I got to something like 'The Most Blessed Body And Blood Of Our Lord Jesus Christ;' which in the circles I move in is that stuff otherwise known as the Sacrament, the Elements or the Bread and Wine, because we's a bit more on the Reformed side, like.
When Father NewPriest was being interviewed prior to coming to Our Place, we asked him for at least one mid-week Eucharist.
O, says he, I'm a Daily Mass man!
Ah, says we, but we can't guarantee much in the way of attendance!
Never mind, says he, if there's no-one else there, I'll simply say the first part of the service, and then communicate myself from the Reserved Sacrament.
So, that's what he does, possibly not quite in accordance with The Rules, but most of the daily services do have at least 1 or 2 other communicants, sometimes a few more.
That's where one of our longtime rectors (1940s and 50s) would have "said the Mass short" = saved the Confession, Absolution, and Comfy Words for just before the point where he consumes the Host, and if no one was at the rail when he turned around to check before starting the Confession, he skipped those "Communion Devotions" and received, then washed up and finished Mass. One presumes he said the Confession, etc., himself, perhaps silently, at some point.
Sounds like another example of that well known liturgical principle - "Anglo-Catholics, they'll fight to the death for the Prayer Book provided they never have to use it."
I am trying to remember what the party line was at seminary on getting caught short without any communicants, but they had definitely made up their own rule. It was something like - Sundays and HOOs celebrate if Mass as been announced in the Parish bulletin/from the Pulpit; otherwise Ante-Communion with or without Communion from the Reserved Tabernacle.
Mass straight from the BCP was celebrated once a week and was regarded as "the chore." Usually it was American/Anglican Missal.
Two questions: 1. What is the meaning of "needs a faculty"?
and 2. It seemeth to me (I'm in the USA) that 're-consecrating' the wine (we have Sherry) is a dubious thing to do. Does the Genie fly out of the little bottle as the top is removed? Or does the liquid just revert to being plain old Sherry after a certain time?
Physically speaking nothing happens to the bread and the wine of the Eucharist, as the they are the outward physical signs of the inward spiritual grace of Communion which is that, by faith we receive the spiritual benefits of Christ's body and blood. However, in my usual AOR/BCP way I would go on and say that the - for want of a better word - status of the bread and wine have changed which is why we do not re-consecrate the elements, and why the BCP requires the reverent consumption of that which remains.
Reservation for the purposes of communicating the sick was common enough in Scotland in the 18th century, and at that stage they were using the English BCP plus the Wee Bookies, and had not yet committed themselves to any of the more advanced Anglo-Catholic theories about the real presence. Oddly enough, the Mercersburg Liturgy (1858) and Compromise Liturgy (1866) of the (German) Reformed Church U.S. also allow some form of communion by extension/reservation for the sick, whilst having a Eucharistic theology very similar to the Old High Churchmen and Bucer/Calvin.
This leads me to conclude that the change of purpose in the bread and wine is seen as being in some sense permanent, even though I have been very careful to respect the positions taken in Articles 28 and 29, and the BCP 1662 throughout.
Thanks for the answers. I'll scratch "faculty" off my worry list. But the very idea of "re-consecrating" the bread and wine sounds like a definite no-no, to me. But I'm not a schooled person, only a lowly musician.
I don't think you would be forced to eat the rat, but you would be expected to dispose of it reverently.
I'm trying to think of reverent methods of rodent disposal:
Drown it in a bucket of Holy Water?
Whack it on the head with a thurible, or possibly a crosier?
Any other ideas?
Never mind, says he, if there's no-one else there, I'll simply say the first part of the service, and then communicate myself from the Reserved Sacrament.
With all due respect, no, no, no, no! Whatever the denominational rules, I do recall someone saying when two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. . No such guarantee if I am alone, no?
I have had many 'false start' services -- table set, candles lighted, me all dressed up. No one else present? Candles extinguished, table cleared, me with the fancy duds off. It can occur at the early service, and more often when we tried a late Saturday afternoon service since the parents with chidlren in the ski club begged for a communion service then so their darlings could get religion and points for skiing. My pactice was to begin the appropiate Office for that time of day (Matins or EP). If not one showed up by the time I said the Our Father during the office, I shut things down and left. No solo consumption of bread and wine -- or, as a three year old in my current congregation says "No cookie and juice"
Actually, I agree with you - and IIRC the 1662 Prayer Book makes it quite clear that, with only the priest present, No Other Communicant(s) = No Service.
Or, at least, no consecration. However, if there's no consecration, but the Liturgy of the Word has been read/said, I don't see why Father can't simply finish there. In our case, he will have already said Morning Prayer, but, even so...
OTOH, I hesitate to criticise the prayer life of someone rather more spiritually inclined than I.
OTOH, I hesitate to criticise the prayer life of someone rather more spiritually inclined than I. IYSWIM.
Yes. I hold fast to the thought that someday Jesus will look at each of us lovingly, hug us warmly, and chortle a good deal over each and every one of us for the particular way we've been with / dealt with him in this realm.... and help us see how wonderful, loving, sinful, and silly we were, and then hug us some more.
Right a question about a uhmm fictional setting. Some reading may know exactly what I am talking of but this is on the horizon and not reality yet. An ecumenical chapel has a Protestant Communion (predominantly CofE) on a Wednesday. However ever so often due to emergency such as staff illness the service a short notice becomes a service of the Word. This is far to late to advertise the change. This is problematic when people of a higher church background happen to come to the service. Particularly acute as, afaik, there is not usually a later alternative locally. However, several of the celebrants are from traditions that clearly do not reserve the sacrament. There are three lay people in the team, two of which may be able to cover a service of the Word at short notice.
OK wiser brains than mine...
Looking from a more catholic background what would be good manners?
Jengie, is there also an RC congregation, and do they have a tabernacle in place for the reserved sacrament?
My university chaplaincy had separate CofE/Methodist etc. and Catholic congregations. I don't think the Anglican or Methodist ministers reserved the sacrament, but the Roman Catholic chaplain definitely did. If the Catholic chaplain is ok with the tabernacle being shared, a minister who is happy to consecrate extras for the reserved sacrament could do so when they celebrate communion, as I assume that would be frequent enough to ensure a decent rotation of fresh hosts. All you need to do hen is ask people to let you know on the day if they do want Communion rather than just a service of the Word in such circumstances.
Right a question about a uhmm fictional setting. Some reading may know exactly what I am talking of but this is on the horizon and not reality yet. An ecumenical chapel has a Protestant Communion (predominantly CofE) on a Wednesday. However ever so often due to emergency such as staff illness the service a short notice becomes a service of the Word. This is far to late to advertise the change. This is problematic when people of a higher church background happen to come to the service. Particularly acute as, afaik, there is not usually a later alternative locally. However, several of the celebrants are from traditions that clearly do not reserve the sacrament. There are three lay people in the team, two of which may be able to cover a service of the Word at short notice.
OK wiser brains than mine...
Looking from a more catholic background what would be good manners?
It seems to me that the best solution would be for a priest from a tradition that does reserve to make such reservation and for a regular attender among the lay people of that tradition to be authorised to distribute from the reserved sacrament, possibly after the service of the word has finished. The SEC has some liturgy that may be useful: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/communion-from-the-reserved-sacrament.pdf
Some hospital chapels allegedly have a joint tabernacle divided by a glass screen. The instruction is, 'in case of Christian unity, please break glass.'
An ecumenical chapel has a Protestant Communion (predominantly CofE) on a Wednesday. However ever so often due to emergency such as staff illness the service a short notice becomes a service of the Word. This is far to late to advertise the change. This is problematic when people of a higher church background happen to come to the service. Particularly acute as, afaik, there is not usually a later alternative locally. However, several of the celebrants are from traditions that clearly do not reserve the sacrament. There are three lay people in the team, two of which may be able to cover a service of the Word at short notice.
OK wiser brains than mine...
Looking from a more catholic background what would be good manners?
AIUI, you don't have anywhere to reserve the sacrament even if you ensured that you have the right kind of priest keeping you topped up, so there's nothing you can do.
If you've not got a priest, and you've not got anywhere to reserve, you're not having communion, and there's no getting around that. So if your priest really does get sick an hour before the service, there's nothing you can do.
It seems that the priest getting sick at the last minute happens often enough that you're taking note of it, which I find unusual, but anyway. In those circumstances, good manners would seem to suggest that you do your best to give people notice (I'd suggest a mailing list people can subscribe to if they want chapel updates, and an email be sent to that list at the earliest possible moment. And tell your priests not to keep you hanging till the last minute if they know they're sick, too.)
How much earlier in the day would you have to get people notice so that they could attend a nearby alternative midweek communion?
Is it possible to reserve in the vestry? If so we can. Affects me because I am one of the two lay people who cover at short notice.
Somebody who knows more about the rules will need to advise, but I don't see any fundamental reason why not. That's how they are likely to be kept for communicating the sick in churches that don't go in for public reservation
The elements would have to be kept properly secure. I don't think it would be possible to keep them in a tabernacle on that basis or to regard them as present for veneration.
However, it's very likely that there are shipmates who know the answer to this better than I do.
I believe it's OK to Reserve in the vestry, using whatever safe is available (in which, presumably, the Communion vessels would also be kept). You'd need a pyx, or small ciborium, in which to store the Hosts, if you haven't one already to hand.
Strictly, according to Ritual Notes, a white light should be kept burning nearby to indicate the Presence, but I hardly think that's practical in the situation described!
The main requirement is that the place of reservation should be secure. The vestry safe will do if there is not an aumbry available. When I have to reserve here the consecrated elements go in the safe as there is nowhere else. St. Oddball's was built as a Lutheran - LCMS church so there is no aumbry.
I understand that some clergy keep the Reserved Sacrament in a safe in the vicarage, which makes sense if the house is some way from the church, or if the priest has charge of a multi-church benefice.
An emergency home visit, with the Sacrament, therefore doesn't mean a preliminary, and probably hurried, journey to the church!
I had no idea a safe was required. My Benefice has a home Communion kit which used to live in my car, and now resides under the altar in one of the churches so that other people can get at it. Consecrated elements are part of the kit.
I don’t think a safe, as such, is required. I think they are supposed to be locked up to prevent malign or superstitious use. I think each diocese in the Church of England may have its own regulations about that.
Yes to all of the above....
And some mild humor: a church I served had a locked tabernacle for the Reserved Sacrament, with the key left in the lock. The church was regularly open during the day for private prayer, and we did find that the amount of consecrated elements were msytically depleted. Some research uncovered the personal piety of one Deacon, who communicated himself as he wished. No service recorded, no visit to the ill or home bound recorded -- just a pop in for a wee personal Sacred Snack. Some discussion ensued between deacon and bishop (who said "I want to 'handle this myself'. ) The key was duly tucked away in the sacristy, hidden by sneaky priests who had great fun deciding on just how sneaky we might be.
Quite contrary to Ritual Notes I used to keep a small amount of Reserved Sacrament and Anointing Oil in my travel kit at the back of my bedroom closet. I was then serving at a different church some 12 miles away, and had a an elderly parishioner more RCC than TEC close to death and wanting the Eucharist. I got the call around 2 in the morning, pulled on what was handy (jeans and a pink sweatshirt as I recall), grabbed the travel kit. I got pulled over by the police of two different towns who, on hearing my reason for speed, gave me police escort to town line. Sweet indeed, and the woman in question was pleased and peaceful as she died.
All of which goes to show that a certain pragmatism is needed...
(The thought of a locked tabernacle, with the key left in the lock, is somewhat redolent of Monty Python, or perhaps Discworld... )
ISTM that it is eminently sensible for clergy, for whom home visits are the norm, to keep their 'travel kit' handy, as long as it's unlikely to be disturbed by Undesirables™.
A retired (PTO) priest who lives in our parish - we call him Father Helping-Us-Out - does just this, as he has a fairly extensive pastoral visiting ministry.
Missed the edit window, but Father Helping-Us-Out does what he does with the full approval, and co-operation, of our priest-in-charge.
Interestingly, Father Helping-Us-Out comes from a very evangelical parish background, but has no problems with using the Reserved Sacrament in this way.
Comments
As indeed you should. The gathered saints, angels and archangels (good on 'em) have considerable difficulty digesting TMBBABOOLJC.
@PDR is correct, but it should, of course, be TMBBABOOLAS JC, the AS standing for (as enny fule kno) 'AND SAVIOUR'...
No, don't thank me. I'm just happy to Put You All Right.
Woe is me ... I have committed the sin of Trumpianism, forgetting I need a Saviour
See here and here.
That's where one of our longtime rectors (1940s and 50s) would have "said the Mass short" = saved the Confession, Absolution, and Comfy Words for just before the point where he consumes the Host, and if no one was at the rail when he turned around to check before starting the Confession, he skipped those "Communion Devotions" and received, then washed up and finished Mass. One presumes he said the Confession, etc., himself, perhaps silently, at some point.
I am trying to remember what the party line was at seminary on getting caught short without any communicants, but they had definitely made up their own rule. It was something like - Sundays and HOOs celebrate if Mass as been announced in the Parish bulletin/from the Pulpit; otherwise Ante-Communion with or without Communion from the Reserved Tabernacle.
Mass straight from the BCP was celebrated once a week and was regarded as "the chore." Usually it was American/Anglican Missal.
and 2. It seemeth to me (I'm in the USA) that 're-consecrating' the wine (we have Sherry) is a dubious thing to do. Does the Genie fly out of the little bottle as the top is removed? Or does the liquid just revert to being plain old Sherry after a certain time?
Needs official permission. Cue form filling, arguments, and bizarre rules.
It's the Church of England's* own peculiar version of listed buildings consent, and applies to anything that is permanently changed in a church.
https://rochester.anglican.org/what-is-a-faculty
*Wales also has a faculty system
Reservation for the purposes of communicating the sick was common enough in Scotland in the 18th century, and at that stage they were using the English BCP plus the Wee Bookies, and had not yet committed themselves to any of the more advanced Anglo-Catholic theories about the real presence. Oddly enough, the Mercersburg Liturgy (1858) and Compromise Liturgy (1866) of the (German) Reformed Church U.S. also allow some form of communion by extension/reservation for the sick, whilst having a Eucharistic theology very similar to the Old High Churchmen and Bucer/Calvin.
This leads me to conclude that the change of purpose in the bread and wine is seen as being in some sense permanent, even though I have been very careful to respect the positions taken in Articles 28 and 29, and the BCP 1662 throughout.
I'm trying to think of reverent methods of rodent disposal:
Drown it in a bucket of Holy Water?
Whack it on the head with a thurible, or possibly a crosier?
Any other ideas?
With all due respect, no, no, no, no! Whatever the denominational rules, I do recall someone saying when two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. . No such guarantee if I am alone, no?
I have had many 'false start' services -- table set, candles lighted, me all dressed up. No one else present? Candles extinguished, table cleared, me with the fancy duds off. It can occur at the early service, and more often when we tried a late Saturday afternoon service since the parents with chidlren in the ski club begged for a communion service then so their darlings could get religion and points for skiing. My pactice was to begin the appropiate Office for that time of day (Matins or EP). If not one showed up by the time I said the Our Father during the office, I shut things down and left. No solo consumption of bread and wine -- or, as a three year old in my current congregation says "No cookie and juice"
Or, at least, no consecration. However, if there's no consecration, but the Liturgy of the Word has been read/said, I don't see why Father can't simply finish there. In our case, he will have already said Morning Prayer, but, even so...
OTOH, I hesitate to criticise the prayer life of someone rather more spiritually inclined than I.
IYSWIM.
And Amen.
OK wiser brains than mine...
Looking from a more catholic background what would be good manners?
My university chaplaincy had separate CofE/Methodist etc. and Catholic congregations. I don't think the Anglican or Methodist ministers reserved the sacrament, but the Roman Catholic chaplain definitely did. If the Catholic chaplain is ok with the tabernacle being shared, a minister who is happy to consecrate extras for the reserved sacrament could do so when they celebrate communion, as I assume that would be frequent enough to ensure a decent rotation of fresh hosts. All you need to do hen is ask people to let you know on the day if they do want Communion rather than just a service of the Word in such circumstances.
It seems to me that the best solution would be for a priest from a tradition that does reserve to make such reservation and for a regular attender among the lay people of that tradition to be authorised to distribute from the reserved sacrament, possibly after the service of the word has finished. The SEC has some liturgy that may be useful:
https://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/communion-from-the-reserved-sacrament.pdf
AIUI, you don't have anywhere to reserve the sacrament even if you ensured that you have the right kind of priest keeping you topped up, so there's nothing you can do.
If you've not got a priest, and you've not got anywhere to reserve, you're not having communion, and there's no getting around that. So if your priest really does get sick an hour before the service, there's nothing you can do.
It seems that the priest getting sick at the last minute happens often enough that you're taking note of it, which I find unusual, but anyway. In those circumstances, good manners would seem to suggest that you do your best to give people notice (I'd suggest a mailing list people can subscribe to if they want chapel updates, and an email be sent to that list at the earliest possible moment. And tell your priests not to keep you hanging till the last minute if they know they're sick, too.)
How much earlier in the day would you have to get people notice so that they could attend a nearby alternative midweek communion?
The elements would have to be kept properly secure. I don't think it would be possible to keep them in a tabernacle on that basis or to regard them as present for veneration.
However, it's very likely that there are shipmates who know the answer to this better than I do.
Strictly, according to Ritual Notes, a white light should be kept burning nearby to indicate the Presence, but I hardly think that's practical in the situation described!
An emergency home visit, with the Sacrament, therefore doesn't mean a preliminary, and probably hurried, journey to the church!
Some sort of 'safe' place is certainly desirable, as @BroJames says.
And some mild humor: a church I served had a locked tabernacle for the Reserved Sacrament, with the key left in the lock. The church was regularly open during the day for private prayer, and we did find that the amount of consecrated elements were msytically depleted. Some research uncovered the personal piety of one Deacon, who communicated himself as he wished. No service recorded, no visit to the ill or home bound recorded -- just a pop in for a wee personal Sacred Snack. Some discussion ensued between deacon and bishop (who said "I want to 'handle this myself'. ) The key was duly tucked away in the sacristy, hidden by sneaky priests who had great fun deciding on just how sneaky we might be.
Quite contrary to Ritual Notes I used to keep a small amount of Reserved Sacrament and Anointing Oil in my travel kit at the back of my bedroom closet. I was then serving at a different church some 12 miles away, and had a an elderly parishioner more RCC than TEC close to death and wanting the Eucharist. I got the call around 2 in the morning, pulled on what was handy (jeans and a pink sweatshirt as I recall), grabbed the travel kit. I got pulled over by the police of two different towns who, on hearing my reason for speed, gave me police escort to town line. Sweet indeed, and the woman in question was pleased and peaceful as she died.
All of which goes to show that a certain pragmatism is needed...
(The thought of a locked tabernacle, with the key left in the lock, is somewhat redolent of Monty Python, or perhaps Discworld...
ISTM that it is eminently sensible for clergy, for whom home visits are the norm, to keep their 'travel kit' handy, as long as it's unlikely to be disturbed by Undesirables™.
A retired (PTO) priest who lives in our parish - we call him Father Helping-Us-Out - does just this, as he has a fairly extensive pastoral visiting ministry.
Interestingly, Father Helping-Us-Out comes from a very evangelical parish background, but has no problems with using the Reserved Sacrament in this way.