Burse and purificator

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BonnieBj

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Can someone give the definitions for burse and purificator and their uses?
 
A burse is a small purse, if you will. It is generally made of two pieces of stiffened material (most recently they used cardboard) covered with white linen and then sewn together with side panels such that it can be opened into a “V” shape. It was used to carry the corporal which is the large, rectangular cloth placed over the altar cloth on which the chalice and paten are set. This is a late development in Latin praxis and there is no equivalent in Eastern Catholicism.

The purificator is also white linen and used to dry the sacred vessels. It may also be used as a napkin – it’s the white cloth that you generally see the priest or deacon wipe the chalice with before the wine and water are added, and the priest generally places it beneath his lips when drinking from the chalice. Eastern Catholics who follow the Byzantine tradition use a red communion cloth for the same purpose, except it is placed under each communicant and not just the priest.

Deacon Ed
 
OK, I think there’s either an error or something wrong with our church’s definition. Our altar socoety last night was told that a purificator is a pouch to be worn around the neck to put the pyx in to take communion to the sick/housebound, and that it can be made of any suitable fabric: leather, silk, satin, velvet, velveteen, suedecloth, etc. and that once the priest/communion minister put the host in the pyx we were to place it in the burse and put the burse next to our heart and immediately after Mass go to the person(s) we had the hosts for.

Also we were told that our purificators kept disappearing and we were having to buy new ones fairly often. It was also brought out upon hearing this information that it looked like there was an abuse here because there could be miniscule fragments or crumbs of the host (Jesus’s body and blood). How are used ones cleaned after Mass? And since we are now going to have a “sign-out sheet” for them, what is the proper procedure to prevent any contamination if you will, or possible loss of host crumbs. Should I also be putting a purificator in my burse, along with the pyx? And some people are just using a purificator to transport the host; I would think that would make it all the more likely that there would be crumbs produced.

Our priest even let me take a host home one Sunday because I was visiting someone the next day. He told me to put the pyx in a place of reverence. I have since found out that that is a violation of Canon Law. Since I didn’t know it was wrong adn the priest didn’t either, have I sinned (he too). I’ve not been told anything different since that time. So I am concerned now about the validity of answers to my questions from him. He is also my confessor so that could be a sticky wicket if I have to confess. Maybe I should go to our other priext?

Sorry this is so long but it is kinda complicated.
We apparently need to have better training for our EHMCs. Is there some source I can get the correct information from?
 
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BonnieBj:
OK, I think there’s either an error or something wrong with our church’s definition. Our altar society last night was told that a purificator is a pouch to be worn around the neck to put the pyx in to take communion to the sick/housebound, and that it can be made of any suitable fabric: leather, silk, satin, velvet, velveteen, suedecloth, etc. and that once the priest/communion minister put the host in the pyx we were to place it in the burse and put the burse next to our heart and immediately after Mass go to the person(s) we had the hosts for.

Also we were told that our purificators kept disappearing and we were having to buy new ones fairly often. It was also brought out upon hearing this information that it looked like there was an abuse here because there could be miniscule fragments or crumbs of the host (Jesus’s body and blood). How are used ones cleaned after Mass? And since we are now going to have a “sign-out sheet” for them, what is the proper procedure to prevent any contamination if you will, or possible loss of host crumbs. Should I also be putting a purificator in my burse, along with the pyx? And some people are just using a purificator to transport the host; I would think that would make it all the more likely that there would be crumbs produced.

Our priest even let me take a host home one Sunday because I was visiting someone the next day. He told me to put the pyx in a place of reverence. I have since found out that that is a violation of Canon Law. Since I didn’t know it was wrong adn the priest didn’t either, have I sinned (he too). I’ve not been told anything different since that time. So I am concerned now about the validity of answers to my questions from him. He is also my confessor so that could be a sticky wicket if I have to confess. Maybe I should go to our other priest?

Sorry this is so long but it is kinda complicated.

We apparently need to have better training for our EHMCs. Is there some source I can get the correct information from?
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  1. The pouch is a burse; was this a typo. The rest of the paragraph is right.
  2. The altar society Ladies have a special procedure for laundering purificators. It includes an initial rinsing which is poured out on the ground or down the Sacrarium, the sink with a cover, in the Sacristy.
You should take a purificator with you to place under the pyx when you set it down. It should also be used to recover fragments if someone spits out the host or the host is other wise contaminated. Give it to the priest to dispose of unless he has given you instructions on this.

Using the purificator to transport the host is undesirable. I have had to once or twice when no pyx was available and someone needed Communion. But generally NO.
  1. It is seriously wrong to keep the host outside the Tabernacle except when enroute to a recipient. But you did no wrong in following what you thought was authoritative advice. However, I would double check his answers in the future.
I direct EMHC’s who bring Communion to the sick and the above comments are the teaching I give them. I feel confident with them. However, we all make mistakes. So, please, cross check them any way you can.
 
You can never sin if you are not aware that you are sinning. However, we commit a sin of omission if we don’t try and keep up with the important things of our faith. A serious sin: 1. Must be a grave matter…See 10 Commandments explainations. 2. You must know that it is a serious matter. 3 You must actually do it. Being tempted is not a sin.

God bless you for your ministry to others,
Deacon Tony SFO
 
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