(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

Meanwhile, procrastination on t'internet leads me to discover that some people are improbably angry about the possibility that a priest might use anti-bacterial hand gel before celebrating Mass.

Some people are very strange.

Back to work.

Comments

[em_h]

After SARS -- which was a big and very scary deal, and had a second major outbreak during Holy Week of all times -- Public Health in Toronto actually did a fairly thorough investigation of communion practices, and we are still bound by the guidelines they recommended, which interestingly mostly accorded with my preferences anyway. Basically, they determined that the common cup is not a risk as long as a) the wine is actually alcohol-containing wine, not grape juice, b) the cup is metal, not pottery, and c) it is properly wiped with a purificator between communicants. They have banned intinction, based on the risk of fingers touching the wine (fingers being a far more significant vector than mouths), and in cases where intinction is necessary, the celebrant must intinct and then administer on the tongue. Their greatest concern was actually the Peace, and what they mostly require is that gel be used after the Peace and before touching vessels or the host.

[tree_and_leaf]

I hate intinction. It's not banned in our church, and it's amazing how many of the people who do it end up dipping their fingers in.

The guidelines sound very useful.