The new GIRM and the use of the Corporal

[Jones]

I asked this on the AAA board but I figured why not hear from everyone else? Has anyone else seen this?

I attended a mass on Sunday in Northbrook IL. The usual story 1.No kneelers 2. Only one reading and the Gospel on Sunday and all kinds of other goofiness, but what really got me was the consecration.

All the wine was poured out into about 6 chalices. (I heard that the new GIRM says no pouring should be done after the consecration - so I did not get nervous about that. (BTW … is that true?)

Then only the main Chalice and the Ciborium were left on the Corporal. The “extra” Chalices were placed at the very edge of the alter, not just to the side of the Corporal but even out of the line of sight for the priest.

I understood that 3 things must be present to consecrate the Eucharist - Proper Matter, Proper Form and Intent to consecrate (of course only a validly ordained Catholic Priest may do this).

I further thought that the Corporal was part of the “Proper Form”.

Was the wine off to the side (not on the Corporal) consecrated?

If it was consecrated then do we need a corporal at all any more?

The woman I spoke to after the mass said, " I read the new GIRM and the elements do not have to be placed on the corporal any more". So can we just eliminate the Corporal?

Also, the priest completely ignored the “Extra” Chalices. He did not place his hands over them, he did not look at them and of course, the EEM handled them for the distribution.

What does the new GIRM say?

 

[OhioBob]

Jones:

All the wine was poured out into about 6 chalices. (I heard that the new GIRM says no pouring should be done after the consecration - so I did not get nervous about that. (BTW … is that true?)

It is not the GIRM, but rather Redemptionis Sacramentum that addresses pouring the wine at the offertory so that the precious blood is not poured following consecration. Our Diocese is implementing the change by 11/1/04. Some churches that use many chalices and multiple extraordinary ministers are going to have crowded altars.

Jones:

Then only the main Chalice and the Ciborium were left on the Corporal. The “extra” Chalices were placed at the very edge of the alter, not just to the side of the Corporal but even out of the line of sight for the priest…

The woman I spoke to after the mass said, " I read the new GIRM and the elements do not have to be placed on the corporal any more". So can we just eliminate the Corporal?..

What does the new GIRM say?

The GIRM does specify that the paten and the chalice are to be placed on the corporal. As far as the other chalices, the GIRM does note that the “bread and wine for the Eucharist” are to be placed on the altar. It then goes on to mention the chalice and the paten on the corporal but is silent about what happens to the other chalices. It would seem that the remaining chalices on the altar still will be consecrated appropriately even if they are not on the corporal. In our church, the flagon of wine never sat on the corporal anyway.

From the GIRM:

"140… The offerings of the faithful are received by the priest, assisted by the acolyte or other minister. The bread and wine for the Eucharist are carried to the celebrant, who places them upon the altar, while other gifts are put in another appropriate place (cf. above, no. 73).

1. At the altar the priest accepts the paten with the bread. With both hands he holds it slightly raised above the altar and says quietly, Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are you, Lord). Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
2. After this, as the minister presents the cruets, the priest stands at the side of the altar and pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly, Per huius aquae (By the mystery of this water). He returns to the middle of the altar, takes the chalice with both hands, raises it a little, and says quietly, Benedictus es, Domine (Blessed are you, Lord). Then he places the chalice on the corporal and covers it with a pall, as appropriate."

My opinion is that the requirements of the sacrament are satisfied even if the chalices are off to the side. Valid matter (bread from wheat and water, wine from grapes), valid form (the words of consecration) and valid intent to consecrate ALL the bread and wine on the altar.

I think the other elements surrounding the liturgy of the eucharist are more symbolic and reinforce the sacredness of the sacrament, but they are not part of the validity of it.

Just my opinion, of course.

Blessings.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I believe that the elements are Consecrated even if they are not on the Corporal. As long as the priest intends to Consecrate them. The Girm and RS I believe call for a corporal, however many Masses I have attended where the priest does not even have a corporal on the altar just a short altar cloth placed there by the servers before tthe gifts are presented and removed by them after Communion.

 

[Brendan]

Br. Rich is correct. The matter need only be present on the Altar and the priest have Intent to Consecrate them.

The Mass you attended sounds both Valid and Licit.

 

[DJJG]

The purpose of the corporal is to collect any particles that may come from the hosts, and for such it is still needed. Where, on the altar, the bread or wine ireally dosen’t matter, as far as wether they are consecrated or not, only that the priest intends them to be consecreted. If there is room on the corporal, they yes, all the chalices should be on the corporal, but, especially if there is a lot of bread and wine to be consecrated, then it just may not be possible to do so. The coporal really isn’t all that big, the patten and one ciborium and mabey one chalice may be all it will hold.