Q: I am happy with your books “Let Us Pray” and “Ars Celebrandi” which I wish every priest must have for a correct ars celebrandi. I have three questions:
1. On page 133 of “Let us Pray”, number 676 you wrote: “In practice, some priests reassemble the remaining parts of the broken host and hold it up as if nothing had happened to it. Having split the host in half and then broken a particle into the chalice, they hold the two remaining parts together and conceal the missing area with their fingers. […] People do not need to see an unbroken host at this time.”
My first remark is that it is not only about “some priests”, but many priests, even many bishops.Then I would like to know what is actually the correct way of showing the broken bread when the priest says: “Behold the Lamb of God”. Should the two broken parts be shown separately, one in the left and the other in the right hands?

2. On page 108 of Ars Celebrandi you quote OM 132, “The priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice”, says “Behold the Lamb of God.” And you add, “Many priests lift the chalice aw well, but the rubric never instructs him to do so.
Thank you for the convincing explanation about what was happening in the preconciliar Mass, because the priest was supposed to turn to face the people at this point, so he had to hold the chalice to avoid suspending the host over air and threatening problems should it fall.
My question is about “above the paten or above the chalice” I think that is where the confusion is coming from. This above can be misunderstood that the paten or the chalice can also be raised, because I have seen many priests raising also the paten. If there is a corporal on the altar, is there any need to mention that it should be raised above the paten or the chalice, because whatever particle may fall, it will be on the corporal.

3. It is true that for the sake of adoration and communion to the sick, consecrated hosts can be kept in the tabernacle. It is not advisable to distribute, during the Mass,  these hosts from the tabernacle or consecrated at a previous Mass, though there are situations and circumstances when the use of these hosts can be understandable. Is there any duration for these hosts in the tabernacle to be kept there? If they are not used, are they going to remain there just for the sake of adoration?

Always admiring the clarity and  straightforwardness of your answers.

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1. In my book Let Us Pray, I cite at #653 that the priest is to break the bread “into parts and distribute these to at least some of the faithful” (GIRM 321). At “Behold the Lamb,” The Order of Mass 132 says he holds the host “slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice.” I admit it says “host” and not “fragment”, but he has already broken the host. So I hold a broken fragment from the host over one of the other vessels with the intent of sharing the other fragment(s) of the same host with some of the faithful. They remain in the ciborium. The 1962 missal had the priest place both broken parts of the host together and consume them. That rubric has been removed and therefore is not to be repeated.

2. I do not lift the chalice or paten at this point because there is no rubric to do so. However, I see many priests raise it. I suspect they like to raise the host higher and in view of the people. It is to be held over a vessel, not over the corporal.

3. Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Ministry says that hosts “should be frequently renewed” and cites GIRM 323, which points out the need to avoid spoilage. Canon 934 says that wherever the Eucharist is reserved, a priest should celebrate Mass there at least twice a month. Perhaps this too is to avoid the danger of spoilage. No set extent of time is given. You may use good judgment.

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