Purifying the cups after Mass

[sacristan1]

Can someone please qualify for me the term “Instituted Acolyte”.
In accordance with the new directive put out by the Vatican concerning purifying the cups after Mass, I am confused as to exactly what is meant by “instituted acolyte”, and if a sacrastan is permitted to purify the cups in the sacristy? I have a friend who is also a sacristan in another parish who was asked to purify the cups in the sacristy and told it was the sacristan’s job. I have read the directive and it clearly states it must be done by a priest, deacon or instituted acolyte and NOT to be done by the Eucharistic Ministers. We are very concerned about this.

 

[Brendan]

Can someone please qualify for me the term “Instituted Acolyte”.
In accordance with the new directive put out by the Vatican concerning purifying the cups after Mass, I am confused as to exactly what is meant by “instituted acolyte”, and if a sacrastan is permitted to purify the cups in the sacristy? I have a friend who is also a sacristan in another parish who was asked to purify the cups in the sacristy and told it was the sacristan’s job. I have read the directive and it clearly states it must be done by a priest, deacon or instituted acolyte and NOT to be done by the Eucharistic Ministers. We are very concerned about this.

An Institute Acolyte is a Post Vatican II ‘replacement’ for an ordained Acolyte.

Pope Paul VI created this role in 1972 in an Motu Proprio entitled Ministeria Quaedam

Note items 6 and 7.

catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/40/ContentIndex/390/Start/389

An Instituted Acolyte can only be a man ( women are not permitted to be installed in this role). It is also a requirement to be Ordained a Priest or a Deacon.

Because of this, most diocese only Install men who are studying to Holy Orders.

As you pointed out, Clerics and Institute Acolytes are the only one permitted to purify the Sacred Vessels.

The US had special permission (called an Indult) to use non Acolytes, but that permission expired several years ago. The US bishops sought to have that permission extended, but that request was denied by the Vatican.

 

[quiet52]

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are still purifying the sacred vessels after some of the masses. Not all priests will purify them after Holy Communion. One has health problems. The priests are greeting the people as they leave the church, while the EMHCs are purifying the vessels. We know about the document, but do as we’re instructed by the priests.

 

[Brendan]

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are still purifying the sacred vessels after some of the masses. Not all priests will purify them after Holy Communion. One has health problems.

Then the other priest should do it for him, problem solved.

The US Bishops noted this solution in their addendum to the Vatican’s letter.

1. What about those instances where there are many chalices and only one Priest to purify
   them?

When there are insufficient Priests, Deacons, or instituted acolytes to purify the additional
chalices during Mass, the purification may take place immediately after the Mass has concluded.
If such purification by ordinary ministers proves pastorally problematic, consideration should be
given to distribution of Holy Communion by intinction or to the distribution of Holy Communion under the form of consecrated bread alone.

The priests are greeting the people as they leave the church, while the EMHCs are purifying the vessels. We know about the document, but do as we’re instructed by the priests.

You know that your priest is being unfaithful to his Vow of Obedience and you assist him in it???

 

[Brendan]

Here is the letter from the Vatican on the subject,

(From the USCCB website)

nccbuscc.org/liturgy/cleansingofvessels.pdf

 

[Scotty_PGH]

georgiabulletin.org/local/2006/11/09/vessels/
Extraordinary Ministers Of Eucharist Will No Longer Purify Vessels At Mass
NANCY FRAZIER O’BRIEN, CNS
Published: November 9, 2006
WASHINGTON (CNS)—At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States.
In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter to him from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are still purifying the sacred vessels after some of the masses. Not all priests will purify them after Holy Communion. One has health problems. The priests are greeting the people as they leave the church, while the EMHCs are purifying the vessels. We know about the document, but do as we’re instructed by the priests.

You are assisting your priest in a grave matter (sacrilege), which very well could lead to a mortal sin.

 

[sacristan1]

Thanks so much to all of you who responded to this topic. I had a really bad feeling about this. Is confession necessary for a sacristan who has done this purification upon the instruction of her priest. Is it a mortal sin for the sacristan?
i

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are still purifying the sacred vessels after some of the masses. Not all priests will purify them after Holy Communion. One has health problems. The priests are greeting the people as they leave the church, while the EMHCs are purifying the vessels. We know about the document, but do as we’re instructed by the priests.

So you are doing what you know to be wrong! ???

 

[Brendan]

Thanks so much to all of you who responded to this topic. I had a really bad feeling about this. Is confession necessary for a sacristan who has done this purification upon the instruction of her priest. Is it a mortal sin for the sacristan?
i

If they knew of this directive, then yes, Confessing it would be a good idea.

If they had no knowledge, then there is no sin.

As far as Mortal Sin, it would be doubtful. The matter is Grave, but the Intent would most likely not be to direct and willful disobedience to Rome.

The priests instruction would most likely serve to reduce culpabilty, (but would add to the priest’s disobedience if he knew of the directive and still placed this request to a non Acolyte Sacristan.)

 

[sacristan1]

We all know about the directive, however, she did not want to be disobedient to her priest who told her to do this. Should the confession be to the priest making the request or to another priest? I’m so glad God has sent me to this forum. I have been so worried.

 

[Brendan]

We all know about the directive, however, she did not want to be disobedient to her priest who told her to do this. Should the confession be to the priest making the request or to another priest? I’m so glad God has sent me to this forum. I have been so worried.

Any priest with jurisdiction ( approval from the Bishop) can validly absolve, so it won’t matter Sacramentally.

As far as personally, that would be up to her personal comfort level.

 

[scylla]

This is common in our parish also, we are forced to do this as our parish director is a lady who doesn’t seem to be concerned about obedience to the Church. And woe to anyone who crosses her, it is very difficult to bring up stuff like this as we would be directed to the liturgy committee, who would refer us to her, who would refer us to the liturgy committee, etc…

Our hired priests rarely say anything or they are then not invited back. (this has happened to a priest who was retired and who cared about doing things right)

So what is the solution? I called the liturgical office in the diocese who brushed me off and didn’t want to talk about it.

It is difficult here in Southern California as disobedience is common and reinforced by people who seem to seek positions to help each other in this.

So what is a good Catholic to do? Leave the vessels out? Not purify them? And if the priest is gone and they wont institute acolytes in your diocese since it is “exclusive”.

It is difficult to serve and be obedient these days.
Scylla

 

[sacristan1]

I believe if we have been chosen by God to serve in these positions that we must be examples of following Jesus and obeying the rules of the Church. This directive was sent to us by the Holy Father and we must abide by it. However, we work directly under our Parish priest so I am so confused as to where the obedience begins for us. If we disobey our priest when we are asked by him to do something that we know is against the directive put out by the Holy Father, then are we responsible for our acts of disobedience to our priest? Or, on the other hand, do we obey our Priest and go against a directive put out by the Holy Father. Personally, I would rather challenge the Priest and have him show me something that says I can abide by his request and save myself the anxiety and burden of sinning against God whom I ultimately must answer to.

 

[agapewolf]

Can I make a clarification please?

There is a difference between purifying and cleansing (sanitizing).

Our priests (and ordained deacons and inst. acolytes) purify during the Mass after communion is done being distributed. Purification is the adding water, consuming the water, making sure anything left from the sacrament is consumed.

AFTER Mass,the EMHC bring the vessels (which are no longer holding anything from the Eucharist) to the sacristy to cleanse (sanitize).

Some people think its splitting hairs. I disagree. The priests still are guarding the blessed sacrament, keeping from carelessness to happen. The vessels are no longer holding anything to be guarded.

Just a thought that this might be going on at other parishes, and people might be quick to jump to conclusions.
This allows the priests to be with the people after Mass, yet still do their job of purification.

 

[sacristan1]

The priest purifies HIS chalice at Mass along with the ciborium. However, the cups are taken to the credence table by the EMHCs who consume any remaining Precious Blood then place the cups on the tray. The cups are not purified at the credence table but are carried back to the Sacristy where the Priest usually purifies them. But on occasion the Sacristans are asked to do the purification before they can clean the vessels. No splitting hairs here…this is what is happening. The question is “what are we supposed to do when asked by our priest to purify the cups”?

 

[quiet52]

The priest purifies HIS chalice at Mass along with the ciborium. However, the cups are taken to the credence table by the EMHCs who consume any remaining Precious Blood then place the cups on the tray. The cups are not purified at the credence table but are carried back to the Sacristy where the Priest usually purifies them. But on occasion the Sacristans are asked to do the purification before they can clean the vessels. No splitting hairs here…this is what is happening. The question is “what are we supposed to do when asked by our priest to purify the cups”?

The priests are aware of the Vatican directive. I don’t think the bishop is enforcing it. Our pastor purifies the vessels during his mass, but is aware that the other presiders usually don’t. I don’t think the solution is for the lay people to resign en masse over this (not that they would). I don’t believe we’re culpable for the disobedience of the priests. In some dioceses, lay people who bring the Eucharist to the homebound and hospital patients are required to also serve during their parish masses. I know I’m not worthy to purify the sacred vessels. But it needs to be done. Jesus knows what’s in our hearts, and he knows we’re praying for our priests.

 

[THurifer2]

Instituted Acolytes are one of the formerly four minor orders of the priesthood…of which were Porter, acolyte, lector and exorcist.

As brendan mentioned Pope Paul vi did away with the minor orders but continued with Lector and acolyte…Usually those roles are reserved for seminarians who are on their way to priesthood or permanent deaconate candidates who get “instituted” at some point during their formation process. THose are the obvious reasons why women cannot be instituted.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

You are assisting your priest in a grave matter (sacrilege), which very well could lead to a mortal sin.

from the Catholic Dictionary

sacrilege
(Latin: sacer, sacred; legere, to purloin)

The violation or irreverent treatment of sacred persons, places, or things. To be a sacrilege, this violation or irreverent treatment must touch that formality in the object by which it is sacred. Sacrilege is a sin opposed to the virtue of religion, and as such is a grave sin in grave matter. The definition suggests the threefold division of sacrilege; viz., personal, an irreverent treatment of sacred persons, such as the violent laying of hands on clerics or religious; local, a violation of a sacred place, such as committing certain crimes, as homicide in a church; real, a violation of sacred things, such as the unworthy reception of a sacrament of the living, or simony.

There is no intent to desecrate here, I was told by a very conservative Priest that unless it is a serious abuse (as defined by the Church–RS would be an example) we are to obey our Pastor, and the sin (if any ) would be his.

I would be very careful about advising someone to disobey his pastor. I would reverently discuss it, but resign from service rather than disobey my Pastor, if I felt I could not obey him.

Lux

 

[Brendan]

from the Catholic Dictionary

I would be very careful about advising someone to disobey his pastor. I would reverently discuss it, but resign from service rather than disobey my Pastor, if I felt I could not obey him.

Lux

Of course this person should resign from the ministry if her pastor is attempting to order disobedience.

The person should, in a kind way, inform her pastor exactly why she cannot continue in the ministry, and she should also educate remaining Sacristans on what their legitimate duties actually are.