What to do?

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Inkman

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I spent Christmas with my wife’s family this year and had an opportunity to return to the Church that I was married in about eight years ago. I was disturbed that at the end of the Mass when the extraordinary minister finished off the precious blood in the four chalices that were left, she then added water and drank again. This parish is a long ways from where I live and am not sure what I should do, should I write the Priest? I would be surprised if he doesn’t know but I can’t be sure.
 
Off the top of my head I think that what the E.M did was “purify” the Chalice. This can only be done by a priest or a deacon. I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong.
 
That seems like what is supposed to happen, but…

From the GIRM usccb.org/liturgy/curren…er4.shtml#sect4
  1. 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. The purification of the chalice is done with water alone or with wine and water, which is then drunk by whoever does the purification. The paten is usually wiped clean with the purificator.
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From **Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America
**usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml
Purification of Sacred Vessels
51. After Communion the consecrated bread that remains is to be reserved in the tabernacle. Care should be taken with any fragments remaining on the corporal or in the sacred vessels. The deacon returns to the altar with the priest and collects and consumes any remaining fragments.
  1. When more of the Precious Blood remains than was necessary for Communion, and if not consumed by the bishop or priest celebrant, “the deacon immediately and reverently consumes at the altar all of the Blood of Christ which remains; he may be assisted, if needs dictate, by other deacons and priests.” (54) When there are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop.
  2. The chalice and other vessels may be taken to a side table, where they are cleansed and arranged in the usual way. Other sacred vessels that held the Precious Blood are purified in the same way as chalices. Provided the remaining consecrated bread has been consumed or reserved and the remaining Precious Blood has been consumed, “it is permissible to leave the vessels . . . suitably covered and at a side table on a corporal, to be cleansed immediately after Mass following the dismissal of the people.” (55)
  3. The Precious Blood may not be reserved, except for giving Communion to someone who is sick. Only sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread may receive it under the form of wine alone at the discretion of the priest. If not consecrated at a Mass in the presence of the sick person, the Blood of the Lord is kept in a properly covered vessel and is placed in the tabernacle after Communion. The Precious Blood should be carried to the sick in a vessel that is closed in such a way as to eliminate all danger of spilling. If some of the Precious Blood remains after the sick person has received Communion, it should be consumed by the minister, who should also see to it that the vessel is properly purified.
  4. The reverence due to the Precious Blood of the Lord demands that it be fully consumed after Communion is completed and never be poured into the ground or the sacrarium.
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From a careful reading of paragraph 2, it appears that she should have only purified the vessel she used and not the other 3.

It seems that the greater abuse here is waiting until after mass to consume the remaining Precious Blood. That must done at the alter immediately after Communion. The purification can wait until after Mass though. Maybe all the Precious Blood had been consumed and the EMHC was only purifying the vessels. If so, there seems to be nothing wrong. If the EMHC was actualy finishing the Precious Blood, then there are two problems. First she should only be doing this for her own cup and second, it shouldn’t have waited until after mass. Neither of these abuses seem great enough for you to worry about since this isn’t your own parish, but that’s your call.

Pax et bonum
 
what you do is nothing, it is not your area of responsibility. the priest is in charge of liturgy in his parish, under the direction of his bishop. They have all received the GIRM and been instructed, whether or not the parish complies is the bishop’s problem, not yours. You will have enough to cope with policing the liturgy in your home parish, don’t do looking for trouble.
 
From **Redemptionis Sacramentum: On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist
[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are** bound** to carry it out without any favoritism.

[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.290 It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.
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We all have a duty to fight abuse. It doesn’t say only abuses in your own diocese or parish. Plus, he didn’t go looking for it, he stumbled upon it. But, if it were me, I wouldn’t worry about this particular abuse since it’s not in my diocese. Although, I don’t see anything wrong with him writing the bishop if he wants to. It would be a praisworthy thing.
 
This sort of garbage goes on at many parishes due largely to two things:

Poor or non-existant catechesis. From what I can see, there is absolutely no training programs for EMsHC in my parish or in my diocese. Further, the “captains” who are in charge of the EMsH seem to be those most lacking training.

No interest in leaning. A large percentage of those who serve at EMsHC in my parish seem to have zero interest in their ministry or the Mass in general. For the most part they want to “be seen.” I have asked EMsHC about what they thought the Church said in terms of things like fasting before receiving Holy Communion, the Real Presence, etc. and their responses have been chilling in most cases.
There are waiting lists to be an EMHC in my parish (no one ever leaves the ministry.) I wonder how many would remain if they were required to attend say 20 hours of training on the Mass and their ministry? Not many is my guess…
 
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puzzleannie:
what you do is nothing, it is not your area of responsibility. the priest is in charge of liturgy in his parish, under the direction of his bishop. They have all received the GIRM and been instructed, whether or not the parish complies is the bishop’s problem, not yours. You will have enough to cope with policing the liturgy in your home parish, don’t do looking for trouble.
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Amen, sister. Its unclear if this is a departure from the norms and certainly visitors to a parish should look for bigger problems in their own community to address.
 
Thank you all for your imput I appreciate it a lot. After reviwing the responses I will do nothing. My initial problem was not with the purification but with the consuming of the precious blood. I was always of the understanding that this was only to be done by the Priest or Deacon as soon as Communion is distributed. I guess I have made this into something that it isn’t. I am very fortunate to attend a great parish where the Mass is cookie cut.

puzzleannie sez:
what you do is nothing, it is not your area of responsibility. the priest is in charge of liturgy in his parish, under the direction of his bishop. They have all received the GIRM and been instructed, . You will have enough to cope with policing the liturgy in your home parish, don’t do looking for trouble.
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Couldn’t disagree with you more, …
whether or not the parish complies is the bishop’s problem, not yours
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"bzzzz wrong answer.
 
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