Things On The Alter

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dal11

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I went to Monday night Mass yesterday and noticed the priest counted out how many host he needed for the Mass on the alter. There were only a few of us there. When he was done he left the entire tin of host (I’m sure there’s hundreds in that metal tin that he keeps the host in) on the alter. When the words of consecration were said did the host in this metal tin become the body and blood of our Lord, or just the host he had in the ceboriam. If just the ceboriam what is the theology or the rule about what get’s consecrated on the alter. Any documents to back it up too please. Thankyou
 
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dal11:
I went to Monday night Mass yesterday and noticed the priest counted out how many host he needed for the Mass on the alter. There were only a few of us there. When he was done he left the entire tin of host (I’m sure there’s hundreds in that metal tin that he keeps the host in) on the alter. When the words of consecration were said did the host in this metal tin become the body and blood of our Lord, or just the host he had in the ceboriam. If just the ceboriam what is the theology or the rule about what get’s consecrated on the alter. Any documents to back it up too please. Thankyou
It’s quite simple, really - it depends on the intention of the priest. Usually the priest intends to consecrate whatever is on the corporal (the small square cloth in the center of the altar on which the chalice and the ciborium rest). If there was a really large congregation and the priest needed a number of chalices and ciboria, then he could have had the intention to consecrate everything on the altar, whether on the corporal or not.
 
whatever he intends to concecrate, he cant “accidentally” do it.
being that he is a priest and at least in theory is devoted to the eucharist to the peril of his life if need be, if he did nothing special with the tin, its a very sure bet that he did not concecrate the contents.
 
Amen, it is good to see our learned brethern teaching rubrics. I would like to see all Catholics become informed in their faith. It is so much more than just attending Mass.
 
I agree, the hosts cannot be accidentally consecrated. But the tin should not have been left on the altar.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“306. Only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the mensa of the altar: namely, from the beginning of the celebration until the proclamation of the Gospel, the Book of the Gospels; then from the Presentation of the Gifts until the purification of the vessels, the chalice with the paten, a ciborium if necessary, and, finally, the corporal, the purificator, the pall, and the Missal. In addition, microphones that may be needed to amplify the priest’s voice should be arranged discreetly.
307. The candles, which are required at every liturgical service out of reverence and on account of the festiveness of the celebration (cf. above, no. 117), are to be appropriately placed either on or around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and the sanctuary so that the whole may be well balanced and not interfere with the faithful’s clear view of what takes place at the altar or what is placed on it.
308. There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations.”
 
I went to Monday night Mass yesterday and noticed the priest counted out how many host he needed for the Mass on the alter. There were only a few of us there. When he was done he left the entire tin of host (I’m sure there’s hundreds in that metal tin that he keeps the host in) on the alter. When the words of consecration were said did the host in this metal tin become the body and blood of our Lord, or just the host he had in the ceboriam. If just the ceboriam what is the theology or the rule about what get’s consecrated on the alter. Any documents to back it up too please. Thankyou
Generally it is what is placed on the corporal by the priest. There are exceptions to this in special circumstances.
 
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