I FIXED THE POLL WIDGET
Several people have written to me about the length of time a priest does/should elevate the Host and the chalice after the consecration.
The length of time I elevate the Host is, of course, ideal. If asked, your parish priest will say the same about the length he chooses.
Keeping in mind that Mass is not the time for sustained adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as if Mass were Exposition, and keeping in mind that part of the genius of the Roman Rite is the deprivation of our senses of sight and hearing during certain moments, and keeping in mind that bells are secondary to the Blessed Sacrament, how long do you think the priest should extend the elevation?
Please give your best answer and then use the combox.
Hadn’t specifically thought of it before. Guess I’ll just go out on a limb and say 5-7 seconds.
The length of time it takes the server to ring the bells either once or thrice depending on parish custom.
Long enough for three chimes!
I’d say 7-10 seconds each and there shouldn’t be a major discrepancy between the two. Usually it seems like the chalice’s elevation is much more brief than that of the host.
Ideally, long enough for three double-swings of the thurible. Alternatively, long enough for three distinct rings of the bell. At a minimum, a subjective “short pause.”
Oh, please. Everyone knows you’re supposed to elevate the Host until the angel in the back row of the Angelic Choir finishes bowing.
Just to glimpse the Host is everything. This reminds me of Blake (Auguries of Innocence):
The Chicken
Amending my previous post to define the “subjective short pause” as “long enough to lip ‘Dominus meus et Deus Meus.”
Long enough for me to bow my head and said, “My Lord and my God!”
Didn’t some of Padre Pio’s masses last three hours? When during the liturgy did he spend extra time? I always imagined it was at the elevations in adoration.
I think our priest has it about right at about 5 seconds. Since he’s FSSP, and thus been away a lot this summer doing other things required of him, we’ve had a number of visiting priests. Many of them held the elevation considerably longer (closer to the 10 second range) and it was just too long.
Granted, i’m just happy to have an elevation rather than an oscillation.
Genuflect, up, pause, down, genuflect. No private devotions from the Priest during this. Done at a reverent speed, quick/slow enough to get the chimes from the bells without undue pause.
Anything longer than that, I am lead to believe, is against the rubrics as it is adding devotional prayers in where they shouldn’t be?
I think the FSSP video on YouTube explaining how to say the EF Mass says something like the motion should be fluid & continuous; that is, when the priest extends his arms fully, he should begin bringing them down; at least that’s how I interpreted it.
I don’t like that, but, that’s what I understood the video to say.
Somehow it just never occurred to me to time that and I doubt I ever will–unless the priest just whips through it!
Being a server in the OF, I find this question interesting–the celebrant usually elevates for the length of time it takes me to ring thrice, and this leaves me wondering how long I should ring!
Perhaps the elevation should be long enough to acknowledge the real presence & make a short act of love .
Pax et bonum .
From Our Lady`s Land of the Southern Cross .
In the Ordinary Form style, two chimes and then three seconds of silence.
In the Extraordinary Form, ringing for the first genuflection – one chime – two seconds – one chime – two seconds – one chime – second genuflection with another ringing.
However, that both is how it is never done. Still, it’s how I’d wish it to be.
And of course, roughly the same time for both Species. (That’s done mostly, but not always; it happens that the Chalice is elevated for a feelably shorter time than the Host.)
I think that it probably does not matter as long as a minimum of say, two seconds is observed.
God is come, He has come down to us, and that is ‘all we know, or ever need to know’.
It is preferable if there is a threefold bell, for the priestly genuflection (EF) to prepare us to look for the Elevation of our Crucified Lord. (Two bells – OF – seems too perfunctory).
But imagine a packed church in which you cannot see beyond your neighbours in front. It can even happen today. In the Middle Ages, the narrow-naved church would have been overflowing to the aisles, transepts: some people would even have been using the aisle squints (or kneeling in the Lady Chapel) or even listening to the bells while attending outside the church. They could not see. (Nor can we if there is a lectern and microphone placed in between us and the ad orientem altar. Or some parishioners who stand throughout the Canon. (Where did that come from? They could sit down and bow forwards, reverently, without scandal. But they prefer to stand so as to give the person behind a good view of their bottom….)
So sometimes we cannot see the Holy Elevation. But we are actively inwardly praying the Mass, so in a Latin Mass we know where we are. And if the bells sound, they perform their function – which is to announce.
I’m always reminded of the Risen Lord’s words to St Thomas: “Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe.”
When I was a child, I was told that I should not look for more than a tiny glimpsing moment, and then close my eyes and adore silently, because we were (are) not worthy to look upon Our Lord, any more than Moses could look more than indirectly upon the Face of Yahweh. I still find that useful advice.
Dante, I believe in the Inferno, mentions how dignity forbids haste. I am always amazed how many good priests I know say, in the NO, the words of Consecration with zero emphasis, no slight slowing down, nada. I mean, it’s not going to change what happens, but the manner communicates something…
In my humble, but always expressed opinion, the elevation should last long enough for the (usually imaginary) thurifer to finish swinging his (usually imaginary) thurible. As long as both the thurble and the thurifer are either both real or both imaginary, then there’s no problem.
Probably long enough to show respect but not so long as to interrupt and detract from the integrity of the anaphora. Case in point, the historian who sometimes presides for the televised mass (who seems like a very nice guy from what I can tell, but I never met him) elevates far too long for my taste. The length of time sees disproportionate to other parts of the mass.
I don’t have it in front of me, but don’t the rubrics say something like the presider “shows the host?” Is the word “elevate” in the new rubric? (Sorry, book is out in the office and really don’t want to go out there now.)
I don’t know the derivation of this, but the liturgy prof in the seminary thought that the elevation at the doxology was to be emphasized more than the showing of the elements during the institution.
Again, I pulling this out of of thin air without a book to look at right now.
I pinch-hit when needed at various parishes, and you can tell from the altar servers whether the “home team” runs the no-huddle, or a slow and steady running game.
Man, I miss football.
This question has reminded me of the priest when I was a tween in Catholic school. He made the most reverent elevation I’ve ever seen. Later, after he was transferred, we learned he had been molesting the altar boys. Sorry to be blunt. I didn’t realize until this moment that the elevation has been forever tainted for me. A sad epiphany.
I strongly prefer just about 6 seconds, no less.
Long enough so as not to be undignified and perfunctory (it shouldn’t seem like a quick ‘jab’) , but not so long that the congregation wonders if Father has lost track of what he’s doing! No less than 5 and no more than 10 seconds sounds about right. And I would agree with Gregg the Obscure that the Host and the Precious Blood should be elevated for an equal amount of time.
One of my priest bosses told me that one of his classmates would elevate the Host long enough to sing the Te Deum and then do the same thing with the Chalice when he was first ordained. After a few Masses his pastor had to say something to him. When we were attending the EF, the Elevation was so short that it was hard to say “My Lord and my God.” I like it somewhere between the two. ;) Preferably long enough that I can say “My Lord and my God” and think of the names of persons for whom I may be praying at Mass or whisper “Jesus” in the ear of whichever child is on my lap.
7-10 seconds is the time I take to ring the bells in the OF; three nice, solid rings that damp between each ring, without me placing them on the kneeler. Father doesn’t mind…I wait until he has raised his arms fully, and then I ring. It’s closer to 6 or 7 seconds when it’s another boy.
I’d say 5-7 seconds. (Enough to say “My Lord and My God” and mean it.)
We had a priest who used to elevate the host, then pivot 60 degrees to the left and elevated it again, then pivot back to the center and elevate it again, then pivot 60 degrees to the right and elevate it again, then pivot back to the center and elevate it again. Same with the chalice, only he went right before left. Fortunately, that church didn’t use bells at the elevation, or we would have all been deaf.
If the poll were working, I’d vote for 6-7 seconds also. Bells are not common in local OF parishes, so the priests here tend not to reach 6-7 seconds. As if to counter that, one local priest, trained in a Southern Hemisphere country, I believe, elevates for what seems like 25 seconds, while pronouncing aloud “My Lord and My God”.
It should be long enough to remind us that this represents the greatest event in human history, yet not so long to suggest that any duration could allow us to absorb the utter mystery of what has just taken place before us. The number of seconds would work itself out without any need of consciously counting.
I think 5 seconds is a reasonable amount of time. I think some priests hold it up too long, but far more frequent and (in my opinion) far more annoying is it when priests barely hold it up for a split second.
Father Jim, the 2002 Missale romanum has
Hostiam consecratam ostendit populo, reponit super patenam,et genuflexus adorat.
So yes, the celebrant need only hold the Host so that the people can see it. This may or may not require elevation, according to the particular circumstances. Of course, ostendit leaves the celebrant a lot of liberty, which he may use wisely or not (like me and my mouth, sometimes). He ought to follow, at least loosely, the custom of the place where he is celebrating, provided that that custom conforms to the rubrics and that it does not involve anything contrary to the sobriety of the Roman Rite; that is, it should not be a “showy” showing. This principle of avoiding showiness militates against turning in several directions while showing the Host. I’d say that three seconds is about right, once the arms have been raised. As for raising the arms, not too fast, not too slow, not too high, not too low. The whole thing should be fluid , as AttiaDS mentions above.
I don’t know the derivation of this, but the liturgy prof in the seminary thought that the elevation at the doxology was to be emphasized more than the showing of the elements during the institution.
It would be interesting to hear the arguments for this. Certainly the 2002 Missale has
Accipit patenam cum Hostia et calicem, et utrumque elevans….
So there you do indeed have elevation, whether you need it or not for the sake of making the Host and the chalice seen. One ought not, I think, to toss two rubrical prescriptions into the ring and make them fight each other. It seems unreasonable to suppose that the Legislator intended such an opposition between the two presentations of the Sacrament.
At my parish, Father raises the host (and then the chalice) and turns to the left and right while the altar server rings the bell three times, before lowering it to the paten (or corporal). Based on a quick reenactment in my kitchen, I’d guess it’s about 10 seconds. This is in the Ordinary Form, for those keeping score, and the turn is because we have a 70’s era semi-circular church.
It’s slow enough for everyone to make an appropriate gesture of adoration.
Well, I see I am not alone in thinking the elevation should be long enough for the bells. (Three rings at our Mass) So glad others agree. So glad others still have bells, too!
I will elevate the host for enough time for a simple adoration or short prayer.
I am always reminded by the priest who thought that the height of the Mass was the elevation when in fact it is the words of consecration. He was surprised when I told him it was not the elevation.
However I do elevate the Host and Chalice a little longer when offering Mass across the street from Planned Parenthood. It helps to chase away more devils and ask the Precious Blood to cover all there.
Like stopping at a stop sign – long enough to actually be stopped is all that’s necessary. But unlike a stop sign, you don’t need to prove it to anyone. As for avoiding being rushed – I agree, but you can be quick, precise, and still not rushed. The most reverent masses I’ve seen have been daily masses which get to the point without unnecessary delay.
I’d say, if it takes long enough for a lay person like myself to think about how long it is, it’s too long. (Imagine if it was let’s say, 30 seconds – people’s minds would begin wandering and wondering “is this too long?”). Having it quicker might be less of a spiritual distraction to me. Yet, if I were disposed most properly, it wouldn’t matter how long, just as long as it’s as the Church dictates.
Were I to measure it, I’d say about 1 heartbeat.
One former Jesuit priest, now an “administrator,” never elevates the Host or the Precious Blood, he just extends his arms horizontally with each of them.
should be a fluid 3-7 seconds. The motion shoudn’t be rushed…I see some priests do that.
The Spanish culture has a very nice custom we practice during the elevation. We say out loud “My Lord and My God” and during the elevation of the challis we say the same thing but add our petitions as to immerse them in the Sacred Blood. That can only be done if there is a reasonable amount of time to do so. The point of the elevation of the precious species is to adore not to create a breeze……
To the count of 5, normally. (would be 4 secs, most people count a bit too fast). But rather than a certain number of seconds, I’d rather propose that it is in line with the other movements of the priest. For some, who are doing everything thoughtful and slow, 4 seconds may provide a hurried contrast, and that shouldn’t happen. For others, young, energetic men, it might be even a fraction shorter, though it helps if the laity acctually gets to see the elevation. (so add a second for every decade of average age over 55, I’d say)
My parish priest does not elevate either the Host or the chalice. He doesn’t kneel either (only a small bow after the consecration of the wine). This is the new Italian style!
8.5 seconds while praying: “O eterno Padre, Io ti offro il corpo e il sangue, l’anima e la divinità del tuo dilettissimo figlio nostro Signore Gesù Cristo, in espiazione dei nostri peccati e quelli del mondo intero.”
I think most commentors are in the right line – it shouldn’t be rushed. To me, giving a precise time takes away something.
I once attended a few Masses in Verona, Italy, where the priest quickly lifted the host up and immediately down again. That was clearly not enough, but quite a mood killer, so to say.
We used to have a pastor who said the mass very reverently but also moved very s-l-o-w-l-y. One time he made the elevation even longer than usual – he sort of got stuck at the highest point. Maybe he had an epifany or some problem with the alb, I don’t know!
As for the poll, I’m with the majority here!
Fr:
This may notbe a trick question on your part, but most times Ive given an opinion on something liturgical or moral It soon happens that up pops a bit of catequesis or patristics or whatever that I HAD once been taught but had forgotten , so proving me wrong!
BTW Purely personal bias, my feelings, which it is NOT about :One thing does distract me at ANY mass, Ef in the old days, not much Ef today given the circs, is the IMPRESSION of rush, not only at the elevation.
I am sure that this is subjective: not terribly scientific, but early in my teaching days I used a stopwatch to confirm something to my own satisfaction: in a large trad classroom (40 to even 60 students, if you make nervous movements, rushed speech etc, sufficiently often, students say you have taken LONGER when in fact you took LESS time. Acted calm , slight pauses, clear enunciation, using OBJECTIVELY (stopwatch) LESS time was perceived as taking longer.
The holy sacrifice of the mass is NOT a class, but a congregation and students share humanity-I hope!-and there you are.
Mind you the problem anyhow is not enough priests.
snakes : got the above viceversa. Sorry!
In the dioceses of the U.S. the ANSI standard host elevation interval is 5.0 ± 0.2 seconds, measured from the time the centerline of the host reaches the celebrant’s eye level. Military chaplains must observe MIL-STD 7792 which calls for a minimum 4.5 seconds elevation. If there is a risk that the sight of the host will give away the congregation’s position, the celebrant may use a shorter interval, at his sole discretion. :-)
I think that, as the Sacred Host and the Precious Blood are incensed at High Mass, the Sacred Species should be elevated for as long as the incensing takes.
Maybe, as Unreconstructed Ossified Manualists, we should see what Fortescue says in “The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite described”:
When the words have been said, without delay, he stand erect, then genuflects on one knee; still holding the Host with both hands over the altar, as before. He rises at once and holds up the Blessed Sacrament, so that it may be seen by the people. He lifts it straight up before him to such a height that it may be seen from behind, over his head. He does this slowly, taking care to hold it over the corporal all the time. He lowers it again and places it reverently on the corporal, at the same place as before. He leaves it there, lays his hands on the altar, and genuflects again.
So to me it seems Fortescue says it should be a continuous movement, which is performed slowly.
I’ve not given this matter conscious thought until this moment. Although I can recall Masses where the length of time seemed out of order. I concur with those that seem to indicate a period of time encompassing the chimes. Meaning: Elevation, 3 chimes ring and end, Elevation ends. I also agree with the estimate: the length of time it takes me to gaze adoringly and say “my Lord and my God”
I’m of the opinion that everything in liturgy should have a fairly quick pace to it, almost like you could put a metronome to it but so much as to be robotic. There is nothing liturgical that gets under my skin as having it draaaaag…ick.
As to the elevation, it should be fairly quick and fluid, slightly longer at a Solemn High on account of the incense. This is not the time for a Holy Minute. This is one point in which the celebrant can easily look like he’s trying to prove to everyone how pious he is, unintentionally no doubt, but it easily looks contrived. This is even more so facing the people, its almost as if that is what one is “supposed” to do because you’re facing everyone.
A good long time, 10 sec. or so. Maybe that’s because I have “marriage problems” and the Elevation is the main event for me.
I always thought the length of the elevation had more to do with the server ringing the bell than it did the priest. Shouldn’t the blessed sacrament be held aloft for the duration of the three rings?
It is well known that Fr Garrigou LaGrange would often go into ecstasy at the elevation, and after some time his server have to alert him to continue with the mass.
Re: Jonathan says: Didn’t some of Padre Pio’s masses last three hours? When during the liturgy did he spend extra time? I always imagined it was at the elevations in adoration.
I don’t remember how long, but in my readings about St. Pio I recall mention of him elevating the Host for a very long time. He would go into sort of an ecstasy and He would converse with Christ in his hands… or something like that. It’s been a while since I read about it.
@Darren and others re:Padre Pio
Source: depositions from Padre Pio Under Investigation (a book I recommend)
I have no idea how long I take, normally, with the elevations. Here is how I do it:
I tend to say the words of the Eucharistic Prayer moderately, because I’ve been a concelebrant when a priest was racing through, and trying to keep up makes it hard to offer Mass in that fashion.
At the words of consecration, I slow down more, and speak more loudly.
When I elevate the host and chalice, I lift them over my head–keeping in mind that, if I were offering Mass ad orientem, that’s how high they need to be for the assembly to see them.
I pray some prayers in my mind and use them to keep count. I have a different prayer for each elevation. For the Host, I pray–entirely silently, as it’s not part of the Mass–“My Lord and my God.” I pray it about five to seven times, depending on how long the bells are rung. With the chalice, I pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of your blood, wash away our sins.” I pray that two or three times, it seems to work out about the same, but I don’t know.
Not really connected with this post but….Solesmes Gregorian Missal now available with new English translation. Now there’s no excuse for not using the Gradual in the OF. Sorry if this is old news. My copy just arrived from France.
Thank you Random Friar re:
@Darren and others re:Padre Pio
Source: depositions from Padre Pio Under Investigation (a book I recommend)
It has been a while since I read my books on Padre Pio. This brings some of it back, and I will consider the book you have recommended. (To add my growing catholic libray, which is growing faster than I can read!!!) :)
I fixed the poll widget. Please vote!
I said in the poll about 1-3 seconds and I find that long enough to say “My Lord and my God.”
To add a thought about a longer time… I once attended a Mass said by a Legionnaire priest and he elevated the Host for about 10 seconds and it made a huge impression upon me. In that moment I really thought about Our Lord. Wow, this priest REALLY believes in Who he is holding up. I was younger in my faith and it made a profound impression.
Maybe the fact that different priests do different amounts of time is for a reason. Longer for the newbie who might be in the congregation. Just sayin’……
Father Zuhlsdorf,
Perhaps you could post omething regarding the celebration of Mass “in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament” from the Missale Romanum 1962. I myself have seen it but once (whilst serving the Mass none the less), and it has a slightly different ceremonial. I believe most people here would greatly appreciate knowing about it. It went nicely with the votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament (I believe that’s what it was). It was done as part of the parish’s ’40 Hours Devotion’.
Thank you,
Thomas
@mrthomaskeep:
google is your friend: https://wdtprs.com/2008/10/mater-ecclesiae-in-berlin-nj-forty-hours-day-3/
I was thinking of the final elevation of both consecrated species when we say amen. Perhaps because this has never flowed right (NO). It seems when the Priest says the prayers we should say Amen but he maintains the host and chalice elevated for the time it takes to cue the music then sing whatever extended form of Amen we have. Some longer than others, and sometimes so long that the priest moved on (replaced the host and chalice) to get ready for communion. Funny how now I am not remembering. Hard to get to more frequent mass with little ones.
For consecration, three bell rings done nice is good! Too bad only one person knows to do the three bell ring. Usually a very long extended bell ring to match the priests length of elevation (and I think the priest is waiting for the bell ringer so it can get a little long)
thanks
Jenn
I like to elevate the host and the chalice about a 2-3 seconds longer after the third ring of the bells; a problem is that some of the altar servers are not getting my message on this…and tend to make the three rings longer than they should be.
One time at a church without bells at the elevation, the sound of a bell-like ring pierced the silence. It was a toddler playing with his dad’s keys, making a loud jingle sound. Perfectly timed! I am sure he grew up to be an altar boy.
I never thought about it before but i’d say our Priest’s, different Priests in different parishes say the EF on different days of the week, have about the same timing. Long enough to say “my Lord and my God, my God and my All 3 times. i’m no expert but i think they have it just right.
I like the elevation a little bit longer, 7-10 seconds. I know a priest who elevates for 60 seconds. That seems too long.
I selected 7-10. It gives the opportunity for more reflective silence, something sorely missing in the celebration of the OF despite what the GIRM states.
There was a popular belief in medieval England that time spent gazing on the Host was added to your allotted life-span; whether this resulted in protracted elevations I know not. Protestant reformers were against lifting up the elements, and it is proscribed in the 39 Articles (Art.28). Elizabeth I was crowned according to Catholic rites restored during Mary’s reign, but she made a point of withdrawing before Bishop Oglethorpe elevated the Host, in order to demonstrate her Protestant credentials.
5-7 Seconds is Good Enough for Me to See and Bow in Silence,before a awful and terrible mystery(If YOU Get the Drift)
One of my pet peeves at Notre Dame is the rushed elevation practiced by the vast majority of the Holy Cross priests of a certain age (i.e., older than I). Less than a second. If you blink, you miss it.
It depends on whether or not the bells are rung, and if it is once or thrice. I say about 3-5 seconds, or 2seconds after the last ring of the bells.
Ive never counted but think 5-7 seconds seems fine. Our priests always do it in a way that feels flowing yet just right to give us a few moments to reflect. This is one of my favorite moments of the mass, a connection between all of us and our Lord. I picture him on the cross and then hope it gives him some happiness to see us reaching up towards him in ultimate reverence and thanks.
Alice: I was so moved at the thought of your whispering ” Jesus” into a child’s ear at this moment.
What a sweet gift.
I chose 5 to 7 (I could have chosen 7 to 10)
Reason is that I thought SEVEN would be the perfect number.
Isn’t SEVEN supposed to be the number of perfection?
Since only God is perfect, I thought SEVEN would be proper.
Time enough to meditate on His Perfections. (At least one of them: At least His Perfect Love in leaving us His Very Body to feed our feeble souls.)