From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Father, you posted about the Divine Praises and Benediction and there is a photo in the post of Benediction. I’ve wondered about something for a while. Most of us are revolted by the regular reception of Communion in the hand because of particles and because lay hands are not consecrated like priestly hands. In some traditional parishes altar boys have to wear gloves to take the chalice to the altar or handle a communion plate. But at Benediction, which lay people can’t do, the priest uses a humeral veil to hold the monstrance which is a sacred vessel for the Host. What gives?
So, my question is, if the monstrance is a sacred vessel, and the priest’s hands are consecrated for sacred vessels, why does he have to use a humeral veil for Benediction?
Okay! Good question. Some one is observant and thoughtful.
Veils are so very important in the Roman Rite. My dear long lost friend the late and great Extraordinary Ordinary, Bishop Robert C. Morlino (shall men like him ever be made bishops again instead of what we now…. ehem… *cough*…. ummm…), once said in a regular talk he gave the chancery staff, that things cannot be revealed unless they are first veiled. Therefore, I love this question.
You are right about the difference between the hands of the laity and the hands of the priest. One quibble I have with your question is that deacons can now give Benediction also. Their hands are not consecrated. They are, however, Ministers of the Eucharist.
The humeral veil at Benediction is used precisely to make a point: the benediction (blessing) is not given by the priest as a priest, but by Christ Himself in the Blessed Sacrament.
Hence, the veil reveals (to the thoughtful and observant) a distinction of agency.
For most blessings, the priest blesses in virtue of his sacred orders. He is alter Christus, another Christ. He raises his consecrated hand and makes the sign of the Cross. At Benediction, however, he does not bless with his hand. He covers his hands, takes the monstrance, and makes the sign of the Cross with the Eucharistic Lord Himself. It shows that the LORD is making the Sign of His Cross as a blessing using the hands of the alter Christus.
The veil visually effaces – de-faces – the minister. The veil, if it could speak, is saying: “This is not Father’s blessing! This is the blessing of Jesus, truly present before your eyes.”
This also explains why the priest does not say the usual blessing formula, such as “Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus…”. For the blessing, the priest is silent as the High Priest blesses His people.
There is also a reverential, ceremonial dimension. The humeral veil is an ornament of honor, used when handling what is especially sacred such as when at Solemn Mass the Subdeacon stands at the foot of the alter behind the priest with the paten covered up with the humeral veil which he holds in front of his own face as if to make himself symbolically disappear from view.
How wise were those who lovingly crafted the sacred Roman Rite, handed down lovingly, reverently, from generation to generation for so many centuries. As they celebrated with it over time and reflected and prayed and meditated about the rites, they would from time to time apply a little polish to make it dazzle the more or perhaps to remove a little scratch. Then came the rite-smashers of the 20th century with their arrogance, who handled the precious living gift, organically developed and venerated, and treated it like a lawn mower needing repair or a set of legos. And what did they produce? A noise machine that also has elements that hurt, such as when you step on a lego with the foot you made bear out of desire to approach the bush burning with mystery.
I digress.
Wrapped in the so-expressive veil of honor and eloquent mystery the priest, though ordained and consecrated, recedes behind the sacramental presence of the Lord. His consecrated hands are at the service of mystery. The humeral veil teaches the faithful to look beyond the minister to the One whom he bears.
Let’s continue for today with sunrise and sunset in Rome, which respectively are 5:32 and 20:47.
Back in Rome the sun rose at 5:32 and it will set at 10:47. The Ave Maria Bell doesn’t ring for the Curia at 21:00.
The sun rises in a little while as I write, at 5:33.It will set at 20:46 over Rome, far behind me as I wing across the Atlantic.I won’t hear the Ave Maria Bell in the Curia (and noone else will) at 21:00. It is on my app, however! The Ave Maria Clock App!Because the migration of the blog screwed up a bunch of things, I can no longer integrate photos into posts that are underway. So, I am crippled as to what I can do to update this along the way.Here are some shots I was sent from yesterday’s procession.
I’ll work on a solution.And you can work on this solution.White to mate in 2.
For mt final full day for this sojourn the sun rose upon Rome at 5:33.
On this First Friday of June the sun broke the plain at 5:33.
It was 26 minutes to 0600 when the sun rose in Rome.
What a great combination and good for a hot day with cold Roman water.
jhogan on Brooklyn 26/6 – Day 1: catching up: “1. Rxf7+ Kh8 or … RxR or …. Kg8 or … Kh6 2. Rh7+ KxR or … Kg8 Qxg6+ Kh8…”
