Expert: Fr. Michael - 2/10/2005

Question
Dear Father,

A while ago I read some place that a bit of water added to the wine prior to the consecration of the Eucharist symbolized the union of Christ with His Church.  

This, was also said to be absolutely necessary in order for the consecration to be valid (along with the proper prayers said) and something Martin Luther objected to when he revolted against the Church.  

Could you please tell me if this is correct; meaning, if a priest does not add a bit of water to the wine prior to the consecration... and proceeds onto the prayers or if he does not wash his hands and ask to be removed from sin, would this still be an invalid consecration?

Thank you.
Marybeth

Answer
No, it wouldn't be invalid, but gravely sinful if done deliberately.  I assume that you are speaking here of the Traditional Latin Mass, the immemorial Roman Catholic Mass.  If you are speaking of the service seen in most New Order parishes, that service isn't valid anyway.  It was concocted by a Freemason Archbishop in conjunction with six Protestant ministers in an effort to Protestantize the Catholic Mass.  About three-quarters of the Mass was thrown out, and an invalid consecration form applied.

No true Catholic should ever attend such a service any more than a Protestant service.  One should always seek the Traditional Latin Mass, which comes to us from Apostolic and Patristic times and has been canonized in perpetuity.