960212.01
>Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 01:40:44 -0800
>From: walsh <walsh@alaska.net>
>Subject: Liturgy of the Eucharist
>
> I have a question regarding the corporal. Is there anything wrong
> with alter servers placing the Chalice and Patern (with large
> Host) centered and on top of the corporal? The question came up
> with regard to the reused corporal possibly having small even
> microscopic peices of concecrated Host on it and therefore should
> not have anything placed on the corporal except by the Priest and
> after He concecrates the new bread and wine. Perhaps you can
> answer the question or recommend me to one who can, or provide a
> reference for all concerned here to use in addressing this issue.
> Thankyou, Sincerely, Brian Walsh
Dear Brian,
My references here will be to the "Foreword of the Roman Missal:
The Sacramentary" and to the "General Instruction of the Roman
Missal" (G.I.R.M.). The Sacramentary is the book used by the
priest at the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
On page 15* of the Foreword we read this general principle: "All
ministers should do all that pertains to them, and only what
pertains to them."
G.I.R.M. says very little about the corporal and gives no minute
directions about handling and placing it.
G.I.R.M. # 237 says: "(The priest) gathers any fragments which
may fall outside the paten." Such fragments would usually fall
on the corporal, but might also fall on the altar cloth.
It is inevitable that, at the Breaking of the Host, several
microscopic particles and some even larger ones will fall onto
the paten, corporal, and altar cloth. Even though the priest is
careful to gather all the particles he can see, many will remain
invisible. Common sense dictates care in folding and unfolding
the corporal, especially never shaking it out or turning it over.
When the server brings the corporal, purificator, chalice, and
missal (sacramentary) to the altar (G.I.R.M. ## 49, 100, 145), he
will of course put the missal to the priest's left. Your problem
of placing the other things on the altar is coveniently solved by
putting them on the corner of the altar to the priest's right
and leaving it to the priest or deacon to unfold the corporal and
place it in the center.
Don't put the chalice and paten on the corporal. Leave them on
the corner or at least just to the right of center. (This is a
handy place for the paten to be when the priest reaches for it to
offer the host; and also a handy place for the chalice to be when
the priest or deacon pours in the wine and water.)
G.I.R.M leaves us "on our own" in the matter of the corporal.
Neither ## 102, 103 nor ## 133, 145 mention the corporal except
to say it is placed on the altar. But common sense again
suggests that at the end of Mass, after the priest has checked
the corporal for fragments (#237), then he or the deacon or the
acolyte should use reverent care in folding the corporal before
lifting it from the altar.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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