Today at mass I saw two things I never saw before?

[jamannor]

Today at mass I was struck by something I thought was unusual. After the the Eucharists had been given out he went back to the alter and started to put everything away like he normally does, but today I kept watching him eat the host. He would put a few in the “not sure what the word is” chalice and then he’d eat one put a few more in and then eat one. Why was he eating the several host? Maybe they were broken, which I know doesn’t matter because Christ is Christ. I thought it a little weird. I’m just wondering what his reasoning behind it was…

Second question: today I noticed for the first time also, I think I might have been noticing more today then usual because I didn’t go with my finance, that the lector was with the other Eucharistic ministers and she had a little case with her that the priest put the two host into and then she put it away somewhere in her dress jacket. What is this for? I imagine this is for an elderly parent or for someone close to her that cannot not make it to mass, but am just trying to confirm it. Thanks so much.

~Jerry

 

[Titus]

Today at mass I was struck by something I thought was unusual. After the the Eucharists had been given out he went back to the alter and started to put everything away like he normally does, but today I kept watching him eat the host. He would put a few in the “not sure what the word is” chalice and then he’d eat one put a few more in and then eat one.
**That’s the ciborium. They are reposed for later in the tabernacle. I have no idea why he would consume them. **
Why was he eating the several host? Maybe they were broken, which I know doesn’t matter because Christ is Christ. I thought it a little weird. I’m just wondering what his reasoning behind it was…

Second question: today I noticed for the first time also, I think I might have been noticing more today then usual because I didn’t go with my finance, that the lector was with the other Eucharistic ministers and she had a little case with her that the priest put the two host into and then she put it away somewhere in her dress jacket. What is this for? I imagine this is for an elderly parent or for someone close to her that cannot not make it to mass, but am just trying to confirm it. Thanks so much.

**It is a pyx. If she is an EMHC to the Housebound, that’s what it would be carried around in. **

~Jerry

 

[Mike_Brick]

Today at mass I was struck by something I thought was unusual. After the the Eucharists had been given out he went back to the alter and started to put everything away like he normally does, but today I kept watching him eat the host. He would put a few in the “not sure what the word is” chalice and then he’d eat one put a few more in and then eat one. Why was he eating the several host? Maybe they were broken, which I know doesn’t matter because Christ is Christ. I thought it a little weird. I’m just wondering what his reasoning behind it was…

Second question: today I noticed for the first time also, I think I might have been noticing more today then usual because I didn’t go with my finance, that the lector was with the other Eucharistic ministers and she had a little case with her that the priest put the two host into and then she put it away somewhere in her dress jacket. What is this for? I imagine this is for an elderly parent or for someone close to her that cannot not make it to mass, but am just trying to confirm it. Thanks so much.~Jerry

Jerry: You are very observant. The priest was most likely consuming any broken hosts rather than to place them in the ciborium for the next mass. As for the lector putting consecrated hosts into something, it is called a pyx, similar to a ciborium, but much smaller which is used to take the Eucharist to shutins.

Have a Great Day

 

[jamannor]

thanks so much i thought that was the reason just never saw it before.

 

[water]

today I noticed for the first time also, I think I might have been noticing more today then usual because I didn’t go with my finance
~Jerry

I would ask your finance to make sure you look at the altar instead of her next time she goes with you.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“163. When the distribution of Communion is finished, the priest himself immediately and completely consumes at the altar any consecrated wine that happens to remain; as for any consecrated hosts that are left, he either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist. …”.