Use Of Pre-consecrated Hosts In The Mass

[Quod Vult Deus]

Two part ques:

 

1. When/why/how did the practice begin in the Roman Mass of using pre-consecrated hosts for the congregation's communion?

 

2. When I find myself disturbed/saddened by this practice and yearning for the ancient (and still in the Eastern Rites and among the Orthodox) practice of communicating with species consecrated then and there in the Mass, what should I do?  (Note: I am Byzantine rite but have, of necessity, been practicing in the Roman rite for the last five years.)

 

Thank you,

QVD

[CatherineM]

I'm not exactly sure what you are referring to. Latin Rite churches consecrate the bread during the mass. Pre-consecrated hosts only get used during communion services where a priest isn't present. Occasionally a priest will use the retained hosts that are in the tabernacle. It's a good practice that if some are retained to rotate them.

[cappie]

Not to sure re history except to say it became common after the Council of Trent.

 

The tabernacle is certainly worthy of all reverence and respect as the place where the reserved Hosts are kept for adoration outside of Mass and for distribution, above all, to the sick.

 

At the same time, the Church's magisterium has several times expressed a strong preference for "that more perfect form of participation in the Mass by which the faithful, after the priest's Communion, receive the Lord's Body from the same Sacrifice" (see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 13). Thus, insofar as possible the faithful should receive Communion from hosts consecrated during the Mass itself and not just receive from the tabernacle.

 

This practice requires a greater effort on the part of the priest and those who assist him in preparing the celebration. It is usually achievable after a while as the number of communicants at most parishes is fairly regular.

 

A sufficient number of hosts should be reserved in the tabernacle to assure that none ever be deprived of Communion due to miscalculation. And it will be sometimes necessary to use the tabernacle in order to renew the reserved hosts.

 

Because of the large number of communicants at Mass on Sundays it can be hard to calculate the exact numbers, however at smaller Masses during the week or in smaller parishes is is more exact and should present no difficulty in consecration the correct amounts, thus fulfilling the wish of the Church and the prescription of Liturgical Norms.