PURIFYING VESSELS
I was purifying vessels for twelve years. For four of those years I was fully aware I should not be doing it. I was only an extraordinary minister after all. My guess is that my parish priest didn’t know about:
Notitiae 8 (1972) 195
GIRM element 237 says that particles of the Eucharistic bread are to be collected after the consecration. GIRM element 237 must be taken in context with other articles that deal with the same point. The description of the basic form of celebration says clearly: "After Communion the priest returns to the altar and collects any remaining particles. Then, standing at the side of the altar or at the side table, he purifies the paten or ciborium over the chalice, then purifies the chalice....and dries it with a purificator" (GIRM element 120). The Order of Mass with a congregation element 138 says: "After Communion the priest or deacon purifies the paten over the chalice and the chalice itself." The Order of Mass without a congregation element 31 says: "Then the priest purifies the chalice over the paten and the chalice itself."
or
Notitiae 14 (1978) 593-594
After the distribution of Communion the priest often is observed purifying the vessels (chalice, paten, ciborium) at the middle of the altar. The directives in the GIRM are to be observed. There is a general principle in element 238: "The vessels are purified by the priest or else by the deacon or acolyte after the Communion or after Mass, if possible at a side table." The directive as to time (whether after Communion or after Mass) is completed in element 229 with one regarding place (at the side of the altar). It is implicit in this regulation that the celebrant never stands at the middle of the altar as he purifies the vessels (see also element 120)
or
General Instruction to the Roman Missal, element 120
After Communion the priest returns to the altar and collects any remaining particles. Then, standing at the side of the altar or at a side table, he purifies the paten or ciborium over the chalice, then he purifies the chalice, saying inaudibly: "Lord, may I receive these gifts, etc, and then dries it with a purificator. If this is done at the altar, the vessels are taken to a side table by a minister. It is also permitted, especially if there are several vessels to be purified, to leave them, properly covered and on a corporal, either at the altar or at a side table and to purify them after Mass when the people have left.
or
General Instruction to the Roman Missal, elements 237-239
Whenever a particle of the Eucharistic bread adheres to his fingers, especially after the breaking of the bread or the Communion of the people, the priest cleanses his fingers over the paten or, if necessary, washes them. He also gathers any particles that may fall outside the paten.
The vessels are purified by the priest or else by the deacon or acolyte after the Communion or after Mass, if possible at the side table. Wine and water alone are used for the purification of the chalice, then drunk by the one who purifies it. The paten is usually wiped with the purificator.
If any Eucharistic bread or any particle of it should fall, it is to be picked up reverently. If any of the Precious Blood spills, the areas should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium. Give them credit my former colleagues no longer purifying on the altar, they moved it over to the credence table. But extraordinary ministers are still purifying vessels in my parish.
What does Father know about?
Well he knows about Redemptionis Sacramentum. The reason I know that he knows is because he made an announcement about receiving it during a Sunday homily. When I read it I expected to see some changes. But business went on as before and I continued purifying vessels on the altar; dead center and facing the congregation.
Then last October there was a Catholic News Service report about extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist being barred from purifying vessels. “At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States.
In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The U.S. bishops had asked the Vatican to extend an indult -- or church permission -- in effect since 2002 allowing extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to help cleanse the Communion cups and plates when there were not enough priests or deacons to do so.
Bishop Skylstad, who heads the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., said Cardinal Arinze asked Pope Benedict about the matter during a June 9 audience, "and received a response in the negative."
Half a year past. The task was moved over to the credence table, but extraordinary ministers are still purifying vessels. Not me. I quit.
