Purification of sacred vessels... water only?

[gez722]

Is it true that only water or wine can be used to purify the chalice? From what I read in the GIRM, that appears to be the case, but I may be misinterpreting something. In my parish, the chalices are first purifed using water (which is consumed) and then they are washed using liquid dish detergent and water in preparation for use at the next Mass. Since these chalices are used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation it seems that we’d have to use something stonger than just water to get all of the germs off. Is this a violation or is this not considered purification since they have already been rinsed with water?

God Bless,
Gary

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Is it true that only water or wine can be used to purify the chalice? From what I read in the GIRM, that appears to be the case, but I may be misinterpreting something. In my parish, the chalices are first purifed using water (which is consumed) and then they are washed using liquid dish detergent and water in preparation for use at the next Mass. Since these chalices are used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation it seems that we’d have to use something stonger than just water to get all of the germs off. Is this a violation or is this not considered purification since they have already been rinsed with water?

God Bless,
Gary

Water alone is sufficient for purification. I have never seen any parish use anything else. And no you should not run them through the dishwasher either.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Is it true that only water or wine can be used to purify the chalice? From what I read in the GIRM, that appears to be the case, but I may be misinterpreting something. In my parish, the chalices are first purifed using water (which is consumed) and then they are washed using liquid dish detergent and water in preparation for use at the next Mass. Since these chalices are used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation it seems that we’d have to use something stonger than just water to get all of the germs off. Is this a violation or is this not considered purification since they have already been rinsed with water?

God Bless,
Gary

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) is descibing how the ritual purifications are done. There is a prayer and it is part of the ceremony.

But it is not giving instructions on how to polish silver. This sort of cleaning will be necessary, but it is not part of the liturgy and so is not part of the GIRM.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“163. … Then, standing at the altar or at the credence table, he purifies the paten or ciborium over the chalice then purifies the chalice, saying quietly, Quod ore sumpsimus (Lord, may I receive), and dries the chalice with a purificator.”

The full prayer, to be said inaudibly, is: “Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and for ever.”

In n. 279 " The purification of the chalice is done with water alone or with wine and water, which is then drunk by whoever does the purification."

This is NOT saying:
– that the chalice is only to be cleaned at the credence table or altar;
– that all water used to clean a chalice is to be drunk by the person cleaning; or
– that only wine and water are to be used for cleaning a chalice.

 

[PerkyCurlz]

Purifying the vessels is one thing. This is done by the priest at the altar. Cleaning them after mass is completely different and can be done by anyone.

 

[gez722]

Purifying the vessels is one thing. This is done by the priest at the altar. Cleaning them after mass is completely different and can be done by anyone.

That’s what I thought. Thanks for clearing it up for me!

God Bless,
Gary

 

[G_S]

Purifying the vessels is one thing. This is done by the priest at the altar. Cleaning them after mass is completely different and can be done by anyone.

Well, not exactly. They may be purified at the credance table or later. Also, a priest, deacon, or instituted acolyte may purify. Cleaning can be done by anyone – although this wasn’t always permitted either.

 

[fall_fox]

Is it true that only water or wine can be used to purify the chalice? From what I read in the GIRM, that appears to be the case, but I may be misinterpreting something. In my parish, the chalices are first purified using water (which is consumed) and then they are washed using liquid dish detergent and water in preparation for use at the next Mass. Since these chalices are used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation it seems that we’d have to use something stonger than just water to get all of the germs off. Is this a violation or is this not considered purification since they have already been rinsed with water?

God Bless,
Gary

It is true that water or wine may be used in the Purification, I can’t imagine why anyone would use wine though.
Our EMHC are still doing the Purification, I am trying to think of ways for our Priest or Deacon could do the Purification as painless as possible. I know that you can pour the water from one vessel to the other until you get to the last vessel and at that time it must be consumed by an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. My question to Father Serpa was, is it necessary to use the purificator at that time to dry the vessels? My point was that the vessels were going to be taken immediately to the Sacristy and washed. His answer was that it was not necessary to use it.
I don’t like the last part of the instructions of Purification, it says that the vessels may be taken back to the Sacristy, the EMHC may consume any Blood of Christ left in their Communion Cups, at that time a sacristan, probably an EMHC, may pour water from one cup to another including the last Cup. At that time, that Cup must be set aside until an Ordinary Minister returns to the Sacristy, he must consume the remainder of that last Cup. Now I’m not advocating that EMHC should do the Purification, not at all. But it does seem strange to me that we, EMHC may consume the remaining Blood of Christ from our Cups but we must to reserve that last Cup, which contains probably 99% water, for an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The Purification is an old Rite of the Church, and I feel it should be done on the Alter and not in a back room. If it is done on the Alter where the congregation can see, it lends importance to that act of Purification and also to what had been in those Cups, the Blood of Christ.

 

[fall_fox]

Is it true that only water or wine can be used to purify the chalice? From what I read in the GIRM, that appears to be the case, but I may be misinterpreting something. In my parish, the chalices are first purified using water (which is consumed) and then they are washed using liquid dish detergent and water in preparation for use at the next Mass. Since these chalices are used to distribute the Precious Blood to the congregation it seems that we’d have to use something stonger than just water to get all of the germs off. Is this a violation or is this not considered purification since they have already been rinsed with water?
God Bless,
Gary

fall fox

It is true that water or wine may be used in the Purification, I can’t imagine why anyone would use wine though.
Our EMHC are still doing the Purification, I am trying to think of ways for our Priest or Deacon could do the Purification as painless as possible. I know that you can pour the water from one vessel to the other until you get to the last vessel and at that time it must be consumed by an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. My question to Father Serpa was, is it necessary to use the purificator at that time to dry the vessels? My point was that the vessels were going to be taken immediately to the Sacristy and washed. His answer was that it was not necessary to use it.
I don’t like the last part of the instructions of Purification, it says that the vessels may be taken back to the Sacristy, the EMHC may consume any Blood of Christ left in their Communion Cups, at that time a sacristan, probably an EMHC, may pour water from one cup to another including the last Cup. At that time, that Cup must be set aside until an Ordinary Minister returns to the Sacristy, he must consume the remainder of that last Cup. Now I’m not advocating that EMHC should do the Purification, not at all. But it does seem strange to me that we, EMHC may consume the remaining Blood of Christ from our Cups but we must to reserve that last Cup, which contains probably 99% water, for an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The Purification is an old Rite of the Church, and I feel it should be done on the Alter and not in a back room. If it is done on the Alter where the congregation can see, it lends importance to that act of Purification and also to what had been in those Cups, the Blood of Christ.

 

[Brendan]

It is true that water or wine may be used in the Purification, I can’t imagine why anyone would use wine though.

In the Extraordinary Form ( Tridentine Mass), the rubrics require wine to be used in the purification process.

Our EMHC are still doing the Purification, I am trying to think of ways for our Priest or Deacon could do the Purification as painless as possible.

I presume that the priest and the deacon understand it is wrong for them to expect\instruct the EMHC’s to purify the vessels?

 

[fall_fox]

In the Extraordinary Form ( Tridentine Mass), the rubrics require wine to be used in the purification process.

Brendan,
thanks, I didn’t know that.

I presume that the priest and the deacon understand it is wrong for them to expect\instruct the EMHC’s to purify the vessels?

I don’t know if I would presume that, Father says to me that no one wants to see him doing the dishes.
I think also in there is that he doesn’t think the congregation wants to spend the time watching him do it.

 

[Joannm]

I don’t know if I would presume that, Father says to me that no one wants to see him doing the dishes.
I think also in there is that he doesn’t think the congregation wants to spend the time watching him do it.

In our parish the purification is done at the altar. It allows for the required period of silence after communion and it also shows the dignity and care that is afforded the sacred vessels that carry the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Likewise, the vessels are purified at the altar during Mass at my parish. After Mass, they are taken to the sacristy, given a second rinse of water which is poured down the sacrarium (a special sink most churches have that drains into the earth instead of the sewer), and finally washed with a gentle soap.