B
bpbasilphx
Guest
I have seen various posts on these fora by people claiming that the priest’s thumb and forefingers are especially consecrated and anointed, presumably so he can hold the Host.
This has never been the case, even in the Latin Rite.
First, according to a definition by Pope Pius XII, the Mystery of Holy Orders is conferred through the laying-on-of-hands by the ordaining Bishop.
**From the Apostolic Constitution Saramentum Ordinis by Pius XII in 1952:
[DS 3859] By virtue of our supreme apostolic authority we declare with sure knowledge and, as far as it may be necessary, we determine and ordain: the matter of the holy orders of diaconate, presbyterate and episcopate is the laying on of hands alone, and the sole form is the words determining the application of the matter, words by which the effects of the sacrament * that is, the power of Order and the grace of the Holy Spirit*are unequivocally signified, and which for this reason are accepted and used by the Church. This leads us to declare, and, if other provisions have been legitimately made in the past at any time, we now determine that, at least in future, the handing over of the instruments is not necessary for the validity of the holy Orders of the diaconate, the presbyterate and the episcopate.**
If this is not an infallible ex cathedra statement, it seems right next door to it to me.
Next, in the traditional rite of ordaining a priest, AFTER the imposition of hands and vesting comes the anointing of the entire hands, not just certain digits.
Note further that the prayer at the anointing of the hands (which however appropriate, actually contributes nothing, since the priesthood has already been conferred) does not refer to holding the Host.
**The Anointing of the Hands. After the first stanza the bishop seats himself and receives the miter. He takes off his gloves, and a cloth or towel is spread over his lap. The candidates approach, and kneeling before him, one by one, they hold their hands for the anointing in such a manner that the palms are turned upward and the sides and the little fingers touch each other. The bishop dips his thumb into the holy oil, draws a line from the thumb of the right hand to the index finger of the left and from the thumb of the left hand to the index finger of the right, and then anoints the whole of both palms. While doing this he pronounces the following prayer:
Then, keeping his hands joined, he goes to the side of the altar, where one of the assisting priests binds them together with a white cloth, leaving the fingers free. When all have been anointed, the bishop purifies his thumb with crumbs of bread. **
Regardless of what the nuns might have taught you in school, we see what the rite actually directs. I hope this will clarify things for some people.
This has never been the case, even in the Latin Rite.
First, according to a definition by Pope Pius XII, the Mystery of Holy Orders is conferred through the laying-on-of-hands by the ordaining Bishop.
**From the Apostolic Constitution Saramentum Ordinis by Pius XII in 1952:
[DS 3859] By virtue of our supreme apostolic authority we declare with sure knowledge and, as far as it may be necessary, we determine and ordain: the matter of the holy orders of diaconate, presbyterate and episcopate is the laying on of hands alone, and the sole form is the words determining the application of the matter, words by which the effects of the sacrament * that is, the power of Order and the grace of the Holy Spirit*are unequivocally signified, and which for this reason are accepted and used by the Church. This leads us to declare, and, if other provisions have been legitimately made in the past at any time, we now determine that, at least in future, the handing over of the instruments is not necessary for the validity of the holy Orders of the diaconate, the presbyterate and the episcopate.**
If this is not an infallible ex cathedra statement, it seems right next door to it to me.
Next, in the traditional rite of ordaining a priest, AFTER the imposition of hands and vesting comes the anointing of the entire hands, not just certain digits.
Note further that the prayer at the anointing of the hands (which however appropriate, actually contributes nothing, since the priesthood has already been conferred) does not refer to holding the Host.
**The Anointing of the Hands. After the first stanza the bishop seats himself and receives the miter. He takes off his gloves, and a cloth or towel is spread over his lap. The candidates approach, and kneeling before him, one by one, they hold their hands for the anointing in such a manner that the palms are turned upward and the sides and the little fingers touch each other. The bishop dips his thumb into the holy oil, draws a line from the thumb of the right hand to the index finger of the left and from the thumb of the left hand to the index finger of the right, and then anoints the whole of both palms. While doing this he pronounces the following prayer:
Code:
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to consecrate and sanctify these hands by this unction and our + blessing.
The anointed answers: Amen.
That whatsoever they shall bless may be blessed, and whatsoever they shall consecrate be consecrated and sanctified, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The anointed answers: Amen.Regardless of what the nuns might have taught you in school, we see what the rite actually directs. I hope this will clarify things for some people.
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