Hi Elzee,
I would recommend reading the document
Redemptionis Sacramentum
There seem to be two places that might address this: Paragraph 73 and Paragraph 106.
Paragraph 73 states:
In the celebration of Holy Mass the breaking of the Eucharistic Bread—done only by the Priest celebrant, if necessary with the help of a Deacon or of a concelebrant—begins after the exchange of peace, while the Agnus Dei is being recited. For the gesture of breaking bread “carried out by Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the whole eucharistic action its name, signifies that the faithful, though they are many, are made one Body in the communion of the one Bread of Life who is Christ, who died and rose for the world’s salvation” (cf. 1 Cor 10:17).153 **For this reason the Rite must be carried out with great reverence.**154 Even so, it should be brief. The abuse that has prevailed in some places, by which this Rite is unnecessarily prolonged and given undue emphasis, with laypersons also helping in contradiction to the norms, should be corrected with all haste.155
And if you look at footnote 154 it direct us to the document *
Liturgicae instaurationes *paragraph 5, which states:
As befits the sacrament, the breaking of the consecrated bread, the taking of the consecrated bread and wine in communion, and the consuming of leftover hosts after communion should be done with reverence.
The distribution of the Consecrated Hosts into the various vessels seems
to me (qualifier: I am not sure, someone please confirm or correct this) to be part of the Fraction Rite. In any case, it would make sense that if the breaking, the taking, and the consuming of the consecrated bread is to be done with great reverence, so too should the “distribution”.
Also, lets look at Paragraph 106 of
Redemptionis Sacramentum:
However, the pouring of the Blood of Christ after the consecration from one vessel to another is completely to be avoided, lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery. Never to be used for containing the Blood of the Lord are flagons, bowls, or other vessels that are not fully in accord with the established norms.
This paragraph is in the section adressing communion under both species, and is prohibiting the pouring of the Precious Blood from one vessel to another “
lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery”. I think, that by extension, we could at least say that the distribution of consecrated hosts into various vessels (which is allowed) should at least be done with reverence. Although there is not the corresponding danger of spillage, the jostling of the hosts could create a greater danger of breaking them. Also, the language in 106 seems to me to contemplate that there is something “detrimental” in pouring the Precious Blood out into various vessels apart from the danger of spillage. Would this principle apply to “distributing” the Consecrated Hosts? I think it would.
What do you think?
God Bless,
VC
p.s. Note that 106 prohibits the pouring of the Precious Blood from vessel to vessel. I often see this done. In fact it seems to be the norm. I wonder why? This seems like an easy directive to implement.
