Washing of the hands

[Theresa_Schort]

Our new priest does not ‘wash’ his hands during the Preparation of the Gifts, except if he has a server. Lately that omission has been daily.
How does one approach a priest?
Our priest’s disposition is not amiable or amicable, responses so far come with a booming voice. His messages to the parish in the weekly bulletin are corrective - almost to the point of crushing - in their tone.
My concern if we write the Bishop, stems from what we have heard in the past. It is that the Bishop will give the name of the person(s) who wrote the letter to the one engaged in the activity in question. What I don’t know is if a request for anonymity will be kept.

While I think writing the Bishop is the better way to handle this particular situation, my concern is for the priests and his inability to handle the illicit nature of his actions vs.a priest who has more concerned about who wrote the Bishop.

Any insights would be helpful.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

The proper response would be to help make sure he always has a server. Especially at daily Mass when it is difficult for the usual school-aged boys to serve.

Ask around among the men who attend daily Mass - probably many if not most of them were servers as boys and will remember how to do it. Offer to learn to be a server yourself.

Just because your priest has a loud voice, or not the best tone when writing, doesn’t mean he will be completely unappraochable. He is new to the parish, the parishioners also need to be welcoming and friendly.

Certainly writing the bishop is not the best first response!

 

[Sacredheart1208]

When we do not have an Altar Server, our priest does it himself.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

When we do not have an Altar Server, our priest does it himself.

Ours do too - by putting a bowl with water and a towel to the side on the altar. However, the OPs priest does not apparently do this (or he does and the OP doesn’t notice). In any case, ensuring that there is always an altar server is a great service to our priests and is always appreciated.

 

[paperwight66]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the priest was, in fact, washing his hands over at the credence table and it just isn’t obvious. After all, it only takes a few seconds to say the prayer while ,pouring a little water into the bowl, dabble the fingertips and then dry them.
That’s far more likely than the priest missing it out, I’d have thought.

 

[TimothyH]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the priest was, in fact, washing his hands over at the credence table and it just isn’t obvious. After all, it only takes a few seconds to say the prayer while ,pouring a little water into the bowl, dabble the fingertips and then dry them.
That’s far more likely than the priest missing it out, I’d have thought.

It is easier than that.

I put a small finger bowl and hand towel on the creedence table next to the altar along with the chalice set, cruets, etc. Father only has to dip the tips of his fingers and touch the towel after setting down the water cruet and his hands will be ritually purified. The whole thing might take three seconds for some priests.

If one is not paying attention or sitting on the other side of the Church or chapel then it is easy to miss.

-Tim-

 

[John_Lilburne]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit and contrite heart) or after the incensation, the Priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Wash me, O Lord).”

It is explicitly saying that the altar server is pouring the water. Clearly there should be an altar server. Clearly the water should be poured.

So it is at least arguable that the priest is following the liturgical book more correctly than a priest who dips his hands into a bowl.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit and contrite heart) or after the incensation, the Priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Wash me, O Lord).”

It is explicitly saying that the altar server is pouring the water. Clearly there should be an altar server. Clearly the water should be poured.

So it is at least arguable that the priest is following the liturgical book more correctly than a priest who dips his hands into a bowl.

I agree that the parish community should ensure that there is always at least one altar server at every Mass.

However, occasionally it happens that there isn’t one (apparently rather frequently at the OPs parish) in that case dipping his fingers in a bowl of water is better than omitting the sign altogether.

We are just trying to show that the OP does not have to confront the priest or run to the bishop over an apparent “abuse.” However, it behooves us all to encourage altar servers in our parishes - whether that is school aged children or adults.

 

[PTL]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the priest was, in fact, washing his hands over at the credence table and it just isn’t obvious. After all, it only takes a few seconds to say the prayer while ,pouring a little water into the bowl, dabble the fingertips and then dry them.
That’s far more likely than the priest missing it out, I’d have thought.

That’s what I thought. Chances are the priest did wash his hands.
Anyway, without first approaching the priest or providing help for him, going to the Bishop should not be the choice. We need to be supportive not the opposite. And, I don’t think the bishop will keep the person’s name to himself. If there is a complaint, the priest needs to have a chance to straight out the issue with the person.

 

[TimothyH]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit and contrite heart) or after the incensation, the Priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Wash me, O Lord).”

It is explicitly saying that the altar server is pouring the water. Clearly there should be an altar server. Clearly the water should be poured.

So it is at least arguable that the priest is following the liturgical book more correctly than a priest who dips his hands into a bowl.

John, what is your proposal for when there is no altar server?

-Tim-

 

[John_Lilburne]

John, what is your proposal for when there is no altar server?

-Tim-

I would propose not celebrating Mass. The liturgical books require an altar server, they should be followed. The two essential functions are to put the corporal and other items on the altar and pour water on the priest’s hands. It is difficult to imagine a situation where someone is not capable of doing these tasks.

 

[Ed_Silvia]

I’ve been experiencing a similar situation where the wine chalice is already on the alter before mass begins and no water is used at all during mass. That part is skipped altogether. No washing of hands no mixing of water & wine (unless that’s already happened before mass?) I mentioned it to one priest I’ve known for a long time and was told the mass is still valid. And BTW this is a daily mass without a server. So… is this an abuse? Am I to understand that John would have me find another mass/church or should I confront the priest head about it? What say you’s?

 

[Gorgias]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit and contrite heart) or after the incensation, the Priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Wash me, O Lord).”

It is explicitly saying that the altar server is pouring the water. Clearly there should be an altar server. Clearly the water should be poured.

The GIRM also says, “*f at any celebration of Mass a Deacon is present, he should exercise his function. Furthermore, it is desirable that an acolyte, a reader, and a cantor should usually be there to assist the Priest Celebrant.” (#116)

So, it’s not clear that there must be an altar server, although it is ‘desirable’ that one be present, and only ‘usually’, at that! If there is no server to pour the water, then I’m not certain that it follows that “clearly the water should be poured.” *

 

[Ed_Silvia]

then I’m not certain that it follows that “clearly the water should be poured.”

I understand your response wasn’t to me but do you think it’s an abuse to have the wine chalice already before mass on the alter with wine in it and no water to be seen or wine pouring during mass at all? Am I making something out of nothing?

 

[buc_fan33]

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has

“145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (With humble spirit and contrite heart) or after the incensation, the Priest washes his hands standing at the side of the altar and, as the minister pours the water, says quietly, Lava me, Domine (Wash me, O Lord).”

It is explicitly saying that the altar server is pouring the water. Clearly there should be an altar server. Clearly the water should be poured.

So it is at least arguable that the priest is following the liturgical book more correctly than a priest who dips his hands into a bowl.

Well, I celebrated Mass today with no one else present. I frequently do this on my day off. Needless to say, I poured water on my own hands.

 

[InThePew]

Our new priest does not ‘wash’ his hands during the Preparation of the Gifts, except if he has a server. Lately that omission has been daily.
How does one approach a priest?
Our priest’s disposition is not amiable or amicable, responses so far come with a booming voice. His messages to the parish in the weekly bulletin are corrective - almost to the point of crushing - in their tone.
My concern if we write the Bishop, stems from what we have heard in the past. It is that the Bishop will give the name of the person(s) who wrote the letter to the one engaged in the activity in question. What I don’t know is if a request for anonymity will be kept.

While I think writing the Bishop is the better way to handle this particular situation, my concern is for the priests and his inability to handle the illicit nature of his actions vs.a priest who has more concerned about who wrote the Bishop.

Any insights would be helpful.

Whether or not the priest washes his hands doesn’t affect the validity of the mass and so is really a non-issue. As others have said, it’s easy enough for it to be done without being seen and masses are said in a wide variety of places where there is no server available.

As far as approaching him (about other issues hopefully) goes, it’s important to realise that parish ministry is a two way street - the priest ministers to the people and they to him (albeit in a different way). If there’s something which is bothering you then take it up (gently) with the priest or, if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, approach a member of the parish council.

 

[TimothyH]

This is a three year old thread.

 

[Gorgias]

I understand your response wasn’t to me but do you think it’s an abuse to have the wine chalice already before mass on the alter with wine in it and no water to be seen or wine pouring during mass at all? Am I making something out of nothing?

Well, it seems that you’re asking three distinct questions:

• can the chalice be prepared in advance by pouring wine into it before Mass?
• can the chalice be placed on the altar prior to Mass?
• does this necessarily rise to the level of ‘abuse’?

The rubrics of the Mass state that the priest or deacon pours wine and a little water into the chalice. However, the GIRM seems to suggest that the chalice may be “prepared at the credence table” (#73). So, to the first question, it seems that it is possible for the wine to have been poured into the chalice in advance (although it would still be necessary to pour water into the chalice and say the corresponding prayer).

To the second question, though, I think there’s a problem. The altar is to be prepared at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. So, it seems to me that it is not proper to have anything on the altar (besides, perhaps, the missal) prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At least, that was what I was always taught: bring the ciboria and chalices to the altar following the Liturgy of the Word.

Now for the $64,000 question: is this necessarily an ‘abuse’? I don’t think so. It might be an error. The priest might think it’s ok to stage the chalice on the altar. (Other priests have a table next to the altar, if they’re celebrating alone without an altar server.) So, although there’s some stuff going on that isn’t according to Hoyle, I’m not certain we can go ahead and presume ‘abuse’…