Patens

[jfmarm81]

Thank you for all the replies. I have found out that my parish does have patens, but they are in storage or something. I think I’m going to ask my pastor if we could perhaps start using them again…

 

[japhy]

Is tenens a gerund as in the English, or simply a present tense as with “approaches”? And can we exclude the possibility that the antecedent or subject of this particular verb could be someone other than the communicant?

This issue (who holds the paten, and why the English and Latin GIRMs say what they say) has come up before. As MarkThompson pointed out, tenens is an active present participle. It relates to the communicant holding the paten.

If, however, the Latin were communicandus, patina sub ore tenenda, it would mean “the communicant, a paten being held under [his] mouth”. That sounds more sensible to me, because it doesn’t say WHO holds the paten, it just says that a paten is being held. But that’s not what the Latin says. Perhaps it warrants a correction at the highest level, no?

 

[ProVobis]

If, however, the Latin were communicandus, patina sub ore tenenda, it would mean “the communicant, a paten being held under [his] mouth”. That sounds more sensible to me, because it doesn’t say WHO holds the paten, it just says that a paten is being held. But that’s not what the Latin says. Perhaps it warrants a correction at the highest level, no?

You have a point there. After all, the servers generally hold the paten under their own mouths (chins, actually) when they receive.

 

[lizaanne]

Thank you for all the replies. I have found out that my parish does have patens, but they are in storage or something. I think I’m going to ask my pastor if we could perhaps start using them again…

I think that’s an awesome idea! I hope he is receptive. In addition to their obvious purpose, you can also mention to Father that it will instill in the altar servers another level of responsibility when serving at the altar, and a greater appreciation for the Holy Eucharist.

~Liza

 

[MarkThompson]

If, however, the Latin were communicandus, patina sub ore tenenda, it would mean “the communicant, a paten being held under [his] mouth”. That sounds more sensible to me, because it doesn’t say WHO holds the paten, it just says that a paten is being held. But that’s not what the Latin says. Perhaps it warrants a correction at the highest level, no?

It would have to be patina sub ore tenta, from the fourth principal part (“with a paten held under the mouth”). With tenenda, the phrase would cash out more or less to “with the paten (in the state of) being supposed-to-be-held under the mouth,” an odd-sounding construction.

 

[ProVobis]

If, however, the Latin were communicandus, patina sub ore tenenda, it would mean “the communicant, a paten being held under [his] mouth”.

Actually os, oris can mean more than “mouth.” It could mean “face, countenance, mouth, opening, etc.” As servers we were instructed to hold the paten under the chin of the communicant, including ourselves. IMO, that would be the intent of os in this case.

 

[stanncie]

They use patens at my church Of course most people receive on the tongue so that can be the reason

 

[asia53]

Most of the parishes in my area have returned to using patens.

A couple of months ago, we started using patens again.