Why does the priest wash his hands in the middle of the Mass

The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns · Aug 31, 2026 · 10m

Why Does the Priest Wash His Hands at Mass? You've probably seen it countless times. The bread and wine have been prepared, and just before the Eucharistic Prayer, a server pours a small amount of water over the priest's hands. But why? His hands probably aren't dirty. So what exactly is he washing? In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we explore the beautiful meaning behind this ancient ritual, known as the Lavabo, and the quiet prayer the priest says while washing his hands: “Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” What appears to be a simple washing is actually a…