Purification

I just returned from Mass and wanted to share a thought with you.

We all know that the current crisis in the Church traces its roots to a de-valuing of the Eucharist. That is the subject for another time… but I wanted to point out a detail that often goes unnoticed, and is a symptom of the problem.

I’m talking about the so-called “purification” of the vessels used during the Mass… the chalice and the ciboria. Its intent is to protect the sacred species — the Body and Blood of Christ — from desecration by collecting and consuming any fragments that may still be present, before the vessels are put away.

 But, WHAT exactly are we purifying? WHO is actually purifying WHOM?

Different from what most people think, the thing that is being "purified" is NOT the ciborium itself, but rather the SOUL of the person who consumes them. After all, those fragments contain the same Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ that were present in the hosts that were distributed. That means that when a person “purifies a ciborium” they are in essence receiving the Eucharist all over again, and therefore they should do so with the same devotion and disposition as before.

“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, 

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Sadly, such devotion is seldom present. More often than not, the “empty” ciboria are set aside, often for hours at a time, until a priest or deacon can spare some time to perform this “task”. And when they do, it is seen as more of a chore than anything else.

 
Equally disturbing is the practice of moving the chalice and paten to the credence table after the distribution of Holy Communion in order to "purify" those vessels “offline”, as if they were merely “cleaning the dishes” after a meal!

NO! 

The Eucharistic liturgy belongs on the altar, and is not finished until the safeguarding of the vessels is completed with the care, devotion, and visibility it deserves.

Finally, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion also need to preserve their sense of reverence by using washbowls to clean their fingers of any Host fragments that may have remained after the distribution of the Eucharist. After Mass, the water from those bowls should then be poured down the sacrarium to preserve the integrity of the Blessed Sacrament.

 
Incredibly, many churches have eliminated these washbowls altogether and replaced them with bottles of hand sanitizer! Yet one more indication of the level of ignorance and casualness to which our regard for the Eucharist has fallen.

No wonder so few “practicing” Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist!

 
Vatican II stated that:

“The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.”

If we want it to be the source and summit of OUR lives as well, we have to start by re-capturing our sense of reverence and awe for this greatest of all mysteries, and most generous of all gifts.

https://www.youtube.com/@Simplycatholic