A question for my fellow EMHC's

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Online_Knight

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Do any of you struggle with thoughts about how this or that person should not be receiving communion? I know none of us should probably feel “worthy”, but let me run an example past you.

You are assisting with communion at Christmas and a member of your family approaches to receive. You know that person only attends church at Christmas and has made comments that they don’t believe, etc. They are only there because it pleases their parents to have the whole family in church. Perhaps it is someone who is divorced and remarried without an anulment.

Sometimes I cannot keep such thoughts from entering my mind. Should I remove myself from the EMHC list?
 
Online_Knight said:
Do any of you struggle with thoughts about how this or that person should not be receiving communion?
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Seldom, if ever. And usually, it’s not because of any big thing, but more like ‘they had GUM in their mouth’ (which INFURIATES me), or they came to mass very late.

Other than that, I am usually at a point of ‘I’m holding the Precious Body and Blood of my Lord and Savior’, and that pretty much does it.

My thoughts are more to go towards “Oh no, if I drop this, what shall I do”
Online_Knight said:
Should I remove myself from the EMHC list?
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I don’t think so. I think that your concerns are VALID. But perhaps if you went to confession, and shared this with the priest, they may be able to help you to keep those thoughts from your mind when you are there for the Holy Communion. Also, the priest should be addressing these issues.

I think it’s commendable that you care. I just pray that you (and I) can keep those thoughts at bay when we are part of the feast
 
Maybe discussing this with your priest or deacon at your parish would be a good idea.

It’s not really our place to make judgements of that sort, besides, the sacrament is for sinners, right? In the case of the “C&Es”, they come twice a year…but so what? This may be one of the only one or two times that they DO receive.

I’d guess that most EMEs have had thoughts like that from time to time, but if such thoughts are continuing or distressing, it’s probably best to hold off until you get in a proper frame of mind to serve as an EME.

I’ve purposely held off filling in as a last minute sub if I’ve not been in a proper frame of mind on the rare Sunday morning…maybe I got mad at the kids for being kids and making us late…maybe it’s just a bad mood…whatever the case.
 
Just try to seperate yourself from the duty at hand…You are just the means by which Jesus is giving Himself to the people…It is Jesus who gives …not you…

As for what you may or may not know about an individual person speaks not for what they feel at the moment of reception nor do you have the right to judge another…that is the role [and rightly so] of God.

That said, let me share a couple of other thoughts:

1] As a priest once instructed us, We do not hold Jesus captive in the Tabernacle. Yes, Jesus is there in the Eucharist is a special and mystical way…He is not confined…

2] Even if the Eucharist [Body or Blood] is dropped or spilt, Jesus is not harmed…we can not accidentally hurt or damage our Lord. A person can intentionally act in a disrespectful manner and attempt to do harm tot he Eucharist…this is God, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings…remember what Jesus told Pilot about not being able to touch Him [read crucify] if not permitted by God…

3] Jesus is present Body, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist whether a person believes or not…God exists whether we know [and or acknowledge] Him or not…

So your family member [really all of us] cannot do harm unitentionally [or even intentionally] to Jesus. Jesus is Heavenly food, even for non-believers… And God is the judge, not us.

I work with RCIA. I have met many people over the years who received communion [in advertantly - without realizing they should not receive]. They are compelled to journey towards the Church. In my experience, those who receive this way are drawn back. Having received the most Holy Nourishment, they begin to seek it out…and are driven until they find it [this is how one person described it - and it took them years to realize it was the Eucharist they sought].

So perhaps you should be hopeful and prayerful regarding this person’s reception…that they come to realize how precious the gift of Jesus is, how what they are searching for is right in front of them and then within them. Then… …Let go and Let God
 
It is better to focus on Jesus and the reverence you must hold toward Him.

This helps me a lot when people come be-bopping on up without any outward show of reverence, I just focus on the presence of Jesus. This will keep your mind and eyes off the lady in the skimpy top, the guy chewing gum, etc…

Very carefully, reverently serve and keep your focus on Jesus as He is the center of our faith. It doesn’t matter how scandelous people act, Jesus still is there and needs to have respect, so focus on your own personal respect.

If someone does anything extremely wrong, willingly commit sacrilege, carefully give the care of the Eucharist to someone else such as the priest, bow to the Eucharist, ask for forgiveness of the sacrilege and throw the person out, forcibly. 🙂

Other than acts of overt sacrilege we should assume good intentions of people and try to not focus on them, but on Jesus.
Many are just badly catechized and mean no harm.

In Christ
Scylla
 
It is better to focus on Jesus and the reverence you must hold toward Him.

This helps me a lot when people come be-bopping on up without any outward show of reverence, I just focus on the presence of Jesus. This will keep your mind and eyes off the lady in the skimpy top, the guy chewing gum, etc…

Very carefully, reverently serve and keep your focus on Jesus as He is the center of our faith. It doesn’t matter how scandelous people act, Jesus still is there and needs to have respect, so focus on your own personal respect.

If someone does anything extremely wrong, willingly commit sacrilege, carefully give the care of the Eucharist to someone else such as the priest, bow to the Eucharist, ask for forgiveness of the sacrilege and throw the person out, forcibly. 🙂

Other than acts of overt sacrilege we should assume good intentions of people and try to not focus on them, but on Jesus.
Many are just badly catechized and mean no harm.

In Christ
Scylla
 
Online Knight, you shouldn’t even be put into a situation where you know that somebody is receiving Holy Communion unworthily. It’s up to the priest to make sure that sacrilige is not being committed.

At Masses where lapsed Catholics and non-Catholics may be in attendance (weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter, etc.), the priest should make an appropriate announcement either before Mass or before Communion, to explain that because it is central to our faith, Communion is reserved only to Catholics in the state of grace (no mortal sin on their soul).

In addition, the following guidelines should be posted in all parishes:

Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

For Catholics:

“As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.”

For Other Christians

"We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us ‘that they may all be one’ (Jn 17:21).

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3)."

For Those Not Receiving Communion

“All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.”

For Non-Christians

“We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.”
 
YADA said:
So your family member [really all of us] cannot do harm unitentionally [or even intentionally] to Jesus. Jesus is Heavenly food, even for non-believers…
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That is NOT what the Church teaches. “A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession”. This is Canon Law.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 - Receiving unworthily is profaning the body and blood of the Lord.
YADA said:
I work with RCIA.
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All the more reason for you to learn what the Church truly teaches regarding people being properly disposed to receive Holy Communion. You do those whom you’re supposed to be teaching a great disservice, and may be leading them to grave sin. Receiving unworthily happens to be a mortal sin.
 
Online_Knight said:
Do any of you struggle with thoughts about how this or that person should not be receiving communion? I know none of us should probably feel “worthy”, but let me run an example past you.

You are assisting with communion at Christmas and a member of your family approaches to receive. You know that person only attends church at Christmas and has made comments that they don’t believe, etc. They are only there because it pleases their parents to have the whole family in church. Perhaps it is someone who is divorced and remarried without an anulment.

Sometimes I cannot keep such thoughts from entering my mind. Should I remove myself from the EMHC list?
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It is a standard recommendation in most Dioceses to have all EMs to not make this decision, as it is seen as above their heads. If you ask you are told to give it to everyone and not to hold it back based on your own decision.

If you feel that you personally can not do it for various reasons it is up to you if you want to continue with the ministry or not.
 
I don’t know the state of a recipients relationship with God. IF I know they are NOT Catholic I would speak with them after mass.

The only time I refuse someone is when

They have received the consecrated bread and wish to dip it in the consecrated wine. I put my hand over the cup and ask them to consume the Body of Christ, then I offer the Blood. Not really a refusal but a delay.

PS The dipping can only by done by the priest or EMHC (and I think they need permission of the bishop. Our bishop has asked us not to do this).
 
Online_Knight said:
Do any of you struggle with thoughts about how this or that person should not be receiving communion? …
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The Church as a whole is struggling with this issue. From the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis:
“50. … In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practising Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered.”

The issue is so difficult, sometimes, that the solution is not to have the Eucharist.
 
John_Lilburne said:
The issue is so difficult, sometimes, that the solution is not to have the Eucharist.
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That’s how serious it is to allow somebody to receive unworthily. St. Paul wasn’t kidding around in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

Thanks for posting the info regarding Sacramentum Caritatis, John!
 
BigFeet,

I know what the church teaches…you are mis understanding what I am saying…We cannot hurt or harm Jesus…Profaning the Lord is an intentional sin but we cannot do physical or bodily harm to Jesus in the Sacrament…the OP was worried about discerning the state of the recepients soul…

The Church teaches that you cannot sin “accidentally” and we are not called to be the judgers of every person who presents themselves for communion. And if a non catholic receives communion [and yes I know the ‘rules’ for reception] Jesus is just as present in the Eucharist, whether they receive ‘knowingly or not’.

I know a lady who as a child went to mass with a friend. Not catholic, but also not knowing it was against the rules, she presented herself for and received communion at mass [and this was a pre-VII Latin mass]. She was brought into the Church in her early twenties and has been one of the most faithful Christians [Catholic] that I have ever met. She attends mass daily, leads scripture studies, co-authored with her husband - a 6 week Lenten small faith sharing group program that was [and perhaps may still be] used by parishes all over the states.

She told me that she was changed from that day. She was not sure why, did not realize that what she did was ‘wrong’ but she knows in her heart that from that day on she was destined to come back to the Eucharist. It was years before she realized what happened to her that day. Her journey of faith is amazing…

I have many other stories of faith from others who recieved the Eucharist…

By the way…in our RCIA - when we become aware of non- catholics who are receiveing or who have received [at some time in the past] the Eucharist, they are instructed to refrain from receiving and why…
 
Newbie2 said:
…It’s not really our place to make judgements of that sort, besides, the sacrament is for sinners, right? **In the case of the “C&Es”, they come twice a year…but so what? ** This may be one of the only one or two times that they DO receive…
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Under normal circumstances if a Catholic only went to Mass twice a year they would be committing over 50 mortal sins by missing Mass on Holy Days of Obligation alone. So it is a big deal. It’s a huge deal. If they are receiving Holy Communion with mortal sin on their souls, they are sinning again. On the other hand they might go to confession before each Mass they actually do attend.
 
YADA said:
BigFeet,

I know what the church teaches…you are mis understanding what I am saying…We cannot hurt or harm Jesus…Profaning the Lord is an intentional sin but we cannot do physical or bodily harm to Jesus in the Sacrament…the OP was worried about discerning the state of the recepients soul…

The Church teaches that you cannot sin “accidentally” and we are not called to be the judgers of every person who presents themselves for communion. And if a non catholic receives communion [and yes I know the ‘rules’ for reception] Jesus is just as present in the Eucharist, whether they receive ‘knowingly or not’.

I know a lady who as a child went to mass with a friend. Not catholic, but also not knowing it was against the rules, she presented herself for and received communion at mass [and this was a pre-VII Latin mass]. She was brought into the Church in her early twenties and has been one of the most faithful Christians [Catholic] that I have ever met. She attends mass daily, leads scripture studies, co-authored with her husband - a 6 week Lenten small faith sharing group program that was [and perhaps may still be] used by parishes all over the states.

She told me that she was changed from that day. She was not sure why, did not realize that what she did was ‘wrong’ but she knows in her heart that from that day on she was destined to come back to the Eucharist. It was years before she realized what happened to her that day. Her journey of faith is amazing…

I have many other stories of faith from others who recieved the Eucharist…

By the way…in our RCIA - when we become aware of non- catholics who are receiveing or who have received [at some time in the past] the Eucharist, they are instructed to refrain from receiving and why…
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No, you can’t allow someone you know is non-Catholic to recieve. Ever. I don’t care, neither does the Church, which speaks for Christ and is our binding authority, how much they are changed by so doing.

YOU have committed sacrilege by having allowed, knowingly, the Body and Blood of our Lord to be profaned. YOU know the Church considers it sacrilege and you were complicit in it, in other words fully guilty of the sin of profanation yourself.

This is true even if the person receiving isn’t guilty at all, excused by ignorance or what have you.

It may or may not harm Christ or the receiver, it absolutely harms you!

For heaven’s sake, people used to DIE in order to prevent the Blessed Sacrament falling into the hands of those who didn’t believe!

St Tarcisius is patron of those making their First Communion precisely because he was martyred by the Romans for refusing to hand over the Blessed Sacrament he was carrying!

Where are your priorities, people? Do you have no care for your own souls?
 
LilyM said:
No, you can’t allow someone you know is non-Catholic to recieve. Ever. I don’t care, neither does the Church, which speaks for Christ and is our binding authority, how much they are changed by so doing.

YOU have committed sacrilege by having allowed, knowingly, the Body and Blood of our Lord to be profaned. YOU know the Church considers it sacrilege and you were complicit in it, in other words fully guilty of the sin of profanation yourself.

This is true even if the person receiving isn’t guilty at all, excused by ignorance or what have you.

It may or may not harm Christ or the receiver, it absolutely harms you!

For heaven’s sake, people used to DIE in order to prevent the Blessed Sacrament falling into the hands of those who didn’t believe!

St Tarcisius is patron of those making their First Communion precisely because he was martyred by the Romans for refusing to hand over the Blessed Sacrament he was carrying!

Where are your priorities, people? Do you have no care for your own souls?
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I HAVE NEVER KNOWINGLY ALLOWED A PERSON EVER TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST…DO NOT BARE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST ME…I NEVER SAID I ALLOWED NON CATHOLICS TO RECIEVE…IN FACT I SAID WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF THAT I TELL THEM TO REFRAIN AND WHY THIS IS REQUIRED!!!
 
YADA said:
I HAVE NEVER KNOWINGLY ALLOWED A PERSON EVER TO RECEIVE THE EUCHARIST…DO NOT BARE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST ME…I NEVER SAID I ALLOWED NON CATHOLICS TO RECIEVE…IN FACT I SAID WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF THAT I TELL THEM TO REFRAIN AND WHY THIS IS REQUIRED!!!
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No need to shout, I apologise for misunderstanding. I didn’t see the first line of your post, only the wonderful feel-good story of non-Catholics receiving and converting or what have you afterwards. Which looks very much like it’s endorsing giving the Eucharist to them.

And there may be others reading who don’t understand as well as you do and would take your post as I did. They will benefit from my point.
 
Okay, I accept your apology…

I take the Eucharist very seriously. Jesus is present, in totality. Wow, what a gift of Love from our God! I am very conscious of my personal state, that is where I focus my attention. It is my soul that is my primary focus when I consider worthiness to receive the Eucharist. I try not to be concerned with the sins of my fellow Catholic Christian brethren, nor would I attempt to tell someone how unworthy they were lest they return the favor!

My posts [in simple words - I hope] have been aimed at responding to the OP’s concerns about the state of those who present themselves for reception. And to remind them that God is all knowing, all powerful and in control.

It is not the role of the EMHC to determine the eligibility [state of sinlessness] of those who present themselves. A EMHC should attept to make sure the host is consummed. Small children who approach sometimes makes one insure [a quick glance to the parents usually clears that up].

Othewise, unless your Bishop [or Priest] has instructed you to not offer communion to a person if they present themselves, you would offer communion. Creating a public scene by challenging a person who presents themselves is not our responsibility. A EMHC should attept to make sure the host is consummed.

We are not the judge of the state of a person’s soul and or their relationship with God, it is God who judges…And God can take care of Himself…we can [and should] defend the faith andour God. We are to be respectful of the Sacrament, do what is humanly possible then let God Be God. Jesus can take care of the rest…

At our parish, we actually had a case of someone [teens - actually two of them] who received communion at the Christmas Vigil Mass last December - they proceeded to the corner [having not consumed] and began cursing Jesus in the Eucharist…the EMHC went to the person and recovered Jesus [the Blessed Sacrament]. We did not make a big scene, we just acted properly and with respect [towards Jesus] …

In this event, Jesus was not “injured” by the affront…the persons sinned and I pray they come to their senses and seek reconcilliation and repent of their blasphemy…that is the most we can be expected of
 
As a music director, I am often playing weddings or funerals with “guests” that are not Catholic, or haven’t been to Mass in ages.

Just last week, it was obvious that about 5 people sitting together (teens to young 20s) were not Catholic and went to communion (Actually everyone at the funeral did…but these specific ones I noticed). I’m watching them receive, obviously not knowing how to do it, and one girl took it in her hand, walked away, cupped her hand together…she wasn’t going to consume it.

Now I’m pretty sure her intention was out of respect… she probably heard somewhere that she shouldn’t receive because she is not Catholic, but didn’t know what to do. (Of course, the priest should have given a communion instruction, and they shouldn’t have even come up, but thats another story).

So since she was walking by me, and I’m playing and singing the communion song, I hit an open phrase, leaned over and whispered “consume it”, and made a motion with my hand.

Now I know thats not the best outcome, but my hands were tied to the piano, I couldnt’ take it from her, I had 1 1/2 seconds and I thought Jesus would do more good inside her than in her purse, on the floor, or in the parking lot (where we found a host a few weeks ago after a Sunday morning Mass). This was the safest place for the time.
 
agapewolf said:
As a music director, I am often playing weddings or funerals with “guests” that are not Catholic, or haven’t been to Mass in ages.

Just last week, it was obvious that about 5 people sitting together (teens to young 20s) were not Catholic and went to communion (Actually everyone at the funeral did…but these specific ones I noticed). I’m watching them receive, obviously not knowing how to do it, and one girl took it in her hand, walked away, cupped her hand together…she wasn’t going to consume it.

Now I’m pretty sure her intention was out of respect… she probably heard somewhere that she shouldn’t receive because she is not Catholic, but didn’t know what to do. (Of course, the priest should have given a communion instruction, and they shouldn’t have even come up, but thats another story).

So since she was walking by me, and I’m playing and singing the communion song, I hit an open phrase, leaned over and whispered “consume it”, and made a motion with my hand.

Now I know thats not the best outcome, but my hands were tied to the piano, I couldnt’ take it from her, I had 1 1/2 seconds and I thought Jesus would do more good inside her than in her purse, on the floor, or in the parking lot (where we found a host a few weeks ago after a Sunday morning Mass). This was the safest place for the time.
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What a tough situation that you obviously shouldn’t have had to be involved with to begin with…nice job. It sounds like this needs to be addressed to your pastor. He should be providing proper catechises. If he doesn’t, then your bishop needs to know about it.
 
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