Is a Deacon allowed to stand at the alter during Consecration?

[blaskoman]

Last Sunday, our Deacon was holding up the chalise along with the Main Celebrant (also holding up chalise) at the altar. To be fair the Consecration was already prayed, and he joined up to the altar shortly thereafter. I didnt realize that anyone other than a priest could be at the altar between Consecration and the commensement of distribution of the Eucharist.

 

[puppypatrol]

Last Sunday, our Deacon was holding up the chalise along with the Main Celebrant (also holding up chalise) at the altar. To be fair the Consecration was already prayed, and he joined up to the altar shortly thereafter. I didnt realize that anyone other than a priest could be at the altar between Consecration and the commensement of distribution of the Eucharist.

The Deacon must stand to the side, away from the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer and the Consecration of the bread and wine. It is totally appropriate for him to step forward, towards the altar to elevate the the Precious Blood as the Priest elevates the Body for the "Through Him, with Him, in Him… By that time, the Consecration is completed. The Priest will then receive Communion, give it to the Deacon, then to the EMs and finally to the faithful.

 

[Religio71]

The Deacon must stand to the side, away from the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer and the Consecration of the bread and wine. It is totally appropriate for him to step forward, towards the altar to elevate the the Precious Blood as the Priest elevates the Body for the "Through Him, with Him, in Him… By that time, the Consecration is completed. The Priest will then receive Communion, give it to the Deacon, then to the EMs and finally to the faithful.

yes this is true. And remember, the Deacon is the ordinary minister of the Cup. So it makes sense for him to elevate it at the Doxology.

 

[tee_eff_em]

It is totally appropriate for him to step forward, towards the altar to elevate the the Precious Blood as the Priest elevates the Body for the "Through Him, with Him, in Him…

yes this is true. And remember, the Deacon is the ordinary minister of the Cup. So it makes sense for him to elevate it at the Doxology.

Not only *appropriate *and *sensible *-- Completely correct, as specified by the GIRM

1. At the final doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer, the deacon stands next to the priest, holding the chalice elevated while the priest elevates the paten with the host, until the people have responded with the acclamation, Amen.

tee

 

[bpbasilphx]

Remember, the Deacon is NOT a layman.

The Diaconate is the first of the major orders.

His proper position is to the RIGHT of the Celebrant, regardless of the direction the Celebrant faces.

 

[japhy]

During the Consecration, the deacon should be kneeling:
During the Eucharistic Prayer, the deacon stands near the priest but slightly behind him, so that when needed he may assist the priest with the chalice or the Missal.

From the epiclesis until the priest shows the chalice, the deacon normally remains kneeling. If several deacons are present, one of them may place incense in the thurible for the consecration and incense the host and the chalice as they are shown to the people. (GIRM 179)

 

[Mrs_Sally]

At each Mass where our deacon is present he always stays by the priest and kneels during the consecration. He then elevates the chalice. Of course, he assists with distributing communion. He often purifies the chalice and paten–depending on who is done distributing communion first.

Our deacon lives almost an hour from our parish so he’s not there every Sunday. I expect we will see more of him during this time while our Pastor is recuperating from surgery.

 

[Seatuck]

During the Consecration, the deacon should be kneelinguring the Eucharistic Prayer, the deacon stands near the priest but slightly behind him, so that when needed he may assist the priest with the chalice or the Missal.

From the epiclesis until the priest shows the chalice, the deacon normally remains kneeling. If several deacons are present, one of them may place incense in the thurible for the consecration and incense the host and the chalice as they are shown to the people. (GIRM 179)

I always forget about this because our deacons are somewhat infirm and can’t kneel.

 

[japhy]

I always forget about this because our deacons are somewhat infirm and can’t kneel.

Which is, of course, pastorally acceptable! Hopefully they can make some gesture of reverence (like a bow of the body or of the head).

 

[plato3]

I always forget about this because our deacons are somewhat infirm and can’t kneel.

Good point. In our diocese some can kneel and some can’t due to bad knees Etc. and advanced in age. Bishop has asked all deacons to stand so as not to cause confusion in the liturgy.Reverence is made by bowing. Our pastor says it is not the deacon that has trouble kneeling it is the pastor.

 

[FrDavid96]

Last Sunday, our Deacon was holding up the chalise along with the Main Celebrant (also holding up chalise) at the altar. To be fair the Consecration was already prayed, and he joined up to the altar shortly thereafter. I didnt realize that anyone other than a priest could be at the altar between Consecration and the commensement of distribution of the Eucharist.

In the old GIRM (1974 printing) numbers 134, 135 said that the deacons stands for the Consecration, near but a little behind the priest. Although it’s not specified, the traditional place is to the priest’s right–as this is always the proper place of the deacon, who is the “right hand” of the celebrant. It also said that the deacon lifted the chalice for the doxology.

The current GIRM (as we’ve already seen quoted) says that the deacon normally kneels for the Consecration. “Normally” means that there could be circumstances when this isn’t possible, or isn’t practical. If the deacon can’t kneel, then he doesn’t. If there is no place for him to kneel, then he doesn’t (this might happen in a small chapel for example).

This change in the deacon’s posture from standing to kneeling is not always “publicized” among our deacons, so some are simply unaware of the change.

Based on what you’ve described, it certainly seems like the deacon is doing exactly what the GIRM specifies he should do.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Nice to know the deacons in my parish are doing the right thing.

 

[benedictgal]

The Deacon must stand to the side, away from the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer and the Consecration of the bread and wine. It is totally appropriate for him to step forward, towards the altar to elevate the the Precious Blood as the Priest elevates the Body for the "Through Him, with Him, in Him… By that time, the Consecration is completed. The Priest will then receive Communion, give it to the Deacon, then to the EMs and finally to the faithful.

As others indicated, this is SOP (standard operating procedure). Just observe the next Papal Mass. There is always a deacon assisting the Holy Father and elevating the chalice at the doxology.

Now, the deacon does receive Holy Communion after the celebrant has communicated, but, never with him. The celebrant must communicate first (and after that the concelebrants, if there are any). Then, it’s the deacon, I believe. If there are EMHCs present, they cannot receive Holy Communion (nor approach the sanctuary, for that matter) until after the celebrant has communicated.