Why did the Priests back then

[Brother_John]

drink unconsecrated wine AFTER Holy Communion?

I vividly recall, as an altar boy, that at Offetory we held the cruets so that the Priest poured his own water and wine.

A lot of wine, and a little water…“By the mingling of this…”

But, AFTER Communion, the altar boys held the cruets, and poured BOTH wine and water into the chalice, while the Priest held his index fingers and thumbs over the chalice…a little wine and a lot of water.

So, WHY did the Priest drink unconsecrated wine after Communion?

 

[Phemie]

That was the way they purified their fingers and the vessels after Communion. Today they usually use water only but it would be perfectly OK for them to still do what you remember.

 

[AJV]

So, WHY did the Priest drink unconsecrated wine after Communion?

As a purification.

In the Summa Theologica, St.Thomas Aquinas writes

Wine, by reason of its humidity, is capable of washing, consequently it is received in order to rinse the mouth after receiving this sacrament, lest any particles remain: and this belongs to reverence for the sacrament. Hence (Extra, De Celebratione missae, chap. Ex parte), it is said: “The priest should always cleanse his mouth with wine after receiving the entire sacrament of Eucharist: except when he has to celebrate another mass on the same day, lest from taking the ablution-wine he be prevented from celebrating again”; and it is for the same reason that wine is poured over the fingers with which he had touched the body of Christ.

Wine may still be used

GIRM 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. 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.

 

[Brother_John]

Yes, I do now remember the priest taking each paten and tapping them over his chalice.

But I more vividly remember this funny story…well, it’s funny now, it wasn’t funny then…

I’m pouring wine after Communion, and suddenly the priest yanks his chalice upward stopping me, as I was pouring too much. Guess I was daydreaming.

After Mass, in the Sacristy, the priest says “If you ever pour me that much wine again, I’ll kill you…”

Six years later, I live in a different state. My Grandmother passes away, and I’m back “home” for her funeral. I’m at the funeral home with my aunt, and this same priest comes in to visit the family.

My aunt introduces me, and says something to the effect of “I’m sure you remember my nephew…”

And, to my aghast, the priest says…“Yes, I remember, he’s the one I threatened to kill…”

Yikes !!

It’s only now, thirty years later, that it occured to me, that it seems odd that the priest would drink unconsecrated wine after Communion…but I never see it anymore.

 

[Anthony02]

That was the way they purified their fingers and the vessels after Communion. Today they usually use water only but it would be perfectly OK for them to still do what you remember.

I have actually still seen it done. I serve at a Latin Novus Ordo Mass and there is one priest in my diocese who occasionally celebrates that Mass will purify with both water and unconsecrated wine.

 

[Phemie]

I have actually still seen it done. I serve at a Latin Novus Ordo Mass and there is one priest in my diocese who occasionally celebrates that Mass will purify with both water and unconsecrated wine.

In my parish he refuses to purify the vessels so we don’t see it.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

As I recall, the priest left the wine and water from purification in the chalice if he was to say another mass. Since it was unconsecrated it would break his fast if he consumed it. It was then included in the wine to be consecrated at the next mass.

At one time we went to a small country parish where the priest had to travel a few miles to the next church for his next mass. He would pour the purification into a cruet and carry it with him to that mass.

 

[FrCorey]

Yes, I do now remember the priest taking each paten and tapping them over his chalice.

But I more vividly remember this funny story…well, it’s funny now, it wasn’t funny then…

I’m pouring wine after Communion, and suddenly the priest yanks his chalice upward stopping me, as I was pouring too much. Guess I was daydreaming.

After Mass, in the Sacristy, the priest says “If you ever pour me that much wine again, I’ll kill you…”

Six years later, I live in a different state. My Grandmother passes away, and I’m back “home” for her funeral. I’m at the funeral home with my aunt, and this same priest comes in to visit the family.

My aunt introduces me, and says something to the effect of “I’m sure you remember my nephew…”

And, to my aghast, the priest says…“Yes, I remember, he’s the one I threatened to kill…”

Yikes !!

It’s only now, thirty years later, that it occured to me, that it seems odd that the priest would drink unconsecrated wine after Communion…but I never see it anymore.

yep, priests can only hold so much wine.