Eucharist

====Transmission of diseases====
{{See also|Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on religion}}
Risk of infectious disease transmission related to use of a common communion cup exists but it is low. No case of transmission of an infectious disease related to a common communion cup has ever been documented. Experimental studies have demonstrated that infectious diseases can be transmitted. The most likely diseases to be transmitted would be common viral illnesses such as the [[common cold]]. A study of 681 individuals found that taking communion up to daily from a common cup did not increase the risk of infection beyond that of those who did not attend services at all.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Risk of Infectious Disease Transmission from a Common Communion Cup |first1=Lilia P. |last1=Manangan |first2=Lynne M. |last2=Sehulster |first3=Linda |last3=Chiarello |first4=Dawn N. |last4=Simonds |first5=William R. |last5=Jarvis |journal=American Journal of Infection Control |date=October 1998 |volume=26 |issue=5 |pages=538–39 |url=http://www.ntnl.org/index.php/component/docman/doc_download/470-common-cup-cdc |doi=10.1016/s0196-6553(98)70029-x |pmid=9795685 |access-date=2 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012335/http://www.ntnl.org/index.php/component/docman/doc_download/470-common-cup-cdc |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Pellerin | first1 = J. | last2 = Edmond | first2 = M. B. | doi = 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.05.001 | title = Infections associated with religious rituals | journal = International Journal of Infectious Diseases | volume = 17 | issue = 11 | pages = e945–48 | year = 2013 | pmid =  23791225| doi-access = free }}</ref>

In influenza epidemics, some churches suspend the giving wine at communion, for fear of spreading the disease. This is in full accord with Catholic Church belief that communion under the form of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace. However, the same measure has also been taken by churches that normally insist on the importance of receiving communion under both forms. This was done in 2009 by the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/archbishops.advise.against.sharing.chalice.during.swine.flu.pandemic/23882.htm |title=Archbishops advise against sharing chalice during swine flu pandemic |publisher=Christiantoday.com |date=2009-07-27 |access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>

Some fear contagion through the handling involved in distributing the hosts to the communicants, even if they are placed on the hand rather than on the tongue. Accordingly, some churches use mechanical wafer dispensers or "pillow packs" (communion wafers with wine inside them). While these methods of distributing communion are not generally accepted in Catholic parishes, one parish provides a mechanical dispenser to allow those intending to commune to place in a bowl, without touching them by hand, the hosts for use in the celebration.<ref>{{cite news| first= Sumathi |last=Reddy |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704415104576065982762908782 |title= Hands Off After Wafer Scare| newspaper= Wall Street Journal| date=7 January 2011| access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>