Mixed ciborium...

[e_c]

Suppose your sacristan doesn’t understand what is in the tabernacle. Not in the transcendent sense of “understanding,” but just plain old doesn’t get it. So, because there aren’t enough hosts in there before mass, he just goes ahead and adds a few.

What is the proper procedure? Consumption? Annihilation?

Is that written down anywhere?

It’s a hypothetical… for me, at least. I know it happens.

 

[adrift]

I am unclear are these host consecrated by the priest?

Have you talked to the priest? He should be informed not good

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Suppose your sacristan doesn’t understand what is in the tabernacle. Not in the transcendent sense of “understanding,” but just plain old doesn’t get it. So, because there aren’t enough hosts in there before mass, he just goes ahead and adds a few.

What is the proper procedure? Consumption? Annihilation?

Is that written down anywhere?

It’s a hypothetical… for me, at least. I know it happens.

There is a procedure for resolving such a problem. The priest must either conditionally consecrate all the hosts in the ciborium or absolutely consecrate the unconsecrated hosts in the ciborium; he may choose either intention and follow the procedure in his first Mass after such an occurrence. This, along with many other scenarios of what can go wrong, is an aspect of what is covered in a priest’s training in liturgy and sacraments.

What exactly do you mean when you say “I know it happens,” please?

 

[e_c]

I thought about conditional consecration. Have never heard of it though… Can you point to a document?

You would hope it’s covered in seminary, but trust me, not everything is covered in seminary!

I know it happens because the Church is big and there’s a lot of confusion out there.

 

[Bonnie]

It almost happened at a parish my husband worked at. One Sunday a Eucharistic Minister ran out of consecrated hosts. She told my husband she would go back to the sacristy & get some more. He knew there were only unconsecrated hosts there, so he stopped her. He tried to explain, but she was having a hard time understanding.

 

[Elizium23]

It almost happened at a parish my husband worked at. One Sunday a Eucharistic Minister ran out of consecrated hosts. She told my husband she would go back to the sacristy & get some more. He knew there were only unconsecrated hosts there, so he stopped her. He tried to explain, but she was having a hard time understanding.

If a Eucharistic Minister runs out of consecrated hosts, then he can simply consecrate more, the next time he says Mass.

And yes, the OP scenario happens, it happens. Scary, isn’t it.

 

[adrift]

If a Eucharistic Minister runs out of consecrated hosts, then he can simply consecrate more, the next time he says Mass.

And yes, the OP scenario happens, it happens. Scary, isn’t it.

Good one, I would add no Eucharistic Minister is a she.

 

[judynurse]

At our Vigil Mass the Priest is brought only unconsecrated Hosts and he does consecrate them at each Mass. I have also seen some added to the Ciborium at the Tabernacle in the main Church, and always have warned the Priest that some were added. Since I am a Sacristan only at the Vigil Mass now, if we are running short, the Priest’s instruction is to break them in half so all may receive. (We have a EMHC serving as an Host Minister along with the Priest, as well as two others who give the Chalice to those wishing to receive the Precious Blood on each side of the Altar). The Sacristan at your Church should know to warn Father of the presence of unconsecrated Hosts. The other answer is to have a smaller Ciborium dish with extra Hosts on the side table which holds the Chalices and bring them to the Altar, not add them to the ones in the Tabernacle. When a Priest sees the extra Ciborium he will know to consecrate them, since they were brought from the table and not inside the tabernacle. No unconsecrated Hosts should ever be added to those in the Tabernacle except by the Priest’s direction, when he will plan to consecrate them. All Sacristans should know of this, and others should not go adding more. It is the Sacristan’s responsibility to keep track of this. I certainly do! If we get a large crowd and many come in without enough Hosts added to the Ciborium brought up with the Cruet of wine, I add them so they will be consecrated by the Priest. We often have 5 or 6 left over, which the Priest consumes, since our Vigil Mass is held at the Parish Center for handicapped accessibility, and we have no Tabernacle there now.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I know this is a hypothetical question, but I would hope the sacristan has a good understanding of what the tabernacle contains.

 

[pianistclare]

Suppose your sacristan doesn’t understand what is in the tabernacle. Not in the transcendent sense of “understanding,” but just plain old doesn’t get it. So, because there aren’t enough hosts in there before mass, he just goes ahead and adds a few.

What is the proper procedure? Consumption? Annihilation?

Is that written down anywhere?

It’s a hypothetical… for me, at least. I know it happens.

Where are the unconsecrated hosts that are brought up during the offertory? THAT is where the unconsecrated hosts go.
Do you mean to say that the only hosts used at a Mass are previously consecrated ones out of the Tabernacle?
Why?

 

[paperwight66]

Where are the unconsecrated hosts that are brought up during the offertory? THAT is where the unconsecrated hosts go.
Do you mean to say that the only hosts used at a Mass are previously consecrated ones out of the Tabernacle?
Why?

In our parish, the daily early morning Mass uses the Hosts out of the Tabernacle for the people’s Communion, I believe. The sacristan just puts out on large altar-bread for the priest to use. I think this is to prevent the consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle building- up too much.

I have to say, I am staggered that any Catholic doesn’t realise that there is a difference between unconsecrated and consecrated, though!

 

[pianistclare]

In our parish, the daily early morning Mass uses the Hosts out of the Tabernacle for the people’s Communion, I believe. The sacristan just puts out on large altar-bread for the priest to use. I think this is to prevent the consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle building- up too much.

I have to say, I am staggered that any Catholic doesn’t realise that there is a difference between unconsecrated and consecrated, though!

Well yes, that 's the whole point.
But our priest has strict guidelines for how many “can stack up”.
He consecrates at daily mass.
There are only enough consecrated hosts in the tabernacle for the sick calls.
Never a huge amount.

 

[peter26]

No-one, unless specifically told to by the priest, should be putting unconsecrated hosts in the tabernacle. This is serious, as if the error is not discovered, some people are going to be receiving mere bread and not the Body of Christ. If you see it happen, tell the priest immediately. People make mistakes sometimes, but for the good of everyone it needs to be pointed out to them.

 

[thistle]

It almost happened at a parish my husband worked at. One Sunday a Eucharistic Minister ran out of consecrated hosts. She told my husband she would go back to the sacristy & get some more. He knew there were only unconsecrated hosts there, so he stopped her. He tried to explain, but she was having a hard time understanding.

The priest is a Eucharistic Minister. EMHC’s are not Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[thistle]

I thought about conditional consecration. Have never heard of it though… Can you point to a document?

You would hope it’s covered in seminary, but trust me, not everything is covered in seminary!

I know it happens because the Church is big and there’s a lot of confusion out there.

That is not proof of anything. You are simply speculating.

 

[TimothyH]

That is not proof of anything. You are simply speculating.

That’s right. Everyone assumes it is the other guy who is confused, not themselves.

No one stops to consider the fact that they might be the one who doesn’t understand. We are all infallible in our own minds.

Everyone watching what the sacristan does instead of putting their head down and praying like they ought. I think her left shoe might not have been tied either. And she wasn’t reverent enough when she lit the candles.

-Tim-

 

[pianistclare]

That’s right. Everyone assumes it is the other guy who is confused, not themselves.

No one stops to consider the fact that they might be the one who doesn’t understand. We are all infallible in our own minds.

Everyone watching what the sacristan does instead of putting their head down and praying like they ought. I think her left shoe might not have been tied either. And she wasn’t reverent enough when she lit the candles.

-Tim-

And it it’s a man…his pants are ripped!

(Inside joke)
God bless you Tim, nice to see you this frosty morning. :tiphat:

 

[tawny]

That’s right. Everyone assumes it is the other guy who is confused, not themselves.

No one stops to consider the fact that they might be the one who doesn’t understand. We are all infallible in our own minds.

Everyone watching what the sacristan does instead of putting their head down and praying like they ought. I think her left shoe might not have been tied either. And she wasn’t reverent enough when she lit the candles.

-Tim-

 

[reagent6]

If a Eucharistic Minister runs out of consecrated hosts, then he can simply consecrate more, the next time he says Mass.

Uhm, sure, unless he is a deacon. Deacons are ordinary minister of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

You would hope it’s covered in seminary, but trust me, not everything is covered in seminary!

I think Fr. Ruggero probably knows more about that than most of us do!