Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 115.  Thu  8-08-91 11:00
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Ken Fortier
 Subject: Ritual

³ I'm curious:   In the communion rite, the priest breaks the host over the
³ paten and then puts a small particle in the chalice.  What is the
³ significance of this ritual?   What's the history behind this?   When did
³ it start, and is it mandatory for a consecration of the small hosts?
³
³ Another question, if you don't mind.   A friend of mine, a non-RC, was in
³ a hospital and was offered Communion by a Fransiscan priest.  When told
³ that my friend was not a RC, he said that that was not a problem any
³ longer.  I checked in the Code of Canon Law and read the following: "Any
³ baptized person who is not forbidden by law may and must be admitted to
³ Holy Communion" (c. 912).  What does "by law" mean?   Was the Fransiscan
³ priest correct?
 
Dear Ken,
 
The rite of Fraction (breaking the Mass host) and Commingling
(dropping a piece of the host into the chalice) is very old.  It
first appeared in the Syrian liturgy, then spread to the other Rites.
The rite is reminiscent of descriptions of the Eucharist in the New
Testament, where the Breaking of the Bread was the name first used
for the Eucharist and the Mass.
 
It originated in the necessity for breaking large, leavened hosts
into small bits for the communion of the people.  When unleavened,
small hosts were introduced for the people, the Fraction became a
mere vestige of the early, necessary ceremony.  The symbolism of
Fraction and Commingling has gone through a complicated development.
Now it is safe to say that the Fraction (breaking) easily symbolizes
Christ's suffering and death, whereas the Commingling of a particle
of the host with the Precious Blood symbolizes the Resurrection of
Christ.
 
I am uncertain what you mean by your question, "Is (the Fraction and
Commingling) mandatory for a consecration of the small hosts?"
First, the consecration of the Mass has already taken place several
minutes before the Fraction, so the latter cannot be "mandatory" for
the former.  Secondly, there is never any consecration outside of the
Mass.  Any small hosts to be consecrated are consecrated within the
Mass along with the principal Mass host.  Thirdly, if you mean, "Is
the Fraction and Commingling mandatory for the Mass?" the answer is
yes.  All parts of the Mass ritual are determined by the rules set
down in the liturgical books and supporting documents.
 
About a priest's offering Holy Communion to a non-Catholic hospital
patient, that is a no-no.  Canon Law makes this very clear.   Canon
844, nos. 3 and 4, says that Catholic ministers may give the
sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick to
members of the oriental churches which do not have full communion
with the Catholic Church and to members of other churches which are
in the same condition as the oriental churches as far as these
sacraments are concerned.  There are definite conditions:  1) the
individual must ask ON HIS OWN for these sacraments; 2) he must be
properly disposed to receive them; 3) he cannot approach a minister
of his own church; 4) he must manifest CATHOLIC FAITH in these
sacraments.
 
From your statement of the case, the Catholic chaplain did not even
inquire if the patient was baptized.  Baptism is a necessary
prerequisite for all the other sacraments.  No effort was made to
enquire about the patient's faith and disposition.  No effort was
made to get in touch with a minister of the patient's own church.
And the priest INVITED the patient to receive Communion.  The law is
clear--the initiative MUST come from the non-Catholic person.
 
                                    Sincerely in Christ,
                                    Father Mateo