Placing the Bread and Wine on the Altar

226. At the altar, a minister hands the celebrant the paten with the bread (IG 141). This is done by a deacon (IG 178), or in his absence by an acolyte or other lay minister (IG 190), or in their absence by a concelebrant (IG 208). The priest holds it above the altar, and prays silently, before placing the paten on the corporal. Only if there is no offertory song, and the organ is not played, may the prayer be said aloud, to which the people respond Blessed be God for ever. (IG 142).

227. Next the chalice with wine and water is placed on the corporal.

228. For the basic Mass, without deacon or concelebrants, the priest stands at the side of the altar and the minister presents the cruets (IG 142). The cruets are not placed on the altar (IG 306). The priest prays inaudibly while adding the wine and a little water to the chalice.

229. For Mass with a deacon, according to IG 178, the deacon "pours wine and a little water into the chalice saying inaudibly: By the mystery of this water and wine, then passes the chalice to the priest. He may also make this preparation of the chalice at the side table." If this is done at the altar, the deacon will be presented with the cruets of wine and water.

230. For a concelebrated Mass, the concelebrants remain at their places (IG 214). Only if there were no other ministers would the concelebrants perform the functions of the deacon or lay minister (IG 208).

231. For Mass with a bishop, "in the absence of a deacon, a presbyter should ... minister at the altar; if he is not to concelebrate, he wears an alb and stole" (CB 172). It seems that such a priest, not concelebrating, should perform the tasks of the deacon.

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