In my time as a deacon, I have worked with quite a few priests. As is normal, they each have slightly different ways they like to have things done during the Mass and I always do my best to remember and accommodate them. A question in my own mind has come up as I am now working with a pastor who is a fairly new priest and our associate pastor who just celebrated 25 years of ordination.
When we do weekend Masses, we have two extra bowls we use for our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to use. One of the priests wants us to put a few unconsecrated hosts in each bowl and to place them on the corporal along with the chalice and the presider’s host. The other wants the bowls left empty and completely off the altar until we are ready to hand them to the ministers at which time they would have the Body place in them.
Is there a correct choice to make? Or is it primarily the choice of the presider?
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A: There’s no preference on that. GIRM 331 says a large paten “may be used,” but it doesn’t require it.