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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Mensa and Corporal Deacon larry Saturday, October 2, 2004

Question:

The rubrics call for the mensa (always white) to cover the top of the altar. The corporal is then placed on the altar woth the chalice and paten.

Now the question: with the re-emphasized/revised rubrics and the placement of filled communion cups on the altar before the consecration, should these and any ciboria be placed on a corporal or just on the mensa? If placed on a corporal that would mean a much larger corporal that is currently the norm - or multiple corporals. Is there a rubric that pertains to this, becomming more common, situation?

Thanks and blessings,

Deacon Larry

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Rev. Mr. Lottier,

I actually don't have a copy of the new rubrics so I'll have to take your word for it.  (They are in Latin)  I looked through he new GIRM but I didn't see anything about it, also I have not heard anything about it.

Anyway, my guess would be that if there really isn't enough room on the corporal then it would be all right to set the cups off to the side, as long as the priest takes extra special care to note that they are there.

 

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.