Inadvertently unconsecrated hosts

[JimG]

A reader posed a question on Fr. Z’s blog concerning an incident when ciboria containing unconsecrated hosts were not brought to the altar until after the consecration was already finished.

In all the parishes I have ever attended I cannot recall such an incident ever occurring. Ciboria containing hosts to be consecrated are always placed on the altar on the corporal before the start of the Eucharistic Prayer.

I am curious as to whether CAF posters have ever experienced such an incident. If so, how was it handled? It seems to me that it would have to be quite rare.

The question and response are here.

 

[felsguy]

I can recall a couple on instances where a ciborium was inadvertently left on the credence table. In one it was not noticed until after Mass. In another a server brought it to the altar right before communion and the priest had him simply place it back on the credence table. Afterward in both instances the unconsecrated hosts were simply put back into the supply of unconsecrated hosts in the sacristy.

 

[paperwight66]

I can recall a couple on instances where a ciborium was inadvertently left on the credence table. In one it was not noticed until after Mass. In another a server brought it to the altar right before communion and the priest had him simply place it back on the credence table. Afterward in both instances the unconsecrated hosts were simply put back into the supply of unconsecrated hosts in the sacristy.

Yes, that’s happened in our parish, too. Fortunately there were enough consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle for the priest to refill the bowl with, after tipping the others out on to the cruet tray. If there hadn’t have been, I suppose he and the EMHCs would have had to break all of them in half when they started to run short…

 

[Mary_Ellen]

This happened once in our church and the sacristan then got the unconsecrated and consecrated hosts confused - all were mixed and placed in the tabernacle. What a mess. The pastor placed all the mixed hosts on the altar at a following mass so that all the hosts would be consecrated.

The sacristan was suffering from dementia and this was the final wake-up call that we needed to approach her more firmly about stepping down from her ministry.

 

[FrDavid96]

This is a difficult situation.

Fr Z did a good job of explaining things.

 

[Solomonson]

Related to this, one of the few abuses I ever saw our bishop get involved with was the intentional mixing of consecrated hosts and non-consecrated hosts.

Either the pastor or a lay “Mass captain” (yes, I know) would take any “excess” hosts from the tabernacle and simply mix them with non-consecrated hosts. This mixture would then be placed uncovered in the back of the church along with a cruet of wine 20 minutes before Mass to later be processed forward during the presentation of the gifts.

A few of us realized what was going on and asked the pastor to cease the process. We were told the lay “Mass captains” (yes, I know) couldn’t ascertain how many hosts to set-out so this process cannot be stopped.

I wrote a letter to the bishop and a dozen or so of us signed it. It actually worked. The “Mass captains” apparently learned how to count henceforth.

 

[TobyLue]

We were told the lay “Mass captains” (yes, I know)

What in the world are “mass captains”?

Is this another new invention of liberal parishes?
How does one train to be a “mass captain” and for how long?
Where do I find in Catholic Teaching, and Vatican approval, as to the use of “Mass Captains”?
What is the criteria for becoming a “Mass Captain”?
,, and

 

[otjm]

What in the world are “mass captains”?

Is this another new invention of liberal parishes?

There are over 17,000 parishes in the US. Perhaps you could contact all of them and take a poll. Perhaps it is occurring in parishes which simply follow the Magisterium.

How does one train to be a “mass captain” and for how long?

Since this appears to be another name for Sacristan, see, “Sacristan”.

Where do I find in Catholic Teaching, and Vatican approval, as to the use of “Mass Captains”?

why do you need to know? It doesn’t affect you.

What is the criteria for becoming a “Mass Captain”?

Since it appears to be another name for Sacristan, see “Sacristan”.

:

confused:,, and

Unnecessarily so, it would appear.