The anointing of the hands has absolutely nothing to do with touching the Blessed Sacrament. Were that the case, Eastern Catholic priests, all Catholic deacons and the laity would not be allowed to touch the Blessed Sacrament.The anointing of the priests hands when ordained is not only about touching the consecrated elements. The anointing of the hands is a meaningful sign of service and other sacred duties as well, blessing, anointing and administering the other sacraments.
Besides, other people’s hands touch the Blessed Sacrament…lay ministers of the Eucharist and all who receive in their hand.
I fixed it for you.Good point. The priest’s hands are consecrated to God. There is no Eucharist without -]the hands of/-] a priest.
-Tim-
Who said anything about a woman? That’s not what we are discussing.A priest could not celebrate Mass and confect the Eucharist without hands. If—God forbid—a priest lost his hands in an accident he could not celebrate Mass again. It’s not that he wouldn’t be able to move the missal or elevate the chalice… he would be unable to actually offer the Holy Sacrifice. As a woman no matter what arrogant pretensions she has by playing dress up could not offer the Holy Sacrifice so a priest without hands simply cannot.
No one said any thing about a woman. I used a woman as an example. A priest without hands cannot confect the Most Holy Eucharist just like a woman never can. It just doesn’t happen when they try to do so. The priest’s hands are absolutely necessary.Who said anything about a woman? That’s not what we are discussing.
You are incorrect. Depending on the situation he could most certainly celebrate the Eucharist. Someone else (a deacon or altar server) could flip the pages of the missal. Someone else could even assist him in elevating the chalice and the host.A priest could not celebrate Mass and confect the Eucharist without hands. If—God forbid—a priest lost his hands in an accident he could not celebrate Mass again. It’s not that he wouldn’t be able to move the missal or elevate the chalice… he would be unable to actually offer the Holy Sacrifice. As a woman no matter what arrogant pretensions she has by playing dress up could not offer the Holy Sacrifice so a priest without hands simply cannot.
If you would read my post carefully I said that being able to move the missal or elevate the chalice has nothing to do with it. A priest needs his hands to confect the Most Holy Eucharist. If he doesn’t have hands then he cannot celebrate the Sacrament. Swinging a thurible is not celebrating the Sacrament.You are incorrect. Depending on the situation he could most certainly celebrate the Eucharist. Someone else (a deacon or altar server) could flip the pages of the missal. Someone else could even assist him in elevating the chalice and the host.
Please don’t spread misinformation like this again.
You’re wrong. If a priest lost his hands to an accident or some sort of disease, that would not necessarily preclude him from celebrating the Mass. You are mistaken about that.If you would read my post carefully I said that being able to move the missal or elevate the chalice has nothing to do with it. A priest needs his hands to confect the Most Holy Eucharist. If he doesn’t have hands then he cannot celebrate the Sacrament. Swinging a thurible is not celebrating the Sacrament.
I may very well be wrong though I don’t believe I am. If someone more knowledgeable in this area would like to chime in then by all means please do so.