Elevating the Host with one hand?

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Catholic_farmer

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One of the priests in my area does this. Anyone know if there is particular order that has this custom? Maybe a seminary that has this practice? I am still a new Catholic, but one friend of mine gets quite upset by it. I tried to soothe her by suggesting that maybe he had a cold the first time, but it appears that this is a common practice of his. This is not my priest, but he celebrates that mass at our son’s school sometimes. As far as I know, he is able bodied. He is from the US and attended seminary here. I can’t remember if he puts his other hand on the chalice while elevating the Host, or not. I read one link that said both hands are not required in the rubics. I am not troubled by this, but what can I tell my older friend, who is? I’d love to be able to give her a satisfying answer because I don’t want her to be distracted by this.
 
It’s still the Body of Christ. It really makes no difference how many hands are used.
 
Indeed, yet the long-standing tradition remains that the priest elevates the Host and the Chalice with both hands, as is mandatory in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. If we go further than a strict interpretation of the wording, there is a strong argument that the use of both hands is presumed by the by the GIRM in continuity with tradition.

This article from EWTN is very helpful:
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur239.htm
 
Ask her if she believes the Lord can take care of Himself. :o

God bless the priests who offer Mass for us.
And you too, friend!
 
R_H_Benson said:
Indeed, yet the long-standing tradition remains that the priest elevates the Host and the Chalice with both hands, as is mandatory in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. If we go further than a strict interpretation of the wording, there is a strong argument that the use of both hands is presumed by the by the GIRM in continuity with tradition.

This article from EWTN is very helpful:
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur239.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reference.
 
R_H_Benson said:
Indeed, yet the long-standing tradition remains that the priest elevates the Host and the Chalice with both hands, as is mandatory in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. If we go further than a strict interpretation of the wording, there is a strong argument that the use of both hands is presumed by the by the GIRM in continuity with tradition.

This article from EWTN is very helpful:
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur239.htm
Click to expand...
What if the priest only has one arm or hand? Rotator cuff injury? Broken arm in a sling? Is using two hands of such importance that the priest could no longer validly say mass?

We really start to get in the weeds when we focus on these type of details.
 
PhiloMed said:
What if the priest only has one arm or hand? Rotator cuff injury? Broken arm in a sling? Is using two hands of such importance that the priest could no longer validly say mass?

We really start to get in the weeds when we focus on these type of details.
Click to expand...
The number of hands used has no effect on the validity if of the Mass, and certainly a physical impairment would be a perfectly justifiable reason to only use one hand. Even St. John Paul II used one hand towards the end of his life because of his Parkinson’s.
 
R_H_Benson said:
The number of hands used has no effect on the validity if of the Mass, and certainly a physical impairment would be a perfectly justifiable reason to only use one hand. Even St. John Paul II used one hand towards the end of his life because of his Parkinson’s.
Click to expand...
Right. The main issue as I read that ewtn reference was one of over-dramatization of the event. I see this from time to time and it IS quite distracting, not only at the consecration but at other times in the Mass as well. I’ve even seen readers do it with their hands. pauses, and voice inflections. Someone who is incapacitated OTOH is more to be commended for his attempts to conform to the “norms.”
 
Several years ago, we had a newly ordained priest who was from Poland assigned to our parish. He only used his right hand. I thought maybe that was a Polish custom and didn’t give it another thought.
 
I have also seen using just one hand both in the Czech republic and Slovakia (Europe).
No one was disturbed by it 🙂
 
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