In the September 2004
BCL Newsletter...
In recent months, the Secretariat for the Liturgy has received numerous inquiries from Bishops and Diocesan Offices for Worship in regard to the ritual changes associated with the implementation of the instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum. Most notably, the revision of the USCCB Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion (USCCB Norms, 2001) in the light of the Instruction have been of widespread concern. The following questions and answers are provided to our readers as an update and summary of this matter.
1. Why did the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments revise the USCCB Norms in regard to the pouring of the Precious Blood at the time of the Lamb of God from a flagon into chalices for distribution (See BCL Newsletter, July, 2004)?
On March 22, 2002, the USCCB approved Norms which provided for the pouring of the Precious Blood during the singing of the Lamb of God into chalices for distribution to the faithful. These norms were confirmed by the Holy See on March 22, 2002. On March 25, 2004, the Congregation published an instruction under the title, Redemptionis Sacramentum [RS], which prescribed that “the pouring of the Blood of Christ after the consecration from one vessel to another is completely to be avoided, lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery. Never to be used for containing the Blood of the Lord are flagons, bowls, or other vessels that are not fully in accord with the established norms” (RS, no. 106). On April 27, 2004 Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Chairman of the USCCB Committee on the Liturgy, wrote to Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation, noting the discrepancy between Redemptionis Sacramentum and the USCCB Norms in regard to pouring the Precious Blood and the use of flagons. Cardinal Arinze responded on May 6, 2004 (Prot n. 660/04/L) with a letter modifying the Congregation’s “original confirmation in regard to numbers 36 and 37 of these Norms” and including an emended text of the USCCB Norms which eliminates both the pouring of the Precious Blood and the use of flagons.
2. Does the Congregation have the authority to change particular law in this regard?
On August 2, 2004, Cardinal George wrote to Cardinal Arinze once again, noting that several Bishops “have questioned the competence of the Congregation to revise its recognitio of norms approved and confirmed on a prior occasion.” On August 4, 2004, Cardinal Arinze responded (Prot. n. 660/04/L) to Cardinal George’s letter, observing that while “a provision of complementary legislation, once granted recognitio, may not simply be revised…,” it must be borne in mind that: (1) “an Instruction may develop the manner in which a law is to be put into effect (cf. can. 34 §1)...” and (2) “the effect of Redemptionis Sacramentum, nos.105-106 was to render inoperative certain elements contained in nos. 36-37 of the Norms since a presumption upon which the complementary norm has been based could no longer be maintained as being in accord with the ius commune.” Therefore, “the Congregation has attempted to supply a formulation according to which the existing legislation could be implemented in the light of the new Instruction, Redemptionis Sacramentum, maintaining insofar as possible the evident intentions of the Bishops in a way which would conform with the general norm of law.”
3. Is the prohibition against pouring the Precious Blood likely to change?
No. Even if the USCCB wished to reassert the USCCB Norms to permit the use of flagons, the action must be confirmed by the Congregation, which is empowered to change any decision of a Conference of Bishops, even substantially, in order to bring it into conformity with Redemptionis Sacramentum.
4. Isn’t the practice of pouring the Precious Blood from a flagon during the Lamb of God the practice of the ancient Church?
There is no precedent for the consecration of the Precious Blood in a flagon before the expansion of the faculty for distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds in our own day. Nor is there any precedent for pouring of the Precious Blood during the Breaking of the Bread. The Congregation’s prohibition of pouring and the use of the flagon, as cited in Redemptionis Sacramentum, seems, at least in part, to be based on the lack of precedent in the Roman Rite for the consecration of wine in any vessel other than a chalice.
5. How was Holy Communion under both kinds distributed in time past in the Roman Rite?
Widespread evidence of the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds to the faithful dates at least from the time of Hippolytus and continues into the twelfth century. From the seventh century, the Roman ordines describe a practice whereby at the time of the distribution of Holy Communion (but not during the fractio) a small amount of wine from the main chalice (calix sanctus) was poured into a chalice of unconsecrated wine (calix ministerialis) held by the deacon. The admixture of the Precious Blood and unconsecrated wine in the chalice for distribution was called the sanguis Dominicus, though there is disagreement in the liturgical tradition as to whether the mixed substance was to be considered the Precious Blood in a strict sense.
In some instances, especially at Rome, there is evidence of the consecration of wine in several chalices, some of which were used for distribution to the faithful. This practice was, however, not as popular as the distribution of wine with a small amount of the Precious Blood mixed in.
There are many other differences between the present ritual of the Roman Rite for distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds and the customary, earlier practices of the Church, including, for example, the use of a tube or reed, various forms of intinction, and the use of large chalices for distribution, some of which held a capacity for close to two liters of wine.
6. But aren’t there patristic and other texts which refer to the pouring out of the Precious Blood at the Lamb of God which are analogous to references about the fractio of the consecrated bread?
While there are numerous and rich biblical, liturgical and patristic texts which speak of the Blood of Christ poured out for us, none are applied to the liturgical action at the fractio, or to the pouring of the Precious Blood as a preparation for Communion. Each reference to the Blood of Christ poured out for us is to his blood shed for our redemption on Calvary, or to the Precious Blood in and of itself, but not as a part of a pouring rite analogous to the fractio.
7. If a flagon is not used, what is the best way to accomplish the preparation of a sufficient number of chalices for distribution?
Two models seem to have emerged in the preparation of multiple chalices at the Preparation of the Gifts, each of which is fully in conformity with the norms of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America (2001).
In the first model, chalices are prepared after the presentation of the gifts in the usual manner (see GIRM, nos. 142, 178). If there are a large number of chalices, care should be taken that they are not filled in haste. In the second model, particularly appropriate at larger celebrations, the chalices for distribution may be filled before the celebration begins and kept on a side table (see GIRM, no. 73). The prepared chalices may then be brought to the altar after the gifts have been received. However, care should be taken that the wine not be spilled as the chalices are taken to the altar. Likewise, when there is a danger that insects, dust, or other elements might contaminate the wine in the prepared chalices, they should be covered with a pall or another suitable cloth.
8. Can flagons be used in another way at Mass?
Flagons may quite appropriately be used to bring forward the wine at the Presentation the Gifts.
The National Hispanic Institute for Liturgy celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at a Conference held at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on August 12-15, 2004. The conference’s theme was Con Piedras Vivas: la Iglesia de un Lugar a un Hogar (With Living Stones: the Church, from a Place to a Home). In the course of the meeting, Sister Doris Mary Turek, SSND, multicultural specialist for the USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy, presented a letter of congratulations from Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Chairman of the USCCB Committee on the Liturgy, to Father Juan Sosa, President of the Institute.
In his letter, Cardinal George noted that “the growing Hispanic Catholic community has been well served in the first twenty-five years of your institute. For many years you have recognized the consummate value of full, conscious and active celebration of the Eucharist. Through seeking to lead Hispanic peoples in particular to an appreciation of the Sacred Liturgy, you have recognized that ‘the Eucharist offers sustenance not only to individuals but to entire peoples, and it shapes cultures inspired by Christianity’ (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 51). Please assure the delegates to this important meeting of the prayers of all the members of the Committee on the Liturgy, and of my gratitude for your continuing service as an advisor to the Bishops of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. May God bring to perfection the good work he had begun in your first twenty-five years!”
Bishop Ricardo Ramírez of Las Cruces, New Mexico, spoke on the history of the Instituto and the present state of Hispanic liturgy in the United States of America. Among the other presentations was a talk by Reverend Domingo Rodriguez, S.T., who urged those present to focus on the presence of Jesus as the Cornerstone, the one who is always present and supports our efforts, while we remain committed to fostering the full, conscious and active participation of all in our liturgical celebrations. Bishop Jaime Soto used the feast of Saint Maximillian Kolbe as the starting point for his comments on the topic Font of Living Water: the Sacraments. He noted that through the Sacraments, we become living stones together with the holy ones who have gone before us. Sister María Elena González, RSM, addressed the group on the need to work for justice and unity in the midst of diversity. She noted that in every aspect of our daily lives, we must be the Living Stones which build the City of God. The Tenth National Conference concluded with a Eucharistic Liturgy on the feast of the Assumption of our Lady celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral.
The Episcopal Board of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy met in Washington, D.C. on July 26-28, 2004 to consider the comments received from the member Conferences on the draft translation of the Order of Mass. After an extended discussion of the recommendations of the Roman Missal Editorial Committee, the matter was deferred for action until the January, 2005 meeting of the mixed commission. The four officers of ICEL were each re-elected to a second two-year term. Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds, England serves as President, while Bishop Douglas Crosby of St George's, Newfoundland, Canada is vice-president. Bishop John McAreavey of Dromore, Ireland is secretary, and Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, USCCB representative to ICEL, continues as treasurer.
The Secretariat for the Liturgy frequently receives inquiries concerning the availability of large print liturgical books for sight impaired priests and liturgical ministers. Large type editions of the Sacramentary and the Lectionary for Mass are available from: Sr. Mary Amata, O.P., St. Dominic’s Monastery, 4901 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20011 (202-726-2107).
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Within the next few weeks, Thirty Five Years of the BCL Newsletter will be available for purchase from USCCB Publications (ISBN 1-57455-402-6). In his introduction to Thirty Five Years of the BCL Newsletter, Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Chairman of the Committee on the Liturgy, recalls the first issue of the BCL Newsletter, published in September of 1965. It began with the words: “This is the first issue of the Newsletter published by the Bishops’ Commission on the Liturgical Apostolate. It is intended primarily for the Bishops of the United States and for their diocesan liturgical commissions. It is planned to include in the Newsletter official and unofficial material, information of general interest from the Consilium for the Implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy, news concerning the activities of the Commission, etc.”
Cardinal George recalled that “since that first issue, the BCL Newsletter has provided a unique and consistent insight into the liturgical reform mandated by the Second Vatican Council as it has been implemented by the Bishops of the United States of America. With the pages of this volume the student of liturgy can find the excitement of the first flush of the reform, and the sometimes agonizing search for the full meaning of the liturgical reform.”
Individual copies of this 8 5/8" x 11 1/4" hard cover collection will be available for $129.95. An invaluable aspect of this major reference tool is its 103-page index. To order copies of Thirty-Five Years of the BCL Newsletter, call USCCB Publishing at 800-235-8722 or visit the Bishops' website at www.usccb.org/publishing. |