14 February 2007

Communion Cup

Well, Bear and I finally agreed that we should write to Bishop Boissonneau, Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs for the Archdiocese of Toronto, regarding the Redemptionis Sacramentum, and our pastor confectioning the Precious Blood of the Lord in a caraffe as well as a chalice. We decided to go ahead for different reasons, the most important because we feel that the Blessed Sacrament should not be abused even if it is unintentional. We waited until the Archbishop Collins was installed.

Here is the letter. All identifiers have been removed

Most Reverend Bishop John Boissonneau,
Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs
Catholic Pastoral Centre
1155 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1W2

February 6, 2007

Your Excellency,

We are writing you this letter in an effort to fulfill our duty as outlined in Redemptionis Sacramentum, as authorized by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. In brief, our pastor, --------------, and the other priests who celebrate the Holy Mass at --------------on (street) in the City of Toronto, consecrate the wine in a flagon as well as a chalice, and then pour the Blood into several smaller chalices for communion to the faithful. As you know this is in contradiction to the Instructions in Chapter 4 [paragraph 106] of the above document from Rome, which reads:

However, the pouring of the Blood of Christ after the consecration from one vessel to another is completely to be avoided, lest anything should happen that would be to the detriment of so great a mystery. Never to be used for containing the Blood of the Lord are flagons, bowls, or other vessels that are not fully in accord with the established norms,

Also, when cleansing the chalices he pours water into one chalice, and then pours the remains of that chalice into the next chalice and so forth until the last chalice is cleansed, when he drinks it. So the Blood of Christ is poured twice, in contravention of the above instruction.

We wrote to Father ------ first, and we received the enclosed reply. We found his reply odd, for having attended several masses at the Cathedral we have never seen this practice he describes as being performed by the Cardinal. We admit we may be mistaken in this. Though at the Installation of Archbishop Thomas Collins, we
noticed that he did not use a pitcher or carafe either. He also claims that the implementation has not been promulgated by the CCCB, but both this document and the CCCB say that implementation of the instruction is entrusted to the authority of the Diocesan Bishop.

When applying the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, it will be pertinent to recall the following:
……….
3. The implementation of the Instruction is entrusted to the bishop of the diocese who is the moderator, promoter, and custodian of the whole liturgical life of his diocese (cf. can. 835).


Furthermore he notes in his answer that the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion carry out the cleansing of the vessels after mass in the sacristy. It is our understanding that the Indult to allow Ministers of Holy Communion to cleanse the Sacred Vessels was granted, by Pope John Paul II, to the Church in the USA, not Canada, and the Indult, having expired, was not extended, therefore the Ministers of Holy Communion, in Canada should never have been cleansing the vessels, and definitely should not be doing so still.

It is with humility, and charity that we have taken the step of writing to you. We would have left the matter alone were it not for the order given to the laity in Redemptoris Sacramentum that we too are to defend the Body and Blood from all abuses.

Chapter VIII Par.6.
[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do ll that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism


We hope this letter fulfills our duty in this matter.

God bless you and his Excellency, the Archbishop Thomas Collins.

Yours sincerely,

Puff the Magic Dragon Bear-i-tone

encl: Copies of emails to and from pastor

Copy of Voxcantor's comment

**************************************************

My E-mail to Pastor , Pastor's Response , Voxcantor's Comment
The copy of the Pastor's response did NOT include my fisking.

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