Purifications - Liturgical Laws

Below is my attempt to show the liturgical laws, in the United States of America, on purifications as they applied on 2 October 2001. Since then the 2002 Roman Missal has been published and the US bishops have received an indult from the Vatican. So what follows is no longer current legislation.

Here is the text from Notitiae 14 (1978) 593-594, no. 15:

Query: After the distribution of communion the priest is observed purifying the vessels (chalice, paten, ciborium) at the middle of the altar. Cannot a better place and time be chosen to do this? May another minister purify the vessels?

Reply: a. The directives in the GIRM are to be observed. There is a general principle in no. 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. Wine and water or water alone are used for the purification of the chalice, then drunk by the one who purifies it. The paten is usually to be wiped with the purificator."

The directive as to time (whether after communion or after Mass) is completed in no. 229 with one regarding place (at the side of the altar). It is implicit in this regulation that the celebrant never stands in the middle of the altar as he purifies the vessels (see also no. 120).

b. Other particulars are found elsewhere in the GIRM: As to the priest, no. 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 purifies the chalice, saying inaudibly: Lord may I receive these gifts, etc. , and 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 purify them after Mass when the people have left.

As to the deacon, no. 138:

After communion, the deacon returns to the altar with the priest and collects any remaining fragments. He then takes the chalice and other vessels to the side table, where he purifies them and arranges them in the usual way; the priest returns to the chair. But it is permissible to leave the vessels to be purified, properly covered and on a corporal, at a side table and to purify them after Mass, when the people have left.

As to the acolyte, no. 147:

After communion, the acolyte helps the priest or deacon to purify and arrange the vessels. If no deacon is present, the acolyte takes the vessels to the side table, where he purifies and arranges them.

The remarks on the priest, deacon, and acolyte are applicable to a special minister who lawfully distributes communion (see SCDS, Instruction Immensae caritatis, nos.; RR, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass, no. 17). See also GIRM no. 229 on a priest celebrating without a congregation; nos. 202-206 on a concelebrated Mass. [From Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, 1982, page 512, Footnote R42].

Before 2 October 2001, on this page I simply had the following liturgical laws:

1975 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

GIRM 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 purifies the chalice, saying inaudibly: Lord, may I receive these gifts, etc., and dries it with a purficator. If this is done at the altar, the vessels are taken to a side table by a minister. It is also permiteed, 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.

GIRM 147: After communion, the acolyte helps the priest or deacon to purify and arrange the vessels. If no deacon is present, the acolyte takes the vessels to the side table, where he purifies and arranges them.

GIRM 206: At the altar the deacon drinks all that remains in the chalice, takes it to the side table and there he or the acolyte purifies and dries it, then arranges it in the usual way.

GIRM 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. Wine and water or water alone are used for the purification of the chalice, then drunk by the one who purifies it. The paten is usually to be wiped with the purificator.

1975 Roman Missal, The Order of Mass:

The vessels are cleansed by the priest or deacon or acolyte after the communion or after Mass, if possible at the side table. Meanwhile he says inaudibly: Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and for ever. [The Sacramentary, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 565.]

The Latin text of this instruction suggests this prayer is only said by the priest (i.e. sacerdos). 1975 Roman Missal, The Order of Mass, n 140:

Distributione Communionis expleta, sacerdos vel diaconus vel acolythus purificat patenam super calicem et ipsum calicem. Dum purificationem peragit, sacerdos dicit secreto: Quod ore sumpsimus, Domine, pura mente capiamus, et de munere temporali fiat nobis remedium sempiternum. [Daily Roman Missal, Scepter Publishers, New Jersey , 1996, page 740.]

Ceremonial of Bishops, n 165:

When the giving of communion is over, one of the deacons consumes the blood that remains, takes the cup to a side table, and there purifies and arranges it, or he may do so after Mass. Another deacon or one of the concelebrants takes any remaining consecrated particles to the tabernacle, then at a side table cleanses the paten or ciborium over the cup before the cup is cleansed. [Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, page 59-60.]

This Holy and Living Sacrifice, n 36:

After Communion the eucharistic bread that remains is to be taken in regard to any fragments remaining on the corporal or in the sacred vessels. [Footnote 4: ID 13 (Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, instruction Inaestimable Donum, 3 April 1980: AAS 72 (1980)): "Even after Communion the Lord remains present under the species. Accordingly, when Communion has been distributed, the sacred particles remaining are to be consumed or taken by the competent minister to the place where the Eucharist is reserved."] In those instances when there remains more consecrated wine than was necessary, the ministers shall consume it immediately at a side table before the Prayer After Communion, while the vessels themselves may be purified after Mass. [Footnote 5: ID 14; GIRM 120, 237-239]. The amount of wine to be consecrated should be carefully measured before the celebration so that none remains afterward. [The Liturgy Documents, Third Edition, Liturgy Training Publications, Chicago, 1991, page 262.]

SC Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction Immensae caritatis (29 January 1973):

Local Ordinaries possess the faculty enabling them to permit fit persons, each chosen by name as a special minister, in a given instance or for a set period or even permanently, to give communion to themselves and others of the faithful and to carry it to the sick residing at home:

a. whenever no priest, deacon, or acolyte is available

b. whenever the same ministers are impeded from administering communion because of another pastoral ministery, ill-health or old age;

c. whenever the number of faithful wishing to receive communion is so great that the celebration of Mass or the giving of communion outside Mass would take too long. [Documents on the Liturgy, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, page 651].

The document Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass, does permit the cleansings to be done by an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion (who is not an acolyte). [Documents on the Liturgy, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, page 658]. But this is "outside Mass".

Instruction on certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of priests, Article 8, §1:

The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. ... This function is supplementary and extraordinary and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things ... rubrics to be observed ... [Ecclesiae de mysterio, 15 August 1997].

Other sites:

US New Norms press release of 13 April 2002