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How To Correct A Liturgical Abuse


Saint_Gemma_Galgani

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Saint_Gemma_Galgani

My home parish uses a glass chalice for the Blood of Christ. I told the pastor of the parish that glass chalices are prohibited by Redemptoris Sacramentum, but he said that the parish council looked at the document and that what it says does not apply to their use of a glass chalice. The pastor also said that since our bishop uses a glass chalice at the cathedral, that doing so is fine. He also said that he is not allowed to use a gold chalice until the bishop decides that the entire diocese should do so, and that another priest was yelled at for using gold chalices exclusively. The pastor said that a family volunteered to pay for a gold chalice, but that he refused their offer.

What should I do now?

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+J.M.J.+
if it's been the bishop's decision not to use precious metal, you need to talk/write to the bishop. with specific documents. and not just, Redemptionis Sacramentum paragraph whatever says, blah blah blah, but copy out the pertinent section from RS and include in your letter.

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[quote name='Saint_Gemma_Galgani' post='1548899' date='May 29 2008, 11:00 PM']My home parish uses a glass chalice for the Blood of Christ. I told the pastor of the parish that glass chalices are prohibited by Redemptoris Sacramentum, but he said that the parish council looked at the document and that what it says does not apply to their use of a glass chalice. The pastor also said that since our bishop uses a glass chalice at the cathedral, that doing so is fine. He also said that he is not allowed to use a gold chalice until the bishop decides that the entire diocese should do so, and that another priest was yelled at for using gold chalices exclusively. The pastor said that a family volunteered to pay for a gold chalice, but that he refused their offer.

What should I do now?[/quote]

Stop putting money in the basket and consider visiting/supporting a more reverent parish. It's the only way there will be any change IMHO.

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Thy Geekdom Come

Do as Lil Red said...then if the bishop still doesn't follow RS, you can try writing the Conference of Bishops or the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

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[quote name='Raphael' post='1548950' date='May 29 2008, 11:21 PM']Do as Lil Red said...then if the bishop still doesn't follow RS, you can try writing the Conference of Bishops or the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.[/quote]

I used to share such approaches until I realized our prelates aren't ignorant. They consciously permit or engage in such abuses, albeit a few who fight against them.

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[quote name='Saint_Gemma_Galgani' post='1548899' date='May 29 2008, 10:00 PM']What should I do now?[/quote]
If it really bugs you, it is probably best to just go to a different parish.

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You could add from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

III. SACRED VESSELS
327. Among the requisites for the celebration of Mass, the sacred vessels are held in special honor, especially the chalice and paten, in which the bread and wine are offered and consecrated, and from which they are consumed.

328. Sacred vessels are to be made from precious metal. If they are made from metal that rusts or from a metal less precious than gold, then ordinarily they should be gilded on the inside.

329. In the Dioceses of the United States of America, sacred vessels may also be made from other solid materials that, according to the common estimation in each region, are precious, for example, ebony or other hard woods, provided that such materials are suited to sacred use and do not easily break or deteriorate. This applies to all vessels which hold the hosts, such as the paten, the ciborium, the pyx, the monstrance, and other things of this kind.

330. As regards chalices and other vessels that are intended to serve as receptacles for the Blood of the Lord, they are to have bowls of nonabsorbent material. The base, on the other hand, may be made of other solid and worthy materials.

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Thy Geekdom Come

Glass, by the way, is technically a highly viscous liquid (not a solid), and not suitable for use as a chalice because the Precious Blood eventually stains the chalice, leaving Jesus "trapped" inside the material.

I'd also like to add that it bothers me that (according to you) the priest put the matter to the parish council and let them decide, instead of using his priestly authority and training to make the right decision regarding the materials. There may or may not be anyone qualified on your parish council to take a look at the document and interpret it correctly (chances are that the parish council is not qualified to make those judgments), but the document speaks for itself, and does so loud and clear.

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Raph brings up an intersting point about glass... it's an interesting substance, because it is currently melting... in a 100 years, you'll definitely notice the difference.

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[quote name='Raphael' post='1548950' date='May 29 2008, 10:21 PM']Do as Lil Red said...then if the bishop still doesn't follow RS, you can try writing the Conference of Bishops or the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i believe the next step is your papal nuncio (? not the right term i don't think), then higher up. papal advocate? :unsure: what's the term i want??

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goldenchild17

[quote name='mortify' post='1548973' date='May 29 2008, 11:29 PM']I used to share such approaches until I realized our prelates aren't ignorant. They consciously permit or engage in such abuses, albeit a few who fight against them.[/quote]

uh oh. do I smell conspiracy theorist? I agree :).

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Autumn Dusk

A conversation I once had:

"Father?"

"Yes Autumn?"

"Well priests do things wrong sometimes, right?"

"Uhhh, yeah, Autumn, we're only human"

"But in mass its not allowed, right father."

"Depends on what it is."

"The priest is using a glass chalice"

"Thats a tough one, its certinally not right."

"Oh."

"Does he know that?"

"Yah but he likes it"

"Well, the bishop won't do anything in our dioceses, Autumn, but its not good to talk about clergy negatively for humility sake."

"Ok, Father, then what should I do?"

"Pray"

"Just pray!!!!!"

"Well you could always drop the chalice 'accidentlly'"

me--> :o

"I wasn't serious Autumn"

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[quote name='Autumn Dusk' post='1549243' date='May 30 2008, 09:34 AM']A conversation I once had:

"Father?"

"Yes Autumn?"

"Well priests do things wrong sometimes, right?"

"Uhhh, yeah, Autumn, we're only human"

"But in mass its not allowed, right father."

"Depends on what it is."

"The priest is using a glass chalice"

"Thats a tough one, its certinally not right."

"Oh."

"Does he know that?"

"Yah but he likes it"

"Well, the bishop won't do anything in our dioceses, Autumn, but its not good to talk about clergy negatively for humility sake."

"Ok, Father, then what should I do?"

"Pray"

"Just pray!!!!!"

"Well you could always drop the chalice 'accidentlly'"

me--> :o

"I wasn't serious Autumn"[/quote]


That is a hoot. I suppose that even if it got dropped when it was empty and purified, they would just replace it with another.

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Totus Tuus

You go up the chain of command until you find yourself writing to Rome. You made the correct first step by going to your pastor. Do cite both the GIRM and RS in your letters. There is no argument [i]for[/i] using a glass chalice. Period. End of story.

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+J.M.J.+
this document might help: [url="http://www.adoremus.org/1295Bruno.html"]http://www.adoremus.org/1295Bruno.html[/url]

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