Purification of Chalices

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In my Parish, Holy Communion is offered under both species, and the Chalices are still being purified by lay persons after the Mass.
 
In my Parish, Communion under both species, and the Priest purifies all vessels.
 
In my parish Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion purify all of the chalices.I wrote a polite letter to my Parish Priest with references to the General instruction of the Roman missal and the recent reply to the the American Bishops by the Holy See on this matter.
I got a reply that they are going to continue as they are as it is the CUSTOM of the Diocese:confused:
I then wrote a polite letter to my Bishop and he replied that I was quite correct that lay persons cannot purify the Chalices, but It was hard to change a 25 year old custom( no idea where 25 years come from).He also said that maybe in the future the Bishops of England and Wales might sort it out.
My next letter will be to Cardinal Arinze in Rome
 
Hi Robin,

Yes, it is frustrating to see instructions ignored, and refreshing to see the problem handled respectfully and according to instructions, as you are doing.

I will not even question this practice in my parish, since I do not see how the priest could purify all the chalices, especially when it is necessary for him to celebrate 2 Masses in a row.

Also it really isn’t logical to me to prohibit the EMHC from purifying, when he/she is instructed to consume any Precious Blood remaining in the Chalice.

Lux
 
Lux_et_Tenebrae said:
Hi Robin,

Yes, it is frustrating to see instructions ignored, and refreshing to see the problem handled respectfully and according to instructions, as you are doing.

I will not even question this practice in my parish, since I do not see how the priest could purify all the chalices, especially when it is necessary for him to celebrate 2 Masses in a row.

Also it really isn’t logical to me to prohibit the EMHC from purifying, when he/she is instructed to consume any Precious Blood remaining in the Chalice.

Lux
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Hello Lux et Tenebrae
You raise two good points the first relates to how a priest can purify all the Chalices when he has to celebrate 2 masses in a row.Well priests have been doing this for hundreds of years every Sunday but I think your point relates to several Chalices at every mass when Communion is given under both kinds.
In 2006 the American Bishops asked Rome for the rules to be relaxed they were told NO, the American Bishops to there credit produced a resourse called “seven questions on the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds”.
Question 7 deals with the problem of to many chalices for a Priest to purify and the American Bishops state in that case Communion should be given only under Consecrated bread.
The second point you raise is to do with the difference of consuming the precious blood and purifying the Chalices, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may consume what is left in the Chalice with permission of there Bishop under Question 4 but at no point are they allowed to purify the Chalices
I hope this is of help.
 
Communion under both species at my parish, priest purifies all vessels.
 
Our parish changed in…January was it? Whenever the new ordinances went into effect. Now the priest or deacon does it, not the EMHCs anymore.
 
Lux_et_Tenebrae said:
Hi Robin,
…

Also it really isn’t logical to me to prohibit the EMHC from purifying, when he/she is instructed to consume any Precious Blood remaining in the Chalice.

Lux
Click to expand...
This problem does not apply for Robin in England, only in the United States is there this instruction:
“When there are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop.”
(From “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America”, n. 52, at usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml ).

In England the only type of Extraordinary Minister who can do this is an instituted acolyte (who can also do the purification):
From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, as approved for England and the United States:

“284. … b.whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.”
 
John_Lilburne said:
This problem does not apply for Robin in England, only in the United States is there this instruction:
“When there are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop.”
(From “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America”, n. 52, at usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml ).

In England the only type of Extraordinary Minister who can do this is an instituted acolyte (who can also do the purification):
From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, as approved for England and the United States:

“284. … b.whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.”
Click to expand...
I didnt know that, thanks for clearing that up:thumbsup:
 
Hi,

Yes, I am familiar with the instructions, but I will not question the practice in my Parish for two reasons.

First I have not seen any official notification from the Bishops that the original instruction was changed. (Remember RS was not promulgated in all dioceses of the US until the First Sunday of Advent, even though it was written Holy Thursday)

Secondly, it does not seem logical to me that a lay person may consume, but not purify, so I will not question the fact that the instruction is not carried out. I doubt I will be asked to purify any chalices, but if I am asked, I will not refuse.

Lux
 
At masses where our deacons assist, they purify all the sacred vessels, however when not present, the celebrant, the priest does all the purification.
 
We have designated Sacristans at my parish. They are in charge of cleaning up everything after mass. This is seen as one more delegation of duties to take the overall load off the priest.
 
Hi,

If these sacristants are not instituted acolytes, they are lay people, and therefore should not be purifying since the indult expired.

Lux
 
Lux_et_Tenebrae said:
Hi,

If these sacristants are not instituted acolytes, they are lay people, and therefore should not be purifying since the indult expired.

Lux
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Instituted Acolytes ARE laymen.

Since Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem was promugated, the minor orders of clerics were surpressed in the Latin Rite. So both Instituted Readers and Instituted Acolytes are not in the clerical state, but are lay men.

But you are quite correct in that if they are not Instituted Acolytes, they are not permitted to purify the vessels.
 
We have a 91 year old ‘retired’ priest in residence at our parish. He comes out at each Mass to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion.

He is usually the one who purifies the vessels, if not, it’s one of the Deacons.

We don’t use EMHC’s at our parish, with the possible exception of when one of the seminarians from our parish is home for the weekend\summer
 
NewUlm1976_2000 said:
We have designated Sacristans at my parish. They are in charge of cleaning up everything after mass. This is seen as one more delegation of duties to take the overall load off the priest.
Click to expand...
If a priest is too busy to do his priestly functions, than he is too busy.
 
What does a lay person have to do to become an instituted acolyte?

Can both sexes be an instituted acolyte or just males?
 
Jerry-Jet said:
What does a lay person have to do to become an instituted acolyte?
Click to expand...
,
IIRC, only two diocese in the US Institute Acolytes to men who are not being considered to Holy Orders. Thoser are Lincoln NE, and Baker, OR
Can both sexes be an instituted acolyte or just males?
Click to expand...
No, both Instutied Lector and Institued Acolyte are reserved to men only.
 
Lux_et_Tenebrae said:
Does anyone have instituted acolytes at their Parish?

Lux
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We do, we have 6 seminarians at our parish, 3 of whom are Instituted Acolytes. They serve as such when they are home for weekends and the summer.

In addition, we also have an Ordained Sub-Deacon (a Chaldean), He was ordinaed to the Minor Order of Acolyte prior to being Ordained at Sub-Deacon. He will also serve as an Acolyte.
 
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