Why not Add water to all the wine at Mass?

[aclark114]

Hello, thank you in advanced for all of the help!

My question is regarding the preparation for, and the actual Consecration. During Masses when Wine is given to all who receive Communion by multiple Chalices (as apposed to when just the single Chalice is used and only given to Servers, Deacons ect), I have noticed that my priest only places water in the single “main” Chalice. but none into the other Chalices which are used for the general people. Does water need to be added to all of the wine? Why would a priest omit the water from the other Chalices? “To save time” seems like a silly reason because it would take literally 10 seconds to poor a drop of water into a few Chalices.

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The faithful are not being deprived.The addition of water to the wine before the consecration is not necessary for the validity of the sacrament and is only a symbol. As he pours a drop of water into the chalice, the priest says: “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” It would be redundant to repeat this for more than one chalice.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.