used in Worship • Clothing & Vestments • Architecture • Spirituality Worship   A | B | C | D | E |F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z   R • Real Presence • Receiving Holy Communion • Reconciliation of a Penitent • Requiem/Funeral • Reverence • Rite I • Rite II • Rubric Real Presence: Episcopalians, like the vast majority of Christians, believe in the real presence of Christ in the sacrament of His Body and Blood. Although a great mystery, Episcopalians (and Anglicans) have always declined to try to explain the mystery.    Some denominations, since the Reformation, have subscribed to the Thomist doctrine of transubstantiation (that the substance of the bread and wine are changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ, while the appearances remain unchanged). Others subscribe to the doctrine of consubstaniation (that the Body and Blood of Christ enter into the bread and wine).    Some Protestant denominations deny the real Presence, regarding it as merely symbolical. Receiving Holy Communion: The most ancient way to receive the host (bread) is to hold one's left hand at the height of the shoulder and place the right hand on it, palms up. The clergy put the host on the palm of the right hand and the person uses both hands to convey it to their mouth.    To receive the wine, one touches the base of the chalice to help the chalice bearer guide the chalice to their mouth. When one wants the host dipped (intincted) into the wine, one continues to hold the host on the palm of their hand and the chalice bearer takes it off the hand of the one receiving communion, dips it into the wine, and places it on that person's tongue or lips. It is very unsanitary to have those receiving communion to dip their host into the wine, because no one knows how clean people's hands are.    Holy Communion is considered complete with the reception of the host (bread). Therefore, one may not desire to receive the wine (blood of Christ) at all. In such a case, that person crosses their arms over their chest and this 'tells' the chalice bearer that they do not wish to receive the wine.    If one thinks they might have a cold or the flu, it is a courtesy to others receiving the Holy Communion not to drink from the chalice, but rather to have their host intincted. Reconciliation of a Penitent: Also called Absolution or Penance, it is administered by a priest or bishop, usually by appointment. Requiem/Funeral: A celebration of the Eucharist for the commemoration of the dead; a funeral service or memorial service. Reverence: A genuflection or solemn bow toward the altar or Blessed Sacrament. Rite I: A portion of the Book of Common Prayer which contains worship services using the traditional worship language of the Church as used from the 1600's until 1976. Rite II: A portion of the Book of Common Prayer introduced in the 1970s, containing worship services which use more modern language and place importance on a different theological emphasis than traditional Episcopal worship. Rubric: The ceremonial and other directions found printed in italics in The Book of Common Prayer. The word comes from the Latin for "red" since the directions were traditionally printed in that color in previous Prayer Books.

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