Second washing of hands?

[Andres88]

I’ve seen in several Masses where a deacon is assisting the priest that there is a second washing of hands: the first one, the altar servers do it after the offertory. The second one, the altar servers do it while the deacon is purifying the vessels, and they approach the priest who is sitting on the Celebrant chair.

Is this normal, or is there a specific liturgical rule that at least mentions this second washing of hands?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I’ve seen in several Masses where a deacon is assisting the priest that there is a second washing of hands: the first one, the altar servers do it after the offertory. The second one, the altar servers do it while the deacon is purifying the vessels, and they approach the priest who is sitting on the Celebrant chair.

Is this normal, or is there a specific liturgical rule that at least mentions this second washing of hands?

They are not actually washing his hands; they are purifying those fingers with which he touched the Blessed Sacrament. That water has to be treated differently from the lavabo at the offertory; the former can be simply disposed of but the latter water must be put into the sacrarium.

When I purify the vessels (that is, when there is no deacon or acolyte to do so), I simply hold my two forefingers and two thumbs over the chalice or ciborium as the water is poured in. When there is a deacon or acolyte to do the purification, I accomplish the purification by using the ablution cup, beside the tabernacle, before going to the presider’s chair.

 

[Andres88]

Oh, I see. But is there some specific document that refers to this somewhere?

 

[Seeker2013]

Hi,
Very interesting and something that I hadn’t been able to see myself. Do Eucharistic Ministers have to do the same after they distribute the Host?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Oh, I see. But is there some specific document that refers to this somewhere?

Off the top of my head…it would be the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, paragraph 278. You would also find reference in the Ceremonial of Bishops, paragraph 166 – if I still remember correctly.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Hi,
Very interesting and something that I hadn’t been able to see myself. Do Eucharistic Ministers have to do the same after they distribute the Host?

If the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have fragments of the Host adhering to their fingers, then yes they need to do something. Seemingly, the prescriptions of what to do vary from one diocese to another and so I am not able to give you the answer beyond stating that they should ask their pastor or the one who oversees their ministry what they are to do in such a case.

I find that the hosts that I distribute do not tend to fragment as they did decades ago when the process of making hosts was different. The fragmentation that I will have on my fingers results rather from the fraction rite, which is now reserved to the ordained by and large.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), n. 278:

“The Purification
278. Whenever a fragment of the host adheres to his fingers, especially after the fraction or after the Communion of the faithful, the Priest should wipe his fingers over the paten or, if necessary, wash them. …”

There are many places in the GIRM where the distribution of communion is described as being done by the Priest, even though it may also be done by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The instruction to wash their fingers, if neccesary, in n. 278 would apply to them, even though they are not mentioned in it.

From the Ceremonial of Bishops:
“166 When the bishop returns to the chair after the communion, he puts on the skullcap and, if need be, washes his hands.”

 

[Blessedwithfive]

My kids just served the confirmation mass at our parish and the bishop washed his hands three times. After confirmation to remove the oil, the normal time, and at the end of Mass.

 

[TimothyH]

I have held a bowl of water and finger towel for priests to wash fragments of the Eucharist off their hands after distribution.

My parish has an Ablution Cup, a small container of water with a lid that sits next to the tabernacle so that the priest can rinse his fingers after he puts away the ciboria.

We have small ablution cups for the EMHC’s as well.

It is very common.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

My kids just served the confirmation mass at our parish and the bishop washed his hands three times. After confirmation to remove the oil, the normal time, and at the end of Mass.

There are various occasions in the liturgy when there is a need for a supplemental washing of the hands.

Where the rite involves the sacred chrism, often lemon is needed to help. This of course would involve not only Confirmation but the ordinations of bishops and priests, the dedication of churches and altars, and even baptisms.

On the other hand, I always included a small bar of soap for the hand washing that takes place after the Holy Thursday foot washing rite.

 

[Phemie]

There are various occasions in the liturgy when there is a need for a supplemental washing of the hands.

Where the rite involves the sacred chrism, often lemon is needed to help. This of course would involve not only Confirmation but the ordinations of bishops and priests, the dedication of churches and altars, and even baptisms.

On the other hand, I always included a small bar of soap for the hand washing that takes place after the Holy Thursday foot washing rite.

I’ve put out lemon for the bishop at Confirmation because his hand is generally covered with chrism, so lavishly did he apply it. We only put out a bit of soapy water for the priest who celebrates Baptism but you can generally taste the chrism on the Host when you receive Communion after a Baptism.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

In my diocese, the Bishop uses lemon & bread for removing Chrism from his hands. I understand the lemon juice part, as it acts as a grease-cutter, which is why many dish washing soaps have lemon juice in them.
The bread, he uses to soak everything up. What happens to it, I am not sure.

 

[GoGoDiego]

In our parish, Father washes his hands another time after he purifies the chalice.

During our school institutional Masses, the EMHCs wash their hands before communion and after communion, assisted by an altar server. Fr. Schol Director does not wash his hands after the purification, but Fr. Spiritual Director does.

On Ash Wednesday, after the distribution of ashes, Father washes his hands with water and alcohol. During my confirmation, the bishop simply wiped his fingers after anointing

 

[Phemie]

In our parish, Father washes his hands another time after he purifies the chalice.

During our school institutional Masses, the EMHCs wash their hands before communion and after communion, assisted by an altar server. Fr. Schol Director does not wash his hands after the purification, but Fr. Spiritual Director does.

On Ash Wednesday, after the distribution of ashes, Father washes his hands with water and alcohol. During my confirmation, the bishop simply wiped his fingers after anointing

It seems odd to me to have the altar servers help the EMHCs wash their hands. Makes it seem like a ritual that’s part of Mass equivalent to the lavabo. To me that pre-Communion hand washing should be done away from the sanctuary.