Cardinal Arinze recently wrote to Bishop Skylstad to say that 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.
Read the full article: Extraordinary ministers of Eucharist barred from purifying vessels.
(H/T American Papist)
This letter is of relevance to England and Wales because currently the Bishops give permission for extraordinary ministers to purify the vessels after Holy Communion. The permission is conditional upon any further instruction from Rome. Since Bishop Skylstad said that Cardinal Arinze asked Pope Benedict about the matter during a June 9 audience, "and received a response in the negative", it would not seem to be necessary for a further instruction to be issued for England and Wales.
13 comments:
Ah, I had wondered if a permission of some sort had been in force here. Though I doubt if anything by way of a revised instruction will come from the BCEW voluntarily.
My big problem is that they aren't an exception, in that sense of extra-ordinary, they are normal, first time in history. Even if there are half adozen people in a church out they come to distribute the chalice.
At Westminster Cathedral they appear carrying trays of ciboria, from the side aisles, like parlour maids bring in the tea, totally disconnect from what is happening on the sanctuary, even if there are dozens of priests in the sanctuary.
In the history of the Church something new has been set in place.
Libera nos, from these monsters!
I agree with you, Fr, but won't the bishops of E&W need something in writing directed at them? Otherwise, they can claim they have never been told about this - and that, of course, would strictly be true if the only communication has been to the USCCB. Or maybe we can leave it to the Liturgy Commission to ensure promulgation!
Here in the Adur Valley, boyo, we implemented the General Instruction immediately, at least as regards the purification being done by the priest, the corporal being spread at the Offertory and the chalice veil being used. There was only one protest, from a man who claimed that not being permitted to do the purification was 'disempowering the laity'. I mildy suggested that his wife might like to know he felt disempowered not being permitted to do the washing up. No doubt she empowered him very quickly.
This is a bit bold, but there's a Church I go to from time to time when visiting family. Would it be OK for me to point out to the priest there that it's now forbidden for Eucharistic Ministers to purify?
The use of lay people in the Liturgy is certainly an innovation. Taking communion to the sick was known in the early centuries, though.
Joee, I would suggest more of a "letting him know new information" rather than "pointing out" - you might get somewhere then. But not much point saying anything if you know he won't take any notice. He can still claim permission from the Bishops of England and Wales.
You seem very 'anti' regarding the 'use of lay people in the Liturgy', Father. I feel a pronounced 'us and them' mentality here.
I am not sure why you "feel" that mentality is in the post I have written. I would simply go along with the teaching and legislation of the Church and the repeated urging of the Popes not to clericalise the laity or to laicise the clergy. The lay apostolate has a very broad range of action where the priest cannot possibly be effective. Purifying the vessels at Mass is not a central issue in the lay apostolate.
That's very well put, Father. I hadn't quite thought of it that way before - ' clericalise the laity or to laicise the clergy.'
Dear Father,
this is the reply elicited by a simple enquiry to the Liturgy Office at the CCBEW.
"The matter has been discussed with the Holy See by the Bishops’ Conference. The Bishops’ Conference awaits a response from the Congregation for Divine Worship."
So we await developments with bated breath. Will they have a reply in time for their November meeting?
And many lay people will agree with father and the Church's discipline.
"inquiring mind" - Thanks for that interesting comment. What nonsense from the CCBEW office! They do not need to wait for a response from the CDW - it is not likely to be different from the response to the US bishops.
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