Case 8. Doubtful Consecration

A certain Bishop had ordained twelve new priests, but after his Communion it was noticed that a ciborium containing hosts for communicating the new priests had inadvertently been left on the credence table at the side of the altar. As the master of ceremonies doubted what was to be done, one person advised that it should be suggested to the Bishop that here and now he consecrate the ciborium conditionally and distribute the consecrated particles; another insinuated that they had without doubt already been consecrated by virtue of the virtual intention certainly possessed by the Bishop; a third suggested that one of the new priests ought to pronounce the words of consecration over the ciborium so that it would certainly be consecrated; finally, a fourth suggested that as many hosts should be taken from the tabernacle so that the new priests might complete the Mass celebrated by each of them simultaneously with the Bishop. Hence it is asked:

1. What is required for a valid consecration in Mass?

2. What is required for a lawful consecration?

3. What is to be done by the Bishop in the case, and what is to be said of the various means suggested to the master of ceremonies?

The first question was answered above, p. 129.

2. What is required for the lawful consecration of the Eucharist?

For the lawful consecration of the matter of the Eucharist the hosts must be whole, clean, and of the usual size and shape, the chalice and ciborium must be on the corporal and uncovered, and the consecration must be in Mass as it is prescribed to be said, and under both kinds.¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, p. 85.

3. The case. The first suggestion is altogether inadmissible, if followed it would mean that the bishop was to say Mass again without following the order prescribed by the Church, and was to consecrate under one species alone. I

The bishop could hardly have had an intention to consecrate the ciborium according to the second suggestion, for if he had thought of it at all he would have noticed that it was not on the altar. It is true that it might have been validly consecrated on the credence table, but unless the bishop actually intended to do it this should not be assumed.

The third suggestion has all the inconveniences of the first, for the newly ordained priests celebrate Mass with the bishop.

The reason given for the fourth suggestion is incorrect, for the hosts in the tabernacle were consecrated in another Mass and can not be used to integrate this Mass. However, this suggestion seems to be the best, for thus the new priests can at any rate receive Holy Communion, though the hosts were not consecrated in this Mass as they should have been.