Liturgical mistake?

[skc57]

I attended two weekday church services at neighboring parish and both times the priest did not wash his hands and say wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Is this part of the mass that can be skipped or should it have done. I really watched carefully the second time to make sure it really wasn’t done.

 

[rciadan]

skc57:

I attended two weekday church services at neighboring parish and both times the priest did not wash his hands and say wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Is this part of the mass that can be skipped or should it have done. I really watched carefully the second time to make sure it really wasn’t done.

It is an error. Go to “Ask an Apologist” forum and you will find a thread that addresses this issue.

 

[muledog]

skc57:

I attended two weekday church services at neighboring parish and both times the priest did not wash his hands and say wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Is this part of the mass that can be skipped or should it have done. I really watched carefully the second time to make sure it really wasn’t done.

Is it possible he said the proper words and you just didn’t hear him? I believe it is valid to just move the lips and recite the words.

 

[John_Lilburne]

skc57:

I attended two weekday church services at neighboring parish and both times the priest did not wash his hands and say wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Is this part of the mass that can be skipped or should it have done. I really watched carefully the second time to make sure it really wasn’t done.

It should have been done. According to the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive us) or after the incensation, the priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Lord, wash away my iniquity).”

It is a part of the Mass requiring an altar server to pour the water and the priest to wash his hands. Then a towel or cloth will be required for the priest to dry his hands. It should not be just a dipping the tips of his fingers in a bowl, there should be an altar server pouring the water.

 

[skc57]

Thank you all for responding. I am going to attend one more time to make sure that I really saw what I saw. The morning mass does not have a alter server, but I have seen other priests handle it their own.

 

[nomicity]

I have heard a priest who has changed the words to “wash away ‘our’ iniquities and cleanse us of ‘our’ sins”. Is this acceptable?

 

[anamchara]

I attended two weekday church services at neighboring parish and both times the priest did not wash his hands and say wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Is this part of the mass that can be skipped or should it have done. I really watched carefully the second time to make sure it really wasn’t done.

now that would be very odd to me.

 

[anamchara]

It should have been done. According to the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive us) or after the incensation, the priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Lord, wash away my iniquity).”

It is a part of the Mass requiring an altar server to pour the water and the priest to wash his hands. Then a towel or cloth will be required for the priest to dry his hands. It should not be just a dipping the tips of his fingers in a bowl, there should be an altar server pouring the water.

It has to be “poured” because our priest does just dip his hands in. Since I’m training altar servers I’d like to make sure it’s done this way. Can you give me a link to this?

 

[Titus]

If it has to be poured, how do priests handle it on their own?

 

[az_4_faith]

That’s why God gave priests two hands.

One for pouring, and one for being poured on.

Then they switch and do the same thing with the other hands.

 

[blackrobe]

now that would be very odd to me.

I find the *lavabo *omitted in the majority of parishes where I have attended over the past few years. In 25 years I have never seen it done in my own parish including when the bishop presided for confirmation. The pastoral associate simply informed the MC that “we” don’t do that. Baffles me. I find it always included when I attend the cathedral or, needless to say, the indult Latin Mass.

JSA

 

[Traditional_Ang]

I have heard a priest who has changed the words to “wash away ‘our’ iniquities and cleanse us of ‘our’ sins”. Is this acceptable?

Nomicity:

No - See these:

Is “Receive Jesus Christ” instead of “The Body of Christ” allowed?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=107642

Is that alternate “absolution” valid?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=90325

Why no homily at daily Mass?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=82413

What does the Church mean when it requires at least an hour of fasting before Mass?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=79776

I went back 16 pages - It took 2 hours of looking. The Principles are pretty clear that the priest ins’t allowed to improvise or “make things up” because he “feels like it”.

I hope this helps.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[John_Lilburne]

It has to be “poured” because our priest does just dip his hands in. Since I’m training altar servers I’d like to make sure it’s done this way. Can you give me a link to this?

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive us) or after the incensation, the priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly,* Lava me, Domine (Lord, wash away my iniquity).*”

 

[Rykell]

It is true that during a weekday mass, there are no servers, and the priest has to set water at the side of the altar. Never have I questioned whether it is lawful to pour or dip! Maybe the rubrics can specify whether the water must be distilled or tap water? Yikes! Does this remind you of excessive preoccupation with nits? I would think the priest knows how he is to celebrate the liturgy, and this is not one of those matters one writes to Rome about.

Rather, it seems good to question as the OP did, why it was seemingly omitted, via a simple phone call to the rectory?