The Priest Chalice

[SHAKA_MAKA1]

Is there anything that states the extraordinary ministers of the cup shouldn’t be given the priest chalice to distribute. Thanks

 

[YADA]

If you had a mass with only a priest and no deacon … with the priest distributing the Body of Christ, an extrordinary minister of Holy Commnunion would distribute the Chalice with the Blood of Christ … and I would think that only one Chalice would be necessary ergo it would be the same Chalice would be used by the priest and for Communion … it would seem to be unnecessary to prepare two Chalices if only one Chalice would be used to distribute the Precious Blood to the laity …

In my very large [2000 plus families] parish the Chalice used by the priest is not used by any of the EMHC - we generally have 4 EMHC - Cup ministers and those four Chalices are poured along with the one used by the presider.

However, in a very small rural parish [we also regularly attend when we are where my mother lives] they pour two Chalices - one is used by the priest and also for Communion and they have two Chalices at the Sunday Mass - the Saturday Vigil Mass they only use the one Chalice …

What is the issue that concerns you?

 

[japhy]

Is there anything that states the extraordinary ministers of the cup shouldn’t be given the priest chalice to distribute.

I have seen nothing about such a restriction. At the weekday Mass at my (one-priest) parish, an EMHC is the minister of the Chalice, and it would be a bit silly (in my estimation) for the priest to consecrate two chalices, one for himself and the other for the laity, so the EMHC ministers the priest’s Chalice.

At Sunday Mass, there are three Chalices: one for the priest, two for the rest of us. However, my priest has begun reserving his Chalice for himself alone (not even for the other EMHCs to receive from), and having everyone else receive from the other two chalices.

 

[Phemie]

Is there anything that states the extraordinary ministers of the cup shouldn’t be given the priest chalice to distribute. Thanks

No. The only time it wouldn’t be allowed is if the priest is an aloholic and using mustum.

 

[LilyM]

No. The only time it wouldn’t be allowed is if the priest is an aloholic and using mustum.

Why? If a priest can licitly and validly consecrate and self-commune with mustum, surely there’s no reason for the laity not to receive it as well?

 

[Phemie]

Why? If a priest can licitly and validly consecrate and self-commune with mustum, surely there’s no reason for the laity not to receive it as well?

He has to receive under both species, no so the laity.

Even if he is presiding at a concelebration (he shouldn’t be) he has to have his own chalice, the priest who is not alcoholic must not receive from the chalice with mustum.

 

[japhy]

Why? If a priest can licitly and validly consecrate and self-commune with mustum, surely there’s no reason for the laity not to receive it as well?

Because mustum and low-gluten bread are exceptions for exceptional cases. Read here.

As for low-gluten bread, priests and laity need to present proof to the bishop for the permission to be granted to them. But when it comes to mustum, priests need to present proof of necessity to their bishops, while laity must get permission from the Holy See.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

Please stay on topic, everyone. Thank you.

 

[jprioli]

No… I am aware of no regulations forbidding it.

However, the priest’s chalice is often a (1) more expensive, and (2) more sentimentally important object than the chalices used to minister Holy Communion to the Faithful.

Notice, I am abstracting from the Precious Blood that any chalice used at Mass contains, and only talking about the vessel itself.

For those two reasons, most priests prefer to have their chalices remain safely on the altar.

Additionally, many priest’s chalices have additional decorations, some of which make it more cumbersome to pass from hand-to-hand. Using them to minister to the Faithful would actually increase the chances of spilling the Precious Blood.

Regards,
Deacon Joe

 

[japhy]

(Yes, this a month old, but I wanted to correct an error.)

Because mustum and low-gluten bread are exceptions for exceptional cases. Read here.

As for low-gluten bread, priests and laity need to present proof to the bishop for the permission to be granted to them. But when it comes to mustum, priests need to present proof of necessity to their bishops, while laity must get permission from the Holy See.

The document I linked to (from 1994) has since been superseded by another document from 2003; the USCCB has a chart as well. Diocesan bishops are now competent to allow individual lay faithful to receive consecrated mustum; this had previously been a privilege of the Holy See alone.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Is there anything that states the extraordinary ministers of the cup shouldn’t be given the priest chalice to distribute. Thanks

I am not aware of anything restricting this. It is up to the priest on which chalice to give to EMs to distribute. I have seen this a couple times, but not on a regular basis.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

One of our priests does not let others use his chalice because he is very susceptible to colds, flu, and illness.