When the Priest Washes His Hands

[Calvin_Kool]

What is the name of the “dish” that catches the water when the priest washes his hands during Mass? Must it be made of the same materials as the chalices/ciboriums? Where can one order this “dish”?
Also, can a priest wash his own hands? I have seen my parish priest wash only 1 hand as his other hand is pouring the water.

Thanks.

 

[Phemie]

What is the name of the “dish” that catches the water when the priest washes his hands during Mass? Must it be made of the same materials as the chalices/ciboriums? Where can one order this “dish”?
Also, can a priest wash his own hands? I have seen my parish priest wash only 1 hand as his other hand is pouring the water.

Thanks.

The dish is properly called a “Lavabo Bowl”. It can be made of any material but most of those I’ve seen have been glass. There would be no reason to have one made of precious metals.

Any liturgical supply shop should have those, but really, any glass bowl would do.

The priest can certainly wash his own hands. There is nothing in the GIRM that says that the water needs to be poured, just “GIRM # 76. The priest then washes his hands at the side of the altar, a rite that is an expression of his desire for interior purification.” If he knows he won’t have an altar server sometimes he’ll have water already in the bowl in order to wash his hands.

 

[THurifer2]

What is the name of the “dish” that catches the water when the priest washes his hands during Mass? Must it be made of the same materials as the chalices/ciboriums? Where can one order this “dish”?
Also, can a priest wash his own hands? I have seen my parish priest wash only 1 hand as his other hand is pouring the water.

Thanks.

Its called a lavabo bowl.

It can be optained from any Catholic supply store

Priests often do not have servers during daily mass.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…The priest can certainly wash his own hands. There is nothing in the GIRM that says that the water needs to be poured, just “GIRM # 76. The priest then washes his hands at the side of the altar, a rite that is an expression of his desire for interior purification.” If he knows he won’t have an altar server sometimes he’ll have water already in the bowl in order to wash his hands.

No, the water should be poured by another person. From the GIRM: “145. After the prayer In spiritu humilitatis (Lord God, we ask you to receive us) 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 (Lord, wash away my iniquity).”
This is from the section “Mass Without a Deacon”. It is a more detailed description of the Mass than the earlier part where #76 was.
The GIRM’s description of the item is very general, among the list of things to be prepared in n. 118: “and whatever is needed for the washing of hands.”. (To look up the GIRM go to romanrite.com/girm.html ).

In the Ceremonial of Bishops it is surprisingly called a “basin”. In n. 125, among the requisites for the stational Mass: “basin, pitcher of water, and towel;”. (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 50). This is translating the Latin “bacile, urceus aquae et mantile” (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1995, ISBN 88-209-4217-8, page 42).

 

[Newbie2]

Yes, should be but not “must be”.

 

[scylla]

Yes, should be but not “must be”.

Yes, should be means you do when you can.
I should kneel to the Blessed Sacrament, if my legs are broken I cannot.
If it is impossible then you do not do it.
If there is no server it is impossible for the Priest to have a server pour the water and he has to do the best he can, which is pour it himself.

Scylla

 

[Newbie2]

Agreed.

 

[AJV]

In the Ceremonial of Bishops it is surprisingly called a “basin”. In n. 125, among the requisites for the stational Mass: “basin, pitcher of water, and towel;”. (Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 50). This is translating the Latin “bacile, urceus aquae et mantile” (Caeremoniale Episcoporum, Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1995, ISBN 88-209-4217-8, page 42).

I think this is a carry-over from the ceremonies observed previously. The bishop would then wash his hands multiple times, including at the preparation and just before the Offertory. For these washings, a basin and pitcher were used.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Yes, should be means you do when you can.
I should kneel to the Blessed Sacrament, if my legs are broken I cannot.
If it is impossible then you do not do it.
If there is no server it is impossible for the Priest to have a server pour the water and he has to do the best he can, which is pour it himself.

Scylla

But if there is a lay person there, it is possible for them to pour the water. The priest should direct this, get someone to be an altar server. But my experience is that many do not. I cannot remember a Mass without a lay person reading. But many Masses have not had another person pouring the water. The GIRM also has: “139. … An acolyte or other lay minister arranges the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and
the Missal upon the altar.” This is for “Mass Without a Deacon”. A deacon or concelebrant can also do this, but it should not be done by the Principal Celebrant.