One hand at the consecration?

[VincentO]

Hi there

I’m from the UK but I’m sure things shouldn’t be that different to anywhere else (I see most of you guys are from North America)

Anyway - my question is this:

During the consecration and at the elevation (of both Body and Blood) one of the priests on our parish uses only one hand to hold the host/chalice.

In fact, some times when he says ‘Take this, all of you…’ he kind of swings the contents of his hand from left to right - like he is showing us.

I’m not sure I’ve seen this very often, or anywhere else - but I much prefer two hands.

What do you think? Is this an abuse?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

It’s not an abuse. In the Mass of Pius V (Tridentine Mass) the rubrics were very precise about the placement of hands and fingers. In the Mass of Paul VI there is little in the way of directives on this. Thus, it is a matter of “personal style” whether one or two hands is used. Personally, I prefer two and always use two when I elevate the chalice in the Latin Rite. In the Byzantine Rite the deacon elevated the discos (paten) and chalice and that requires two hands so the issue never comes up there.

Deacon Ed

 

[VincentO]

Thanks for the reply

I guess I just thought it looked ‘wrong’. The two handed approach seems more reverent to me. I really felt like holding the chalice with one hand looked awfully like saying ‘cheers’ to the congregation

Anyway, it’s just a matter of opinion.

Thanks again

Vince

 

[_veritas]

I would tend to agree with the Deacon, I don’t believe it says “two-hands” anywhere in the GIRM Then again, reverence is definitely prescribed in the GIRM… and many other things that aren’t expressly forbidden in the GIRM are not “allowed by default” since the GIRM is more of a general prescription, not an all-inclusive legal brief.

I do have experience of this kind of thing however, there is a priest at a parish near me that does the same thing (including swinging his arm around to “show” us all Jesus, though he does it slowly enough that it does not look like he is being irreverent)

If this is a parish you regularly go to, you might politely ask the priest why he is inclined to do the one-hand lift (OHL? )? It may be that he has not really thought about why before, it may just “seem natural”… I might also suggest that you mention that you are concerned about there being particles possibly being dropped due to the hand movement away from the corporal/paten.

At least it isn’t like another Mass I was at where the priest took the host in both hands, threw them up above his head, paused for a second and then at the Consecration words SNAP, broke the host in two and flung his arms out to either side of him!!

I guess I would prefer a (reverent) OHL over that any day!! :nope:

+veritas+

 

[Trad_Catholic]

To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a time in Church history when one hand would be used… it makes no sense to do this, especially to pass the chalice from one hand to the other, unles he is putting on some sort of show. The rubrics certainly make clear that the Priest must be holding the chalice or the Host for the entire Words of Consecration (or it may be invalid?). In any event, I think I know what you mean about how they will hold up the host about eye level (basically already elevated for the Elevation) and look around, looking into people’s eyes as if he were concelbrating with them for the Consecration. I don’t go to NO anymore, though, but that was my experience with those who did not follow the rubrics (about holding the host up and turning, loking at others, etc., while the rubrics make it clear that one must bow down as profoundly while saying the Words of Consecration). I would say the passing business is certainly a very large abuse. The one hand could be, as well. I will look to see if I can find anything on that. God bless.

 

[VincentO]

Thanks for you comments everyone

I guess for me it’s just a matter of preference. To me, the manner the priest uses doesn’t seem reverent…it seems more of a show. I think that yes, he is trying to include us in the celebration, but something just isn’t right about it.

The gestures he uses aren’t too extravangant or showy but still are more exaggerated than I’m used to. Normally at the words of the consecration I’m used to priests holding the host/chalice fairly low, and often with themselves slightly inclined over it - with a full elevation following.

I just feel the priest at hand is too relaxed. The others are much more sincere - but then…what to do? I don’t feel it’s fair to say to someone “I don’ t like your style”!

I guess I’m too much of a complainer!

Vince

 

[deogratias]

Has it occurred to anyone that he might have a physical handicap preventing him from using both hands?

At the Mass I attended Sunday, prior to Mass beginning we were told the celebrating priest had a physical ailment which prevented him from fully elevating the chalice (and since this Mass was said Ad Orientum we would not be able to see it) and that he would turn slightly so we could see the chalice during consecration. Actually he turned around and then back.

I know there are older priests with bad shoulders, bad backs, bad knees just like the rest of us seasoned citizens who cannot always physicallty perform -

 

[Mike_C]

“… unles he is putting on some sort of show.”
do you think?
Yes, I can see that if a priest has physical ailments that prevent him from FULLY elevating the chalice. (The Carthusians in their rite do not elevate the chalice at all.) But I have seen priests who elevate the host with one hand. Why?