What is this?

[Zenas]

I’m not a Catholic so please cut me some slack here if this is a stupid question. Early this afternoon I stopped in at the cathedral church in a midwestern city to admire its architecture and to spend a few minutes in prayer. When I entered the church there was a small table about half way up the aisle, on which was a cut glass bowl full of wafers with a pair of tongs. They appeared to be host wafers, consecrated or not I have no idea. Why would they be sitting out like this in the middle of the church aisle? There was no one around to ask so I thought I would just post my question here.

Incidentally, the cathedral is beautiful.

 

[puzzleannie]

I assume this was shortly before Mass was due to begin, and the bowl of unconsecrated hosts was placed there, so that as people arrive, those who plan to receive can place a host into another bowl, which will be taken to the altar at the offertory, and subsequently consecrated. Some churches have adopted this practice to make sure enough, but not too many, hosts are consecrated. Most parishes I know of have abandoned the practice, because it raises the questions you have, and because it does not work as intended in any case.

 

[coolduude]

Good question.
The wafers were probably there for the next mass. Anyone who walks in would take a wafer and, with the tongs, put them in the bowl next to the one holding all the wafers. That way, the church can have an exact count of the wafers for Communion later that day.
That was why they were there.

And no, it’s not a stupid question. Anyone outside the Church would not know the answer.

 

[T700]

I am absolutely stunned. I have never seen, heard, or read of this practice. Can’t say that I really have an opinion, but I certainly was surprised.

Paul

 

[LilyM]

I am absolutely stunned. I have never seen, heard, or read of this practice. Can’t say that I really have an opinion, but I certainly was surprised.

Paul

It’s not done in this neck of the woods either, but at my parents’ church (in another state) they do it.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

I’ve seen it done.
I think it’s a bit silly, myself.

 

[LilyM]

I’ve seen it done.
I think it’s a bit silly, myself.

I’m sure there’s probably some sort of logistic reason behind it - can anyone explain further the benefits of doing it this way?

 

[Spots]

We’ve done it at my parish when we were having daily mass in the activity center (the church was being renovated- took about 2mo). Sunday mass was still in the Church, but the workers didn’t clean it up everyday, as it took awhile, and it’s easier for the workers to pick up where the left off if they can leave items out and about.

Anyway, they did the tongs method so that there were very few left over, and those were consumed.

I’m not sure if the priests really even had access to the tabernacle (they were setting marble on the floors/columns) during parts of the week. The workers were also painting, hanging new things, fixing stuff, etc… I’m sure stuff needed to dry/set, and daily mass would most likely disrupt that. Leaning against a wall and getting blue paint down your side wouldn’t be too nice LOL.

 

[Zenas]

OK, you have responded with the plausible explanation. However, there was no empty bowl on the table. Only the one full bowl. Maybe it was after mass and the other bowl had been left up front somewhere?

 

[bpbasilphx]

Sounds to me more like the altar guild/sacritans weren’t doing the appropriate job.

Or maybe they were in the middle of it and you didn’t see them in action?

 

[Phemie]

OK, you have responded with the plausible explanation. However, there was no empty bowl on the table. Only the one full bowl. Maybe it was after mass and the other bowl had been left up front somewhere?

I suspect that just before Mass the wine will be placed on that table along with an empty ciborium to receive the host that will be consecrated. That’s what happened in our parish when we were still using that method to avoid having too many consecrated hosts.

 

[jpjd]

I suspect that just before Mass the wine will be placed on that table along with an empty ciborium to receive the host that will be consecrated. That’s what happened in our parish when we were still using that method to avoid having too many consecrated hosts.

This is exactly right.

My parish uses this method for daily Mass. There is a small table in the aisle with a small bowl containing unconsecrated hosts. Prior to the start of daily Mass, the altar server (an adult man) lights the altar candles, sets up the credence table, and brings the cruet of wine and an empty paten to the table in the aisle. As people come in for daily Mass, they move one host from the bowl to the paten. When it is time for the gifts to be brought up, 2 people from the pews go to the table, and one carries up the paten and the other carries up the wine.

After Mass, the bowl with the remaining unconsecrated hosts remains on the table in the aisle to await the next day’s daily Mass. After Mass, the bowl is covered with a cloth.

The table and bowl are of course removed for the Sat evening and Sun Masses, and then put back in time for the Monday morning daily Mass.

The reason this whole procedure is done is so that only the number of hosts is consecrated that is needed for that Mass’s attendence.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

I have seen this practice done, and the usual problem is that for every three people who remember to place a host in the dish, one will forget. That means that the priest will often have to either go back to the tabernacle for more or break consecrated hosts in half to have enough.

Just a note that, although in culinary terms it is an accurate description, the word “wafer” is generally considered pejorative when referring to the hosts or altar breads used for Catholic Masses.

 

[jpjd]

I have seen this practice done, and the usual problem is that for every three people who remember to place a host in the dish, one will forget. That means that the priest will often have to either go back to the tabernacle for more or break consecrated hosts in half to have enough.

I have not seen this problem in our parish. 95% of the time the attendees are regulars, and on the occasion where someone comes in who doesn’t know that they are to move a host to the paten, someone observing this ommission will get up and move a host on the newcomer’s behalf.

Even if one or two did get overlooked, there would be enough hosts due to the fractioning of the main host by the priest during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Also, during the seasons of Advent and Lent when we are prone to getting a few newcomers, I have been known to put a couple extra hosts in the paten in anticipation of those who don’t know.