Non Tasarmi, Fratello!

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, There’s always laughter and good red wine. At least I’ve always found it so. Benedicamus Domino!” Hillaire Belloc

Saturday, May 05, 2007

The Sacrarium and Purificator

Remember when we talked about that special sink in the church? Well, a question to the"Daily Catholic Question" concerned the spilling of consecrated wine. Here's the answer:

"That "special sink" you mention is called a sacrarium. It is special because it drains directly into the soil underneath the church rather than into a common drain.

Number 239 of the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (in front of the Sacramentary) states, "If any of the precious blood spills, the area should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium." So, too, should the purificators used to cleanse chalices, patens and ciboria be washed in the sacrarium and the water drained into the earth.

If there should be no sacrarium, water from these washings may be poured on clean earth in the garden where it will not be stepped on. After the first washing these cloths may be allowed to dry and then washed in a normal way."