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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/20/2008


Question
Why does the priest add water to the wine during the consecration of the body and blood of Christ?  Is there an historical significance?

Answer
Hi, Paula:
Thaks for the question.
The adding of the little bit of water to the wine at the preparation of the chalice for the offertory is a liturgical requirement of immemorial custom.  It is one of those things of which perhaps the full significance is obscured in the mists of history.  One can find very strong references to the necessity of adding water to the wine at the celebration of the Eucharist in among the writings of the earliest Church Fathers.  It seems that a good part of the significance has to do with the blood and water that flowed from the side of Christ after He was pierced through; and there is some sort of significance to the hypostatic union of the Divine Word, the Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, to the human nature taken on in the incarnation by the Power of the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary.  "De Defectibus" of "Ritus Servandus" historically in the Altar Missal states that the omission of the drop of water into the chalice at the Offertory is gravely sinful - so it is a clear requirement, not simply an "option."

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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