katewithak:
Are you talking about the vessels the priest used at the Consecration or the vessels the Em’s are using? May they consume the left over wine or must the priest do it and the same question for the Hosts?
According to the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), for Mass without a deacon:
- When the distribution of Communion is finished, the priest himself immediately and completely consumes at the altar any consecrated wine that happens to remain; as for any consecrated hosts that are left, he either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist.
Upon returning to the altar, the priest collects any fragments that may remain. Then, standing at the altar or at the credence table, he purifies the paten or ciborium over the chalice then purifies the chalice, saying quietly, Quod ore sumpsimus (Lord, may I receive), and dries the chalice with a purificator. If the vessels are purified at the altar, they are carried to the credence table by a minister. Nevertheless, it is also permitted, especially if there are several vessels to be purified, to leave them suitably covered on a corporal, either at the altar or at the credence table, and to purify them immediately after Mass following the dismissal of the people.
- Afterwards, the priest may return to the chair…
So if there is no deacon, the priest is sitting down too early. If there is a deacon perhaps he can sit a little earlier, since the 2002 GIRM has:
- When the distribution of Communion is completed, the deacon returns to the altar with the priest and collects the fragments, if any remain, and then carries the chalice and other sacred vessels to the credence table, where he purifies them and arranges them in the usual way while the priest returns to the chair. It is also permissible to leave the vessels that need to be purified, suitably covered, at the credence table on a corporal and to purify them immediately after Mass following the dismissal of the people.
Generally it is intended that the ordained priest and deacon consume remaining consecrated wine and hosts. But I remember a letter from the Vatican saying that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion could assist them in this, at least for the consecrated wine.
On the initial question of “when to sit” the 2002 GIRM has in n. 43: “as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed.” If people are saying “The body of Christ” and “Amen” and receiving Communion then it is not the time of sacred silence after Communion, so people should be standing.
Generally if someone is standing, everyone should be standing. According to 2002 GIRM n. 42: “A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.”
The Ceremonial of Bishops also envisages a common posture:
“166. When the bishop returns to the chair after the communion, he puts on the skullcap and, if need be, washes his hands. All are seated and period of prayerful silence may follow, or a song of praise or a psalm may be sung.”
(From Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 60).
