Lavabo

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hakimaki

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Forgive my ignorance, I just would like to understand the mass better. What is the purpose of the Lavabo?
 
It is the purification of the priest’s hands before he offers the Sacrifice. Additionally, it has a symbolic element, in that it calls to mind for the priest his iniquities and his reliance on God to “wash” them (lavabo) from his soul.
 
Does it also have anything to do with purification prior to handling the eucharist?
 
Thank you. Now another question comes to mind. Keeping your answer in mind, why do Eucharistic Minister’s give out communion without performing the Lavabo themselves? How have they “readied” themselves?
 
hakimaki said:
Thank you. Now another question comes to mind. Keeping your answer in mind, why do Eucharistic Minister’s give out communion without performing the Lavabo themselves? How have they “readied” themselves?
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Strictly speaking, EMHCs don’t perform the sacrifice, they simply distribute the Eucharist that is already consecrated.

So, as it were, it’s not that it’s about handling the Eucharist, per se, but about preparing to consecrate the Eucharist…
 
Also, keep in mind it is a ritual cleansing - not an actual hand washing. The little water and quick dry are symbolic of the cleansing - not meant to really physically clean the hands. It’s not like a doctor scrubbing for surgery. Keep in mind, too, that a priest who helps distribute communion - even in the EF - does not ritually wash his hands before distributing communion.
 
johnnykins said:
Also, keep in mind it is a ritual cleansing - not an actual hand washing. The little water and quick dry are symbolic of the cleansing - not meant to really physically clean the hands. It’s not like a doctor scrubbing for surgery. Keep in mind, too, that a priest who helps distribute communion - even in the EF - does not ritually wash his hands before distributing communion.
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They should in the sacristy before Mass starts.
 
If there are rubrics to that effect I am unaware of them and am happy to be corrected. If you are simply making a statement that they should wash their hands, I don’t disagree, but that’s for sanitation purposes, not part of the ritual …
 
johnnykins said:
If there are rubrics to that effect I am unaware of them and am happy to be corrected. If you are simply making a statement that they should wash their hands, I don’t disagree, but that’s for sanitation purposes, not part of the ritual …
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That I do not know. But the washing of the hands and feet were part of the ritual of the high priests when they were putting on their vestments.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Priest_(Judaism
 
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