Substitute for the corporal?

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Well, we’re talking about Christ in the Eucharist. That isn’t just a small matter.
 
Yes, which is why I said “I get it” but the mothers are taking proper precautions.
If the pastor has a problem with it’ he’ll say something. otherwise, its best to just let it be
 
Than the respectful purifying of a sacred vessel on a cloth that isint a corporal? an act that isn’t required by the GIRM and that multiple pastors in this thread have said is OK?

Yeah, that issue sounds like small fish
 
From the Book of Blessings (approved for the USA in 1989), Chapter 39 “Order for the Blessing of Articles for Liturgical Use”. In the introduction it has:

“1341 Certain objects that are used in divine worship are deserving of special respect and therefore should be blessed before being used.”
In 1342 it explains that there is another rite for blessing chalices and patens. Then:
“1343 It is proper to bless other articles used for liturgical celebration: the ciborium or pyx, the monstrance, the vestments worn by ordained ministers, such linens as the corporal and altar cloths, and hymnals and service books (Sacramentary, Lectionary for Mass, etc.
1344 Anything that is to be blessed for liturgical use must meet the standards set by lawful authority; it must be beautiful and finely made, be mere lavishness and ostentation must be avoided.”
 
Gorgias said:
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Vico:
To use a handkerchief instead of a corporal at the credence table?

GIRM states to use a corporal for a purification following dismissal, for example for Mass without a Deacon:
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#163 and 183 are good points. However, they’re saying that a corporal is needed if the sacred species remain, in a vessel that hasn’t been purified. If there aren’t vessels to be purified, then there’s no need for a corporal.

However, as a practical matter, it would make no sense to have two types of linens, so a corporal makes sense.

Let’s come to the logical next step in the discussion: what is it that makes a corporal a corporal, anyway? The shape of the linen? The embroidered cross? The dedication for use solely in liturgy? @FrDavid96, do you have any info you can share?
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Autom sells for $4.95 USD, white 35-cotton 65-polyester Corporal with embroidered Jerusalem cross which looks good and is easy to clean. And other types with, for example a red cross, in washable cotton only, and also linen or linen/cotton versions with embroidery. The linen costs a little more. Most are 18" or 19" squares.
 
Gorgias said:
Let’s come to the logical next step in the discussion: what is it that makes a corporal a corporal, anyway? The shape of the linen? The embroidered cross? The dedication for use solely in liturgy? @FrDavid96, do you have any info you can share?
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I think that’s already been addressed here.

However, since so many comments aren’t actually addressing the issue itself, I can see how that got lost.

A corporal is nothing more than a piece of cloth used for a certain purpose–ie to be placed under the Body and Blood to catch and hold any crumbs or drops that might fall out of the vessels.

That’s all it is. It is a practical piece of liturgical equipment.

There are many traditional characteristics of a corporal, none of which are really essential.

In an emergency, any clean cloth can serve as a corporal. In ordinary circumstances, a corporal should be blessed and dedicated for that purpose (as should all altar linens).
 
I think everyone here is getting totally distracted by discussing the rubrics.

The OP’s question itself just does not make any sense to me.

The ladies are using a “white linen” WHY? Because they don’t want to wash white linens.

That’s like someone saying “I use a pencil because I don’t want to use a pencil” or “I use a fork because I don’t want to use a fork”

Can anyone explain to me the logic of using a white linen cloth to avoid using a white linen cloth?
 
FrDavid96 said:
I think everyone here is getting totally distracted by discussing the rubrics.

The OP’s question itself just does not make any sense to me.

The ladies are using a “white linen” WHY? Because they don’t want to wash white linens.

That’s like someone saying “I use a pencil because I don’t want to use a pencil” or “I use a fork because I don’t want to use a fork”

Can anyone explain to me the logic of using a white linen cloth to avoid using a white linen cloth?
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Yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.
 
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analtarboy said:
The MBG or Mother Butlers Guild place a square white line THAT isn’t a corporal it looked like a handkerchief on the credence table and that is where the EMHC will purify the vessel
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I take it all your EMHCs are instituted acolytes? Because they are the only EMHCs who are allowed to purify vessels.
 
Not so in our archdiocese. At least, the EMHCs in our parish haven’t been formally instituted as acolytes I know for certain, as I am an EMHC. The archbishop seems quite happy about it when he comes to us.
 
From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
“279. The sacred vessels are purified by the Priest, the Deacon, or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, insofar as possible at the credence table.”
 
In 2005, the Vatican issued a statement (IIRC) saying the practice of allowing EMHCs to purify vessels was to be discontinued. There wasn’t any wiggle room in that. I’ll see if I can find the link…

Edit to add: here’s the reference I was thinking of - go about halfway down to the 5th item #1 or so to read the Holy See’s directives. http://www.archindy.org/worship/guidelines-purification.html
 
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Cor_ad_Cor said:
In 2005, the Vatican issued a statement (IIRC) saying the practice of allowing EMHCs to purify vessels was to be discontinued. There wasn’t any wiggle room in that. I’ll see if I can find the link…

Edit to add: here’s the reference I was thinking of - go about halfway down to the 5th item #1 or so to read the Holy See’s directives. http://www.archindy.org/worship/guidelines-purification.html
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But I am in the UK. And as I said, the present Archbishop, as well as previous ones, are quite happy. I don’t know whether permission for the EMHCs to purify the vessels is just in our Archdiocese, or is a national thing.

It’s possibly like the GIRM saying that only a few Hosts should be kept in the tabernacle, and that Communion should be from those consecrated at the Mass concerned, so only those altar-breads which were likely to be used were to be consecrated. . We tried that in our parish, and then had a large number unexpectedly come to Mass because they were at a conference at a nearby college. We ended up having to break hosts, even the Benediction Host, into tiny fragments, otherwise they would not have been able to receive…
Sometimes rules have to be adapted according to the circumstances.
 
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They, in turn, probably wanted to get rid of a few Colonels. 😃
 
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Actually, the fact that the US needed to have an indult to allow the practice means that it’s, across the board, not allowed. I can’t see Rome denying the US a renewed indult and then turning around and giving one to the UK.

Then again, having heard of the US indult, lots of priests in Canada also allowed their EMHCs to purify the vessels. Our Pastor stopped that as soon as the extension to the US indult was refused. The same kind of “we’ll just do what the US did” thing got us our 17 year mess with out Lectionary.
 
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Tell me. In your mind, what’s the difference between a linen corporal and square piece of linen the same size? Are you not making an unnecessary distinction? Is not a square of linen used on the altar a corporal by virtue of that use?
 
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