Eucharist after Mass

[Bronxbabe79]

After Mass today two ladies went to the Tabernacle and began to rearrange things. Shortly after that a gentleman went over and removed the Body of Christ and took it over to where the chalices, towels, etc. Are kept. He did something with it (his back was to me) and then returned it to the Tabernacle. Forgive me if I got some of the terms wrong, I am still learning. But is this common for lay people to remove items from the Tabernacle? Is there a legitimate reason that they would be doing this?

 

[Michael_Anthony]

I can think of a few reasons, they may have been consolidating vessels, and he may have taken ‘empty’ ones over for purification, he also may have been a deacon out of vestments and been purifying vessels, or a Mass Coordinator preparing for another Mass, they also may have removed some to take to people who were unable to attend Mass (for reasons such as illness), though I should think the priest would have given them those Hosts in a pyx during Mass.

 

[Bronxbabe79]

He wasn’t a Deacon. We only have one and he was not in attendance. I would not have thought much if it except for the ladies going through the Tabernacle first threw me for a loop. I was under the impression that for the next Mass any new wafers used would just be combined with the leftover ones from the previous Mass when the Priest was blessing them. So there would be no reason to remove anything from the Tabernacle until that time. Is this incorrect?

 

[LilyM]

Well you wouldn’t mingle consecrated and unconsecrated hosts in the same vessel. The priest cannot reconsecrate already consecrated hosts.

So if vessels are needed to hold unconsecrated hosts for a following Mass, then any unconsumed consecrated hosts would all be consolidated in one vessel.

 

[Bronxbabe79]

That is what I thought which is why I wasn’t sure why he would be taking it out and then putting it back. Or what the ladies were rearranging. I have just never seen it happen before. But there was also a lady on Good Friday who took the Crown of Thorns and wore it after the service so there are some odd things that go on in my church, at least in my opinion.

 

[paperwight]

That is what I thought which is why I wasn’t sure why he would be taking it out and then putting it back. Or what the ladies were rearranging. I have just never seen it happen before. But there was also a lady on Good Friday who took the Crown of Thorns and wore it after the service so there are some odd things that go on in my church, at least in my opinion.

What do you mean, the Crown of Thorns? in our parish we do have a metal Crown that goes on the large wooden cross we have out for Good Friday, together with a lance and a sponge on a pole, but I really can’t imagine anyone putting the crown on.

Sudden thought, is your parish Filipino? I gather there are extreme penitential practices among Filipinos on Good Friday. Could it have been something like that?

 

[Bronxbabe79]

No it is not a Filipino congregation. It is like you said a Crown of Thorns that sits on the Cross on Good Friday.

 

[CradleRC58]

He could have been the sacristan.

Sacristan - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Ask the priest. I often see the EMHCs in one parish where there is Adoration coming into the church and getting out some consecrated hosts from the tabernacle for their pyxes. I presume they are taking Communion to shut-ins.

 

[jack63]

Sometimes I help my parent do such a task at one of the parishes I attend. So occasionally I am removing consecrated hosts or putting them back into the Tabernacle. There are a number of things that need done. For example counting all of the hosts, so an appropriate number are number are consecrated for the next mass. Also, the Deacon will regularly come and take consecrated hosts to those that can’t attend church. There are a number of routine things that need done. People often follow a very set routine doing this so mistakes don’t happen…such as not having enough consecrated hosts.

There is nothing to worry about here. Both my parent and I are lay people. If you are interested perhaps ask a Deacon or one of the Extraordinary ministers. They would likely be more than happy to tell you all about. You may not get them to stop talking about if you ask… .