Looking Forward: Administering the Eucharist Once Masses Resume

[AlbertDerGrosse]

I have an idea about how we might go about administering the Eucharist to the faithful once public Masses resume that simultaneously respects the social distancing norms/laws and pays due reverence to the Sacrament. I thought I might run it by you here before pitching the idea to my pastor.

Byzantine Eucharistic Spoons.

I was looking at a number of these on a church supply store and they seem to be sufficiently long as to prevent contact of the priest’s hand with either the mouth, its aerosols, or the hand, of the communicant. I figured if each minister of communion had, say, three of these we could alternate between their use per individual. Once one of the spoons has been used an altar server accompanying the minister would ablute the spoon in a bucket of water, and then transfer it to a bucket of sanitizing solution (say 50:50 isopropyl alcohol:water). The minister would then use the second spoon for the next communicant while the first spoon sits in the sanitizing solution. The second spoon would be abluted and then sanitized in similar manner. The third spoon would then be used, after which the first spoon will be sufficiently sanitized and ready for reuse. This assembly line of using, abluting, and sanitizing would continue for as many communicants as there might be. The water used for ablution of the spoons can be poured down the sacrarium after Mass.

What do you think?

 

[edward_george1]

It sounds like a good idea on the face of it, but in practice it would be a logistical nightmare. Imagine doing that in a parish where there are 500-800 people at every Mass on Sunday.

Also, only an acolyte, deacon, or priest may perform ablutions of sacred vessels, so you’d have to have that many more personnel that really no parish anywhere has.

It’s a good thought, but I’m not sure it would be practically possible. And I’m sure if you pitch this to your pastor, he’ll say the same thing.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[AlbertDerGrosse]

That’s a good point, Father. In reality though I don’t think we’re going to be seeing 500+ attendees at any Mass for the foreseeable future. The state just wont allow it given the need for long term social distancing (I don’t even think the archdiocese here would allow it). There’s already talk about a huge multiplication of Masses so that the parish can be sufficiently spread across an entire Sunday of liturgies (starting earlier and ending later).

Thanks for mentioning the need for an instituted acolyte or ordained for abluting vessels. We actually have an instituted acolyte permanently at the parish, and right now three transitional deacons staying at the rectory. Furthermore our parish doesn’t use EMHCs and so we’re already used to relying on the mere three priests we have for distribution. Given the decrease in allowed attendance per Mass earlier mentioned, I would imagine it being feasible for us to go down to two priests distributing, another serving as an acolyte to one and the instituted acolyte (or the seminarians) serving as the other one for ablutions.

Are there any other pitfalls you can think of that might arise? Either practically from your experience or legalistically per the GIRM? Also, would this be allowed for the Extraordinary Form? We’re a multi-form parish.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

That’s a good point, Father. In reality though I don’t think we’re going to be seeing 500+ attendees at any Mass for the foreseeable future. The state just wont allow it given the need for long term social distancing (I don’t even think the archdiocese here would allow it). There’s already talk about a huge multiplication of Masses so that the parish can be sufficiently spread across an entire Sunday of liturgies (starting earlier and ending later).

I had not heard of this, but it sounds like a good idea. Would it be possible for each priest to celebrate three Masses (“trination”) on Saturday afternoon and evening, and three Masses on Sunday? Limit attendance to X number of people, and require advance sign-up online (preferred) or via phone (for those who don’t do online), so as to avoid train wrecks when more people show up than can be accommodated, given social distancing? Keep the Masses shorter, no choir, very brief sermon, open the doors (weather permitting) to allow cross-ventilation? I have to think that keeping people in enclosed spaces, sitting still, for over an hour, is more of a health hazard than anything else would be.

And yes, I know that’s a lot of work to ask of priests on Saturdays and Sundays, but it can’t be helped. If I’m not mistaken, traditionally, pastors of all churches — not just Catholic — have taken Mondays off, as well they should.

 

[stpurl]

It is a good idea in theory, but in the wilds of rural parishes. . .our priest attends to three parishes and one college Sunday night Mass, every weekend. For him to do nine Masses on a Saturday and twelve on a Sunday would be logistically impossible.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

It is a good idea in theory, but in the wilds of rural parishes. . .our priest attends to three parishes and one college Sunday night Mass, every weekend. For him to do nine Masses on a Saturday and twelve on a Sunday would be logistically impossible.

No, I meant three Masses per priest, not three Masses per parish, where a priest serves more than one parish. Small rural parishes might have to make do with one Mass per weekend — better something than nothing.

With warmer weather approaching (at least in the US), outdoor Masses might be preferable — more circulating air.

Just thinking out loud, trying to think of ways to make the Mass and sacraments available to as many people as possible, even if it can’t be everybody. Perhaps appeal to people to go to Mass every other weekend, to allow more people to be able to attend? Urge them to consider weekday Masses instead? In the present crisis, receiving the graces of the Mass, and receiving the sacraments, might trump strictly fulfilling one’s “Sunday obligation”. Maybe open the “Sunday Mass window” to anytime after noon on Saturday (similar to what they do at the cathedral in Las Vegas)?

Again, just thinking out loud.

 

[AlbertDerGrosse]

No, I meant three Masses per priest , not three Masses per parish , where a priest serves more than one parish. Small rural parishes might have to make do with one Mass per weekend — better something than nothing.

This is most likely going to be the case as our archdiocese opens up. At least for the larger, urban parishes like ours. They’re already talking about receiving permission for our priests to say four Sunday Masses. Nothing more elaborate than a single cantor for the music, bare bones, bare minimum. Masses finished in an hour tops. Immediate ushering of the faithful out. Sanitation crew to clean the pews in 20 min. before the next Mass begins. Masses beginning at 6AM Sunday and the last one ending 11PM Sunday for a total of like 12 Masses.

Perhaps appeal to people to go to Mass every other weekend, to allow more people to be able to attend? Urge them to consider weekday Masses instead? In the present crisis, receiving the graces of the Mass, and receiving the sacraments, might trump strictly fulfilling one’s “Sunday obligation”.

We’re already doing this for the altar servers who serve the live-streams. We’re taking turns in a rotation so that we all have a chance (and our immediate households) to assist at a Sunday Mass and receive the Sacrament every couple weeks. Our pastor was mentioning perhaps instituting a sign up like you just said, or even issuing actual tickets that will be checked at the door.

Maybe open the “Sunday Mass window” to anytime after noon on Saturday (similar to what they do at the cathedral in Las Vegas)?

Could you clarify what you mean here? I’m not sure if priests or even bishops have the authority to celebrate the Sunday liturgy earlier than would normally be allowed for the Anticipated Mass of Sunday (i.e. “the vigil”). If instead you mean have the archbishop extend the possibility of satisfying the Sunday obligation into earlier Saturday morning/afternoon, I honestly don’t think bringing back the obligation at all is going to happen any time soon, and for good reason.

 

[Gorgias]

Once one of the spoons has been used an altar server accompanying the minister would ablute the spoon in a bucket of water, and then transfer it to a bucket of sanitizing solution (say 50:50 isopropyl alcohol:water). The minister would then use the second spoon for the next communicant while the first spoon sits in the sanitizing solution.

Wait – the fourth guy onward receives communion from a spoon that’s come straight from an alcohol/water bath? Umm… pass.

Would it be possible for each priest to celebrate three Masses (“trination”) on Saturday afternoon and evening, and three Masses on Sunday?

Typically, only in an emergency, and the thing about emergencies is… you don’t schedule them. So, if you three scheduled Masses, then it’s not an emergency, right?

On the other hand, it is an extraordinary circumstance, and I would think that the local ordinary could make an exception to the norms for a period of time, if he feels it’s warranted.

Limit attendance to X number of people

This is gonna be the big problem. My local grocery store can limit occupancy and ask me to stand outside until a sufficient number of customers leave, and I’ll stand there for 5-10 minutes and wait. At a church for Mass, though? That means “come back in two hours” or “stand here for two hours”. Not a good solution.

Moreover, who would enforce these limits? The ushers? Maybe ushers around here are different than those where you are, but I can’t picture them doing it. In fact, I can picture them stopping some folks but allowing their friends in, or not paying attention while lots of folks over the limit come in. We’d also have to monitor all doors, while thinking about the total number of people entering, unless we use one door only. At some parishes, given access issues, that means only using the door that those with mobility issues can use. That’d be a real mess!

I have to think that keeping people in enclosed spaces, sitting still, for over an hour, is more of a health hazard than anything else would be.

It’s not the “over an hour”. Even a good 15 minutes, while praying, singing, etc, will suffice to enable our congregants to become “Typhoid Mary”…

Sanitation crew to clean the pews in 20 min. before the next Mass begins.

Yep. That’s an issue, too.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

With all due respect, why do you feel a need to tell your pastor how to distribute Holy Communion?

My pastor doesn’t tell me how to do my job, I don’t tell him how to do his.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I think he is just making a suggestion or wanted to discuss some thoughts.

 

[Pitcairn17]

Three recycled spoons for an entire congregation just to avoid communion in the hand? Am I reading that right?

 

[phil19034]

My suggestion: Don’t administer Holy Communion to the faithful every day/week.

Administer Holy Communion ONCE when Mass resumes and not again until either (a) the Coronavirus is over, (b) offer privately to someone on their deathbed, (c ) First Communions, or (d) next Easter.

In other words, I would suggest Bishops limit people from receiving communion to once a year until the threat is gone (unless they are on their deathbed)

 

[adamhovey1988]

Well, not all Byzantines use liturgical spoons, it’s really not a thing with Melkites, but I totally get the sentiment. I’m more worried about getting to confession, than anything else, you don’t realise how much you need it when you can’t go to it. My state and the adjacent state are starting to open back up, so I think we might want to do this gradually with a return to normalcy. I think, and the priests can correct me if I’m wrong, that the only person that actually has to receive communion during the celebration of the Liturgy is the priest. It might have to be that way for a while, but I don’t think that would be a bad idea. Even if we do start going back to Mass, I feel like it’s probably going to be optional at first, like the obligation is going to be suspended for a while.

 

[AlbertDerGrosse]

Wait – the fourth guy onward receives communion from a spoon that’s come straight from an alcohol/water bath? Umm… pass.

Sorry, I forgot to mention a rinse bath of plain water too.

AlbertDerGrosse:

Sanitation crew to clean the pews in 20 min. before the next Mass begins.

Yep. That’s an issue, too.

An issue we’ve already worked out. We are in fact already doing this and have been doing this for weeks now.

With all due respect, why do you feel a need to tell your pastor how to distribute Holy Communion?

I don’t feel a need to “tell” my pastor how to do anything. I’m trying to think of ways to satisfy the epidemiological need to socially distance, including not having our priests serve as vectors for a highly communicable disease as they move from one communicant to the next. It may very well be that this problem is insurmountable, but as it stands the normal way of distribution will not be an option.

Three recycled spoons for an entire congregation just to avoid communion in the hand? Am I reading that right?

No. In my scenario the spoons would be used for communion in the hand as well. Distribution directly into the hand as it was done pre-pandemic is just as problematic as distribution directly into the mouth unless the minister washes his hands between each and every communicant.

 

[AlbertDerGrosse]

Chances are this is what will have to happen, if communion is provided at all to the faithful.

 

[phil19034]

Also, would this be allowed for the Extraordinary Form? We’re a multi-form parish.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s allowed in the Extraordinary Form, per the 1962 or pre 1955 rubrics.

 

[Gorgias]

An issue we’ve already worked out. We are in fact already doing this and have been doing this for weeks now.

I’m glad that your parish has resources to do this!

Not all do, though. And so, the more resource-poor parishes and those with maintenance crews who are less, shall we say, physically robust?.. well, they’re stuck, because these folks probably wouldn’t be able to do three turns of “whole church sanitation” on a Sunday. So again, the “haves” receive, and the “have nots” go without.

Distribution directly into the hand as it was done pre-pandemic is just as problematic as distribution directly into the mouth unless the minister washes his hands between each and every communicant.

Not really. Do you distribute communion? If so, do you touch the hands of those to whom you distribute communion in the hand? (And, if so, then there’s a training issue there which can be easily remedied.)

 

[gotDoug]

My suggestion: Don’t administer Holy Communion to the faithful every day/week.

Administer Holy Communion ONCE when Mass resumes and not again until either (a) the Coronavirus is over, (b) offer privately to someone on their deathbed, (c ) First Communions, or (d) next Easter.

In other words, I would suggest Bishops limit people from receiving communion to once a year until the threat is gone (unless they are on their deathbed)

I think this is a great idea. Perhaps, small parishes or chapels, where there is a very small attendance at weekday Masses, might offer Communion on weekday Masses. Back in high school, half the time I attended weekday Morning Mass, I was the only one in attendance. Hopefully, we will not have to wait until Easter next year to resume reception of Holy Communion. Maybe the pandemic will be over by Christmas? One can only hope.

Of course, in answer to the OP, I think you have a great idea on paper, and as others have pointed out there will be a lot of logistical issues. Too many for most parishes! Let us trust in our pastors and bishops to figure out when to reopen Churches and how to best handle the reception of the Sacraments in the months thereafter.

 

[Gorgias]

Administer Holy Communion ONCE when Mass resumes and not again until either (a) the Coronavirus is over, (b) offer privately to someone on their deathbed, (c ) First Communions, or (d) next Easter.

In other words, I would suggest Bishops limit people from receiving communion to once a year until the threat is gone

Except that this presumes that everyone will be able to attend and receive on that weekend.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

No, I meant three Masses per priest , not three Masses per parish , where a priest serves more than one parish. Small rural parishes might have to make do with one Mass per weekend — better something than nothing.

This is most likely going to be the case as our archdiocese opens up. At least for the larger, urban parishes like ours. They’re already talking about receiving permission for our priests to say four Sunday Masses. Nothing more elaborate than a single cantor for the music, bare bones, bare minimum. Masses finished in an hour tops. Immediate ushering of the faithful out. Sanitation crew to clean the pews in 20 min. before the next Mass begins. Masses beginning at 6AM Sunday and the last one ending 11PM Sunday for a total of like 12 Masses.

Sounds like a good plan. And keep the sermons short, and direct parishioners to the bulletin for announcements and other information.

Maybe open the “Sunday Mass window” to anytime after noon on Saturday (similar to what they do at the cathedral in Las Vegas)?

Could you clarify what you mean here? I’m not sure if priests or even bishops have the authority to celebrate the Sunday liturgy earlier than would normally be allowed for the Anticipated Mass of Sunday (i.e. “the vigil”). If instead you mean have the archbishop extend the possibility of satisfying the Sunday obligation into earlier Saturday morning/afternoon, I honestly don’t think bringing back the obligation at all is going to happen any time soon, and for good reason.

That’s why I said “window” instead of “obligation” — designate, let’s say, noon Saturday through 8 pm on Sunday as “Sunday Mass time”. There can’t be any “obligation” until people are freely able to attend Sunday Mass at will, and that may not happen for a while. Churches and schools are two of the most difficult places to impose “social distancing”.

While the Church is at it, I would also like to see everyone dispensed from their Easter duty and their yearly confession duty until this is all over. The logistics probably aren’t going to allow either one.

Of course, the Holy Father is going to read this, say “yes, HSD, you’re quite right, couldn’t have said it any better myself, I’ll get right on it”