Wednesday Liturgy: Coffee and Food in the Sacristy
ROME, APRIL 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: Is it permissible to have coffee, a coffee urn, and food in the sacristy of the church? These beverages and foods are made available for the sacristans and the priests. -- P.N., Venice, Florida
A: I do not believe that there are any specific norms regarding food in the sacristy. But there are some indications that refer to the overall atmosphere that should reign in this area. Thus the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 45, says:
"Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence [] be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner."
At the same time, while everybody is required to fast an hour before Communion, priests who celebrate more than one Mass may take something before the second or third Mass even if less than an hour elapses (Canon 919.2).
Taking both these norms into account, one could say that it is preferable that food and beverages not be offered in the sacristy itself as this could easily perturb the necessary ambience of silent recollection.
However, one could envision some pastoral situations in which lack of an alternative space could justify dedicating a small part of the sacristy for refreshment purposes. Apart from the case of a priest celebrating several Masses it could also happen that a priest may finish Mass, have a quick coffee (charitably followed by some breath freshener), and then either head off for the confessional or to take Communion to shut-ins.
If recourse to such a solution is inevitable, priests should usually try to take their meal as quietly and quickly as possible so as not to disturb the climate of prayerful silence.
Except for the abovementioned pastoral situations, I think that habitually having food and beverages available for priests and others in the sacristy is both unnecessary and probably distracting.
If necessary, victuals should preferably be offered in some other room, even adjacent to the sacristy, but separated from the area used for vesting and immediate preparation for Mass.
Most parishes have some other nearby space available where the material nourishment of a fraternal "agape" may follow the spiritual sustenance of holy Mass.
Q: Is it permissible to have coffee, a coffee urn, and food in the sacristy of the church? These beverages and foods are made available for the sacristans and the priests. -- P.N., Venice, Florida
A: I do not believe that there are any specific norms regarding food in the sacristy. But there are some indications that refer to the overall atmosphere that should reign in this area. Thus the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 45, says:
"Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence [] be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner."
At the same time, while everybody is required to fast an hour before Communion, priests who celebrate more than one Mass may take something before the second or third Mass even if less than an hour elapses (Canon 919.2).
Taking both these norms into account, one could say that it is preferable that food and beverages not be offered in the sacristy itself as this could easily perturb the necessary ambience of silent recollection.
However, one could envision some pastoral situations in which lack of an alternative space could justify dedicating a small part of the sacristy for refreshment purposes. Apart from the case of a priest celebrating several Masses it could also happen that a priest may finish Mass, have a quick coffee (charitably followed by some breath freshener), and then either head off for the confessional or to take Communion to shut-ins.
If recourse to such a solution is inevitable, priests should usually try to take their meal as quietly and quickly as possible so as not to disturb the climate of prayerful silence.
Except for the abovementioned pastoral situations, I think that habitually having food and beverages available for priests and others in the sacristy is both unnecessary and probably distracting.
If necessary, victuals should preferably be offered in some other room, even adjacent to the sacristy, but separated from the area used for vesting and immediate preparation for Mass.
Most parishes have some other nearby space available where the material nourishment of a fraternal "agape" may follow the spiritual sustenance of holy Mass.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
10:29 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home