ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews) (01/13/86)
Hi,
As for how the Roman Catholic church treats the consecrated wine and bread -
what I've seen done after Communion, the Eucharistic ministers (those who
help the priest give Communion in both forms, the bread and wine) will drink
any consecrated wine left over, usually a very small amount, if any at all.
The hosts, that is the bread shaped in small round wafers, are placed
in the tabernacle for later use. If the bread is getting old, they will
often eat whatever is left before it goes stale. Some parishes use unleavened
bread the way we are used to seeing it before slicing, broken into small
bite-size chunks. When the vessels used to hold the consecrated bread and
wine are cleaned after Mass, they are washed in a sink which empties
directly into the ground, rather than into the sewer system, as a sign of
respect and reverence for the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ.
In the pre-Vatican II days, the priest had an altar boy go along with
him as he gave the consecrated hosts, holding a patten (spelling?) under the
person's chin to catch the host should it fall from the priest's hand before
or after reaching the person's mouth; just so the host wouldn't reach the
floor. In those days, there weren't any Eucharistic ministers, and Communion
was only given in the form of bread, placed in the person's mouth. Today,
there are many men and women involved as Eucharistic ministers, and the
congregation is usually offered both the consecrated bread and wine. Some
people choose not to have wine. The hosts are now given by the priest and
Eucharistic minister. The people receiving the host can choose
to receive it either in their hands or mouth. And there are now altar
girls helping the priest with books, vessels, candles, etc.
And for those who didn't know, the Mass is said in the local language of the
congregation: Spanish, French, *Polish*, even English. :-) There are some
parishes which offer a Latin Mass on occasion. The Latin Mass has a certain
solemn beauty about it, but the English Mass is much more meaningful, for
me, and a truly beautiful celebration. By the way, in the days of the Latin
Mass, the Missals (prayer books) we used did have the English translation
for the Latin.
God Bless,
Mike Andrews
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