Washing of hands

[Sandile73]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I would think it wise to wash before and after distribution to prevent the spread of germs.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

An ablution cup should always be at hand, so that both the ordinary and extraordinary ministers are able to purify those fingers that touched the Hosts, as soon as they have finished distributing the Eucharist. Beyond that, yes, I am very careful to wash my hands both before and after Mass.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

Is this a hygiene question? Frequent hand washing is a good idea, especially after coming into contact with the general public. I have no idea how your question pertains to the mass… After mass one may choose to practice good hygiene if they wish…

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Is this a hygiene question? Frequent hand washing is a good idea, especially after coming into contact with the general public. I have no idea how your question pertains to the mass… After mass one may choose to practice good hygiene if they wish…

The ablution cup is what is in the sanctuary, near the tabernacle normally, and those who have distributed Hosts should normally purify their fingers which have had contact with the Hosts by dipping them into the ablution cup of water to wash off any particle of the Eucharist. Those particles that can adhere to the fingers and they must be safeguarded. (It is more likely to happen if you are distributing Communion to several hundred than a few.)

After Mass, everyone should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and hot water. You have had contact with tongues, as well as mouths and noses breathing on your hand, and you’ve had contact with many hands, either placing the Host in them or having them shaken at the end of Mass.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

I think in our parish they use wash with hand sanitizer or something before they distribute holy communion.

 

[ProVobis]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

Is this a rhetorical question?

 

[zab]

The ablution cup is what is in the sanctuary, near the tabernacle normally, and those who have distributed Hosts should normally purify their fingers which have had contact with the Hosts by dipping them into the ablution cup of water to wash off any particle of the Eucharist. Those particles that can adhere to the fingers and they must be safeguarded. (It is more likely to happen if you are distributing Communion to several hundred than a few.)

After Mass, everyone should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and hot water. You have had contact with tongues, as well as mouths and noses breathing on your hand, and you’ve had contact with many hands, either placing the Host in them or having them shaken at the end of Mass.

In our church, the ablution cup for the priest is near the tabernacle. There is another ablution cup for the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion on a side table in the sanctuary.

 

[TimothyH]

The ablution cup used after distribution is not to purify hands. It has nothing to do with purification. Purification is ritual cleansing.

The ablution cups used for both ordinary and extraordinary ministers of communion is simply to rinse off any particles of Jesus.

-Tim-

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Is it important for Ministers or Lay Ministers to wash their hands after distribution of holy communion?

The ablution cup used after distribution is not to purify hands. It has nothing to do with purification. Purification is ritual cleansing.

The ablution cups used for both ordinary and extraordinary ministers of communion is simply to rinse off any particles of Jesus.

-Tim-

Right.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

The ablution cup used after distribution is not to purify hands. It has nothing to do with purification. Purification is ritual cleansing.

The ablution cups used for both ordinary and extraordinary ministers of communion is simply to rinse off any particles of Jesus.

-Tim-

In point of fact, it is not clear to me what action the original poster is intending to ask about, given the formulation and the stipulation that whatever she is asking about comes “after distribution of Holy Communion.” I cannot tell if she is using terminology strictly or not.

In the absence of certitude, my answer was that all ministers, ordinary and extraordinary, should purify their fingers.

Purify is the correct term applied but there are many people who would not know to use that rather technical term for this action. We also purify the vessels after Communion. Those of us who do it can assure that it involves a real cleaning, since it involves wine that has been consecrated in chalices that have been used to convey the Precious Blood to, at times, many people.

The purification of the fingers after Communion is not a ritual cleansing, which would be an appropriate description of the lavabo at the offertory. This, on the other hand, is not ceremonial, it is a real cleansing in so far as it is removing consecrated particles from the fingers and one should use the ablution cup if one suspects any particle is adhering to the fingers.

Beyond that, the ministers may go after Mass to the sink and wash their hands with soap and water in the normal fashion – I can’t imagine not. It is important from the perspective of hygiene. But at that point we are beyond the liturgical action and the rubrics no longer are providing guidance…except that the local Ordinary may have issued a norm on this matter and directed some action to attempt to prevent contagion. Such a decree, of course, be complied with.

 

[TimothyH]

In point of fact, it is not clear to me what action the original poster is intending to ask about, given the formulation and the stipulation that whatever she is asking about comes “after distribution of Holy Communion.” I cannot tell if she is using terminology strictly or not.

In the absence of certitude, my answer was that all ministers, ordinary and extraordinary, should purify their fingers.

Purify is the correct term applied but there are many people who would not know to use that rather technical term for this action. We also purify the vessels after Communion. Those of us who do it can assure that it involves a real cleaning, since it involves wine that has been consecrated in chalices that have been used to convey the Precious Blood to, at times, many people.

The purification of the fingers after Communion is not a ritual cleansing, which would be an appropriate description of the lavabo at the offertory. This, on the other hand, is not ceremonial, it is a real cleansing in so far as it is removing consecrated particles from the fingers and one should use the ablution cup if one suspects any particle is adhering to the fingers.

Beyond that, the ministers may go after Mass to the sink and wash their hands with soap and water in the normal fashion – I can’t imagine not. It is important from the perspective of hygiene. But at that point we are beyond the liturgical action and the rubrics no longer are providing guidance…except that the local Ordinary may have issued a norm on this matter and directed some action to attempt to prevent contagion. Such a decree, of course, be complied with.

Thank you very much for this.

-Tim-

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

“**The Purification **
278. Whenever a fragment of the host adheres to his fingers, especially after the fraction or after the Communion of the faithful, the Priest should wipe his fingers over the paten or, if necessary, wash them. Likewise, he should also gather any fragments that may have fallen outside the paten.
279. The sacred vessels are purified by the Priest, the Deacon, or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, insofar as possible at the credence table. …”

 

[Angel_Bradford]

The ablution cup is what is in the sanctuary, near the tabernacle normally, and those who have distributed Hosts should normally purify their fingers which have had contact with the Hosts by dipping them into the ablution cup of water to wash off any particle of the Eucharist. Those particles that can adhere to the fingers and they must be safeguarded. (It is more likely to happen if you are distributing Communion to several hundred than a few.)

After Mass, everyone should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and hot water. You have had contact with tongues, as well as mouths and noses breathing on your hand, and you’ve had contact with many hands, either placing the Host in them or having them shaken at the end of Mass.

This is how we do it also.