Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament on Good Friday
            QUESTION from John on April 9, 2004

I have a question which is puzzling me. After returning from today's Good Friday Celebration of the Passion, I witnessed that after receiving Communion the remaining consecrated Hosts were carried out of the Church rather than being consumed. Also, our Parish Priest (for whom I have the greatest respect) at the conclusion of our Celebration of the Passion said that a Consecrated Host would be left behind, placed in a monstrance and wrapped in Our Lord's shroud for exposition and adoration until 6 pm. All this seems strange! I am a convert to the Catholic Faith, I love it dearly and I have been practising it since my conversion in 1991. And I love and respect our Parish Priests very much. However, I've always been under the impression that any Consecrated Hosts from previous Masses were to be entirely consumed on Good Friday. I mentioned this after today's Celebration and was told it was common practice to carry any remaining Consecrated Hosts to the sacristy so there would be enough Consecrated Hosts for the Easter Vigil! Is this correct? And is it permissible to leave a Consecrated Host behind in the Church and wrap it in a shroud for adoration?! I thought I had studied Catholic faith and liturgy sufficiently before being received into the Church in 1991. Admittedly, I am by no means an authority when it comes to doctrine or liturgy - I am still learning. However, I must confess that what I witnessed today seems a bit bizzarre! What do you think? I await your reply with interest. God bless you - JOHN