OK to use Mustum vs normal Wine at Mass?

[novusCatholic]

I’ve read that if a priest is a recovering alcoholic, he may obtain permission from his bishop to use mustum instead of normal wine at Mass.

(Mustum being a type of grape juice that contains only a very, very small amount of alcohol.)

My question:

If more than one chalice is used (a larger one for the priest and a few smaller ones for everyone else), then should normal wine be used in the smaller chalices (for everyone else) or is it OK to use the mustum in all of the chalices?

Thanks!

 

[Gorgias]

Yes, in normal cases, the priest would use mustum in his chalice and ‘normal’ wine in the chalices used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation.

 

[Petaro]

Let us all say a prayer for any priest who has found solace in his loneliness in alcohol. May our loving Jesus cure him of this terrible disease of the mind, and allow him to continue his duties we lay people are so desperate for.

 

[Gorgias]

Let us all say a prayer for any priest who has found solace in his loneliness in alcohol. May our loving Jesus cure him of this terrible disease of the mind, and allow him to continue his duties we lay people are so desperate for.

And, before we’re guilty of the sin of rash judgment, let’s also remember that alcoholism isn’t the only reason that a priest might need to use mustum; some have digestive ailments which do not allow for the consumption of alcohol…

 

[M-Dent]

From the US Bishops Conference,

What about people who cannot receive low-gluten hosts and cannot receive even a small amount of consecrated wine?

In such cases, the bishop may grant permission for individuals to receive mustum, a type of wine with a minimal alcohol content. If an individual is unable to tolerate mustum, there is little else the Church can do except to recommend that the person make a “spiritual communion.” Why? Because the Church believes that it is impossible to consecrate anything except wheat bread and grape wine. From the time that the Lord Jesus took bread and wine and told his disciples: “Do this in memory of me,” the Roman Catholic Church has tried faithfully to fulfill Christ’s command by taking unleavened bread made from water and wheat flour, and wine made from grapes for use at the Eucharist.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/celiac-sprue-disease.cfm

 

[M-Dent]

If more than one chalice is used (a larger one for the priest and a few smaller ones for everyone else), then should normal wine be used in the smaller chalices (for everyone else) or is it OK to use the mustum in all of the chalices?

An indult could be granted be for the individual(s) and not for all - unless some unusual cicumstances warranted the request?

From the US Bishops Conference,

In such cases, the bishop may grant permission for individuals to receive mustum, a type of wine with a minimal alcohol content. If an individual is unable to tolerate mustum, there is little else the Church can do except to recommend that the person make a “spiritual communion.” Why? Because the Church believes that it is impossible to consecrate anything except wheat bread and grape wine.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/celiac-sprue-disease.cfm

 

[FrDavid96]

I’ve read that if a priest is a recovering alcoholic, he may obtain permission from his bishop to use mustum instead of normal wine at Mass.

(Mustum being a type of grape juice that contains only a very, very small amount of alcohol.)

My question:

If more than one chalice is used (a larger one for the priest and a few smaller ones for everyone else), then should normal wine be used in the smaller chalices (for everyone else) or is it OK to use the mustum in all of the chalices?

Thanks!

This link provides the answers.
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030724_pane-senza-glutine_en.html

Note well: pay attention to the “at a concelebration” situations because the norms are different. One must read the document carefully.

 

[FrDavid96]

An indult could be granted be for the individual(s) and not for all - unless some unusual cicumstances warranted the request?

From the US Bishops Conference,

It’s not an indult. It’s permission from the local bishop.

And yes, it applies to individuals, not “for all.”

 

[M-Dent]

It’s not an indult. It’s permission from the local bishop.

And yes, it applies to individuals, not “for all.”

Thank you Fr. David.

 

[novusCatholic]

It’s not an indult. It’s permission from the local bishop.

And yes, it applies to individuals, not “for all.”

So the norm or expectation in this situation is for the priest to use mustum in his chalice (bishop grants permission to him individually), but normal wine in the smaller chailices for everyone else (for all)?

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

 

[FrDavid96]

So the norm or expectation in this situation is for the priest to use mustum in his chalice (bishop grants permission to him individually), but normal wine in the smaller chailices for everyone else (for all)?

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Well, not quite.

The norms themselves say that a priest can be given permission to use mustum (and here, I’ll caution that what a vintner might call “mustum” would be different than the way we use the word in a liturgical application) and that the con-celebrants use chalices with ordinary wine.

There is no actual provision that a second (or more) chalice with regular wine is prepared for the laity. That’s not mentioned in the norms. I do understand that some bishops have extrapolated what’s in the norms to permit that situation. I do not disagree with it (in fact, I agree completely), but it’s not actually in the document.

The reason why it’s important to make a distinction between individuals and everyone is that the norms say that the bishop can give permission to individuals. Practically speaking, that means that if a priest has permission to use low-gluten hosts, he can only use them for himself, and those others who need them. What cannot happen is that the pastor keeps a supply of unconsecrated low-gluten hosts for the parish, and uses only those hosts for the entire parish. He may say “Father John Doe may use low-gluten hosts” but he may not say “St Mary’s parish may use low-gluten hosts.”

 

[FrDavid96]

I’ve read that if a priest is a recovering alcoholic, he may obtain permission from his bishop to use mustum instead of normal wine at Mass.

(Mustum being a type of grape juice that contains only a very, very small amount of alcohol.)

My question:

If more than one chalice is used (a larger one for the priest and a few smaller ones for everyone else), then should normal wine be used in the smaller chalices (for everyone else) or is it OK to use the mustum in all of the chalices?

Thanks!

I got a bit distracted there with the host issue. That wasn’t your question.

As to what you actually asked, only the priest would use mustum.

The two options would be:

1. Only the priest receives from the chalice.
2. More than one chalice is prepared. The one for the priest alone, using mustum and the one for everyone else using normal wine.

What would not be an option is that everyone receives the Precious Blood as the mustum wine.

 

[novusCatholic]

I got a bit distracted there with the host issue. That wasn’t your question.

As to what you actually asked, only the priest would use mustum.

The two options would be:

1. Only the priest receives from the chalice.
2. More than one chalice is prepared. The one for the priest alone, using mustum and the one for everyone else using normal wine.

What would not be an option is that everyone receives the Precious Blood as the mustum wine.

Thanks very much Fr. David. I appreciate the info.

This happened recently at a local parish with a visiting priest. I don’t plan to say anything, but it’s good to know.

 

[InThePew]

The reason why it’s important to make a distinction between individuals and everyone is that the norms say that the bishop can give permission to individuals. Practically speaking, that means that if a priest has permission to use low-gluten hosts, he can only use them for himself, and those others who need them. What cannot happen is that the pastor keeps a supply of unconsecrated low-gluten hosts for the parish, and uses only those hosts for the entire parish. He may say “Father John Doe may use low-gluten hosts” but he may not say “St Mary’s parish may use low-gluten hosts.”

Just picking up on this, a pastor will commonly be required to consume surplus or reserved consecrated hosts as a proper means of disposing of them (I am aware that there are other appropriate means). Given this, why would it not be acceptable for him to use low-gluten hosts for the entire parish? I get the individual / everyone distinction but I’m just thinking in practical terms…

 

[FrDavid96]

Just picking up on this, a pastor will commonly be required to consume surplus or reserved consecrated hosts as a proper means of disposing of them (I am aware that there are other appropriate means). Given this, why would it not be acceptable for him to use low-gluten hosts for the entire parish? I get the individual / everyone distinction but I’m just thinking in practical terms…

Because the low-gluten hosts are an exception that is meant to accommodate special circumstances. It’s not the normal way of making bread from wheat flour. It’s fine to make an adjustment for those who need it, but it should not be imposed on everyone.

I can see (or at least imagine) circumstances where it might make sense to allow an entire parish to use low-gluten hosts, so I am not saying that such a thing could never be done. I’m just saying that the current norms specify that the permission applies only to individuals.