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<h3>Questions about the Mass II</h3>
Sep
3
Written by:
Sunday, September 03, 2006
22nd Sunday Ordinary Time
September 3, 2006
What do we mean by the fraction rite and the commingling?
The celebrant of the Mass performs both of these actions during the communion rite, while the people are saying or singing the "Lamb of God.' The priest breaks or fractions the host into two or more pieces in view of the people. St Paul expresses the theology well: "The bread we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16). This action symbolizes the fact that Christ's body was broken for us, as well as that the Eucharistic Body of Christ is to be broken or fractioned and shared with the people of God. Thus the fraction rite also symbolizes the fact that we, though many, are "one body in the Lord" (1 Cor 10:17) because of the Eucharist.
Then the priest drops a bit of the fractioned host into the chalice of Christ's blood. This action is called the co-mingling. Here the priest prays (quietly), "May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to those who receive it." This ancient practice originated in the custom of the priest breaking off a piece of the consecrated host during mass to be sent to another congregation as a sign of unity.
Why does the priest pour water into the wine during the offeratory?
This practice, like so many of our Mass rituals, also originated in ancient times, when it was necessary to dilute wine with water before it could be palatable. Wines have changed since then, but this practice has continued, with a change in it's significance. The priest prays (again quietly) as he performs the co-mingling, "By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity." This action, then poignantly symbolizes the fact that when we consume the Body and Blood of the Lord at communion (or even if we receive a spiritual communion hearts if we are unable to go to communion), our own mortal body and blood are thus joined to Christ's immortality in a sacramental way.
Father Gary
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