Bishop warns of invalid Mass due to improper liturgical wine and hosts

Bishop Krzysztof Włodarczyk of Bydgoski has issued a pastoral letter warning that certain liturgical products used during the Eucharist may render the consecration invalid. The warning focuses on the use of wine and hosts that do not meet the strict requirements of canon law.

A specialized team appointed by the Polish Episcopate discovered that some wines sold as ‘mass wine’ contain additives, such as artificial sweeteners, which can jeopardize the validity of the sacrament. The Bishop emphasized that a label claiming compliance with canon law is not sufficient proof of validity. He advised that only wines specifically listed on the Polish Episcopal Conference website, having been confirmed by the Commission for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, should be used.

The guidance also covers the proper storage of hosts and wine, the necessity of regular inventory checks in sacristies, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the visible signs of the sacrament. Priests are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that the matter used during the Eucharist is both valid and decent.