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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Use of Purificator Deacon Larry Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Question:

There are times when our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion do not have a corporal available when they conduct a Communion service at our nursing homes. In those cases should they use a purificator to place under the Eucharist? Some think that if a corporal is not available then one should use nothing rather than a corporal. Insights?

Thank you.

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Rev. Mr. Lottier,

An unused purificator would do..  the only unacceptable thing to use is nothing.

Here's what "Holy Communion Outside Mass" says regarding nursing homes:

"When communion is given in other places, a suitable table is to be prepared and covered with a cloth, candles are also to be provided."  (n.19)

To compare, it also says that a corporal must be used when communion is given in a church or oratory.

So definitely, YES use a clean purificator or some other cloth rather than using nothing when a corporal is not available.

Thanks for writing,

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.