Yo Father, You Forgot the Host

[FrDavid96]

We don’t know if the Mass was invalid (an invalid attempt at Mass).

If the priest realized what he had done (or not-done) he could very well have said the words of consecration over the wine, without anyone hearing him, or even anyone else being aware of it. He would simply say (whisper) the words “This is the cup of My Blood…” (HIC EST ENIM CALIX SANGUINIS MEI…)

When something like this does happen, the best thing for the priest to do is to call as little attention to the mistake as possible–which is why he might have done it without anyone noticing.

 

[AndrewRaZ]

Thank you for the corrections, Father, I appreciate it.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m pretty sure the host was there. He just didn’t consecrate it.

If he intended to consecrate it, then God supplied the lack with regard to his attention and other details. It’s not like a drug, or a magic trick, where everything has to be perfect - this is God’s action; not the priest’s action.

There could be any reason why the priest’s attention wandered - he might have been up all night for some reason, like attending to a dying parishioner, or driving from somewhere far away to get to the Church, or even just absentmindedness due to age.

Of course, it is always better when the words and the actions coincide and make sense.