Ablutions
ABLUTIONS
BASIC R.C. BELIEF The ceremonial purification after Holy Communion. The priest purifies his chalice with wine, then with water and wine, then washes his fingers with which he touched the Sacred Host. These actions are accompanied with appropriate prayers and come just before the end of the Mass (CATHOLIC WORD BOOK, Knights of Columbus).
POST VATICAN II This is no longer an essential public rite; most priests cleanse the chalice in the sacristy. Care is still taken not to profane the consecrated wine.
CHRISTIAN COMMENT This demonstrates the reality of the Roman Catholic belief in transubstantiation. They really believe the Body and Blood of Christ are substantially present in just a crumb of the wafer or a drop of the wine.