The words of this decree do not refer to a psalm or prayer, but simply to the passion of St. John, and hence, as far as our question is concerned, no conclusion can be clearly established except by analogy, and by whatever weight may attach to the authority of Merati, who manifestly thus extends the meaning of the decree. After writing these lines, we have learned from a distinguished ecclesiastic, that there exists a Rescript of the Holy See about the recital of the De profundis in Ireland after Mass. He has kindly promised to procure it for a future number of the Record, when we shall gladly insert it.
The same reverend correspondent calls our attention to another matter which indeed is of very great importance, and on which we shall make a few remarks. Our correspondent says, that the altar bread used in this country is of a very inferior kind, and not elegant, and that it leaves on the corporal many fragments. If this be the case in some parts of the country, it is unnecessary to say that it is a matter of such importance that immediate
attention should be called to it by the parish priests or the superiors of the different churches. As far as we are aware, we have no grounds for complaint on this head, as generally speaking the breads are made in this city with care and neatness and very few fragments fall from them. It is quite possible, however, that in some districts sufficient care may not be bestowed on this matter, and the breads may not be made with that care which the majesty of the great Sacrifice demands. We have heard from persons competent to give an opinion on the subject, that in some districts abuses have crept in; for instance, when the superior of a church, personally responsible for the due observance of the rubrics concerning the Holy Sacrifice, leaves to a servant the making and cutting of the breads for the use of the altar. In such cases there is great danger that through carelessness or negligence they will not be properly made. The cutters or the machines for making them in the course of time will become impaired and quite unfit for their purpose, and a mere servant may not try to remedy the evil. For this reason, we would strongly recommend all concerned to engage some community of nuns or others well versed in such matters, and who at the same time fully understand the importance of what they are engaged in, to make the altar breads. We have ourselves examined the altar breads made by various communities, and seldom had we any reason to find fault, except in some instances when the large altar breads appeared to us to be too thick.
This suggestion, we think, will meet our reverend correspondent’s question as to the improvements that may be made in connection with this matter.
He then proceeds: “It may be observed here that the cutters too are of no regular size. They are generally over small. I have seen breads no larger than a sixpence intended for communicating the faithful. In the distribution of such very small particles there is evidently danger of irreverence”. No one can question the truth of what our correspondent states; but we must say that we have generally found the breads sufficiently large when made by the convents or others duly charged with so important a matter, and we may also remark that the cutters will not be made too small if there be no demand for them on the part of the clergy. The small breads ought to be considerably larger than a shilling and very little under a two-shilling piece.
We are much obliged to our reverend correspondent for calling our attention to this matter, and we hope the observations which we have taken the liberty of making, will have the effect of correcting any abuses that may exist, and inducing all persons concerned
to provide themselves with cutters of a proper size, or what would be still better, to secure the services of a religious community, or of others duly authorized to prepare the breads for the use of the altar.
We shall close these observations by giving some extracts on the present subject, from a very useful book published at Louvain, by Rev. P. J. F. De Herdt, entitled Sacrae Liturgiae Praxis, which is very highly esteemed.
I. Qualis debet esse Hostia, ut valide et licite sit consecrabilis?
R. Ut valide consecretur, debet esse confecta ex tritico cum aqua, saltem in majori quantitate, et esse non corrupta: ut licite consecretur, debet esse 1° sine admixtione aliorum granorum et liquorum praetor triticum et aquarm naturalem; 2° panis azymus; 3° recenter confecta (Vide p. 2. n. 30. ad. III.); 4° rotunda, integra et non fracta; 5° candida et non maculata; 6° tenuis; 7° ordinariae magnitudinis; 8° cum imagine Crucifixi, quam ei impressam esse convenit: in eo tamen servandam esse consuetudinem respondit. S. R. C. 26. Ap. 1834. n. 4574. Vid. Quarti quae St. proaem. s. 5. puncto 4. dub. 3. Hinc hi duo versus.