Why Does the Priest Wash His

Hands during Mass?

Kristopher W. Seaman

During the Preparation of the Altar This document, which has a rich
and the Gifts, various movements are source of theology and liturgy, pro-
made. The gifts of bread and wine are vides background theology and
processed forward by members of the directions for those who prepare the
liturgical assembly and received by liturgy. The GIRM states that “The
the presider at the altar-table. The priest then washes his hands at the
priest pours water into the wine. side of the altar, a rite that is an
Finally, after incensing, usually the expression of his desire for interior
server pours a good quantity of water purification” (76). Thus, more than
on both the fingers and the hands of cleansing the hands is suggested by
the presider, who then uses a towel to this prayer. Many of us tend to
dry his fingers and hands fully. The believe that the washing of his hands
priest says inaudibly while washing is a physical cleansing of the hands.
his hands, “Lord, wash away my iniq- Rather, the priest’s prayer during the
uity; cleanse me from my sin” (The washing is about the interior dimen-
Sacramentary, p. 371). (When the sion of the priest so that he may be
next edition of the Missal is promul- purified. The prayer also confirms
gated, this book willed be called the this desire so that he may be cleansed
Roman Missal.) Because the prayer is from his sin and freed from iniquity.
inaudible, and because in most par- In the prayer, twice “my” is used to
ishes music is being sung during the express that this is for the priest’s per-
preparation rites, members of the sonal benefit. In addition, the rubrics
liturgical assembly do not hear the or directions in The Sacramentary,
personal prayer of the priest while states this is said inaudibly so that
washing his hands, yet see the wash- the liturgical assembly would not
ing of his hands. Thus, the question even hear the prayer. This, too, sug-
is often asked, “Why does the priest wash his hands at Mass?” gests that the prayer is for the presider’s own benefit. In other
Currently, the “red book” the priest uses at Mass is words, this is a spiritual and penitential prayer for the presider
called The Sacramentary. This ritual book contains the prayers and not a communal prayer for the entire liturgical assembly.
and directions (called “rubrics,” which is Latin for red because
the directions appear in red ink while the prayers are in black
ink) for the Mass. In the front of this book is a document Kristopher W. Seaman is the associate director of the Office for
called the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). Divine Worship in the diocese of Gary, Indiana.

© 2010 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 3949 South Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609; 1-800-933-1800; www.LTP.org.
Photo © John Zich. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Pastoral Liturgy ® magazine, September/October 2010, www.PastoralLiturgy.org.
This page may be reproduced for personal or parish use. The copyright notice must appear with the text.
It also may be downloaded at www.PastoralLiturgy.org.