Probably a stupid question for priests

[FrDavid96]

Apparently it is not a good practice to keep that many Hosts reserved in the tabernacle. See the GIRM # 85. See also Redemptionis Sacramentum #129.

Zab,
I don’t think anyone is disputing what the Church says, that to receive Communion consecrated at that particular Mass is not only “recommended” but “desirable.” We’re discussing the practical aspects of what is, or might be, done if the priest distributing runs out of consecrated Hosts, and a part of that is to discuss how priests prevent this very undesirable situation (of not having enough) from happening in the first place.

 

[zab]

Zab,
I don’t think anyone is disputing what the Church says, that to receive Communion consecrated at that particular Mass is not only “recommended” but “desirable.” We’re discussing the practical aspects of what is, or might be, done if the priest distributing runs out of consecrated Hosts, and a part of that is to discuss how priests prevent this very undesirable situation (of not having enough) from happening in the first place.

I know what we are discussing and I find that your post in which you said “most of the time, a parish will keep the quantity for one average Sunday Mass in the tabernacle.” is either inaccurate or confusing to say the least. This begs the question, how long do those reserved Hosts stay in the tabernacle? The “old” Hosts are used first. So if the reserved Hosts in the tabernacle (quantiy enough for a Sunday Mass) are used first, then how many people attending that Mass receive a Host that was consecrated at that Mass?

 

[Sancto_Spiritu]

I know what we are discussing and I find that your post in which you said “most of the time, a parish will keep the quantity for one average Sunday Mass in the tabernacle.” is either inaccurate or confusing to say the least. This begs the question, how long do those reserved Hosts stay in the tabernacle? The “old” Hosts are used first. So if the reserved Hosts in the tabernacle (quantiy enough for a Sunday Mass) are used first, then how many people attending that Mass receive a Host that was consecrated at that Mass?

I would imagine that the Body of Christ is consumed on a schedule that allows for their Earthly properties to be such that they are edible. I imagine there is a proscribed manner in which excess pieces of the Blessed Sacrament are destroyed appropriately if they become inedible. Perhaps by burning?

 

[FrDavid96]

I know what we are discussing and I find that your post in which you said “most of the time, a parish will keep the quantity for one average Sunday Mass in the tabernacle.” is either inaccurate or confusing to say the least. This begs the question, how long do those reserved Hosts stay in the tabernacle? The “old” Hosts are used first. So if the reserved Hosts in the tabernacle (quantiy enough for a Sunday Mass) are used first, then how many people attending that Mass receive a Host that was consecrated at that Mass?

Well, as for the first question: generally no more than a month.

As for the second question, I’ve never actually tried to “calculate” that one. It varries, of course, so it realy would not be possible to answer that.

Interresting questions.

 

[zab]

Well, as for the first question: generally no more than a month.

As for the second question, I’ve never actually tried to “calculate” that one. It varries, of course, so it realy would not be possible to answer that.

Interresting questions.

Interesting answers. I’m trying to understand how that quantity for an average Sunday Mass gets depleted in a month and then another quantity of the same amount is kept in the tabernacle.

 

[Bluegoat]

I once knew of an occasion where there was a miscalculation in the number of people who received. It was a wedding, and somehow the priest thought the majority of the guests were not Catholic, but as it turned out, they were.

Is consecrating more allowed in other rites? I know it is allowed in the Anglican Church, though I’m not sure what the procedure is, I’ve never seen it happen.

I have seen it happen that the priest consecrated way to much and had to drink a lot more than he intended.

If the there is a reason hosts can’t be consumed, I believe they are buried, like the dregs from the purificators, but I could be wrong.

 

[FrDavid96]

Interesting answers. I’m trying to understand how that quantity for an average Sunday Mass gets depleted in a month and then another quantity of the same amount is kept in the tabernacle.

Well, it’s done by “rotating” the Hosts in the tabernacle. At every Sunday Mass, new hosts get consecrated. Some of those newly-consecrated Hosts are distributed, some of the already consecrated Hosts get distributed, and whatever is left I put in the tabernacle.

Sometimes the tabernacle has more, sometimes less, but in very general terms, on average, there are about as many Hosts in the tabernacle as a priest would distribute at an average Sunday Mass. There’s no set number. Bigger parishes tend to keep more in the tabernacle, smaller parishes keep less. The key phrase here is “very general terms.” It’s not as if priests calculate the annual average for a Sunday Mass and keep exactly that amount in the tabernacle at any given moment, so don’t read too much into the “average” part.

Occasionally, I make it a point to distribute all the Hosts in the tabernacle, just to make sure they don’t get too old. I usually “plan” this a little by making sure that the week prior, is a week where there’s “a little less” than average. By making sure I have less than I need in the tabernacle at the start, I know that at the end of Mass, the newly-consecrated ones will be the only ones that get placed in the tabernacle. Personally, I like to do this on the first Sunday of every month, just as a little “memory device.” Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way–so the schedule isn’t “carved in stone” or anything. I also consecrate a new large host for adoration/benediction on the first Sunday of every month for the same reason (that part I do keep very regular), so doing both at the same time likewise helps me to keep track.

 

[zab]

Well, it’s done by “rotating” the Hosts in the tabernacle. At every Sunday Mass, new hosts get consecrated. Some of those newly-consecrated Hosts are distributed, some of the already consecrated Hosts get distributed, and whatever is left I put in the tabernacle.

Sometimes the tabernacle has more, sometimes less, but in very general terms, on average, there are about as many Hosts in the tabernacle as a priest would distribute at an average Sunday Mass. There’s no set number. Bigger parishes tend to keep more in the tabernacle, smaller parishes keep less. The key phrase here is “very general terms.” It’s not as if priests calculate the annual average for a Sunday Mass and keep exactly that amount in the tabernacle at any given moment, so don’t read too much into the “average” part.

Occasionally, I make it a point to distribute all the Hosts in the tabernacle, just to make sure they don’t get too old. I usually “plan” this a little by making sure that the week prior, is a week where there’s “a little less” than average. By making sure I have less than I need in the tabernacle at the start, I know that at the end of Mass, the newly-consecrated ones will be the only ones that get placed in the tabernacle. Personally, I like to do this on the first Sunday of every month, just as a little “memory device.” Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way–so the schedule isn’t “carved in stone” or anything. I also consecrate a new large host for adoration/benediction on the first Sunday of every month for the same reason (that part I do keep very regular), so doing both at the same time likewise helps me to keep track.

It’s a good thing nothing you said is carved in stone - so far 5 of 7 First Fridays in 2009 came before the First Sunday

 

[jblake]

Bluegoat;:

I know it is allowed in the Anglican Church, though I’m not sure what the procedure is,

Basically, the priest goes back four pages, and repeats everything.

###From the Book of Common Prayer for THE CHURCH IN THE PROVINCE OF THE
WEST INDIES

THE ORDER FOR A SECOND CONSECRATION

The Priest shall take pains to ensure that the Consecrated Elements are sufficient to communicate all who desire to receive Holy Communion. If, however, they do not suffice, he shall use the following prayer to consecrate more in either kind.
HEAR us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and vouchsafe to bless and sanctify this (these) thy gift (s) and creature (s) of bread (and) wine, that it (they) may be unto us the Body (and) Blood of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
If there be need to consecrate bread only, he shall add Who in the same night, etc.
Or if to consecrate wine only, he shall add Likewise after supper, etc.
jonathon

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I once knew of an occasion where there was a miscalculation in the number of people who received. It was a wedding, and somehow the priest thought the majority of the guests were not Catholic, but as it turned out, they were.

Is consecrating more allowed in other rites? I know it is allowed in the Anglican Church, though I’m not sure what the procedure is, I’ve never seen it happen.

I have seen it happen that the priest consecrated way to much and had to drink a lot more than he intended.

If the there is a reason hosts can’t be consumed, I believe they are buried, like the dregs from the purificators, but I could be wrong.

No, never in the Catholic church. When necessary (which is hardly ever), the host would be dissolved in water until the accidents of bread are no longer present. The water would probably be poured on the garden.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

NO. Didn’t you read what Fr. David wrote?

First of all, most parishes do not provide the Blood of Christ to the congregation - it’s just not necessary. I have seen the Blood run out, many times - particularly when it is given on a Sunday. It’s far too difficult to determine the volume needed - how many will receive, how much will each take (some receive with a small sip, others take a mouth-full). In the case of the Host, this can be broken in half, and, if necessary, in quarters, since we receive the whole of Jesus in any piece big enough to be recognized as a part of the Host.

We are talking here about the Latin Rite, and it is forbidden to consecrate more.

Well don’t jump all over the man. He was just saying what Orthodox and Russian Catholics do. It doesn’t impact on Latin practice but it’s interesting to know. I think he was just quoting the OP, not asking again.