A really young Eucharistic minister

[palmas85]

Actually this could make for an interesting meditation. I’ve seen images before with Jesus and/or Mary holding some sort of bird that symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ. Supposedly this bird will pluck flesh from it’s own breast so that it’s offspring do not starve. How neat that a mother would be holding her baby in a sling, close to her breast, while she “feeds” people with the Body of Christ.

I suppose that in the euphoria of imagining a young maybe indigent immigrant mom from Burkina Fasau, a poor African nation, valiantly distributing Holy Communion, in a massive Mega Church in some undisclosed location, all the while bravely holding onto her infant child, it is posible to forget that at sometimes inopportune moments, babies move, kick or flail about, even when in slings. In such a scenario, isn’t it possible, heck maybe even probable that the Chalice might be knocked from our heroic Extraordinary Ministers hand, thus spilling the Precious Blood of Christ everywhere? Can’t blame the child of course, but what about the mom? I somehow doubt that she was plucked from the congregation at random to assist in this worthy endeavor.

And am I the only one to notice the distinctly Marian character of the entire episode, coming as it does in the first week of Advent??

 

[ChemicalBean]

I suppose that in the euphoria of imagining a young maybe indigent immigrant mom from Burkina Fasau, a poor African nation, valiantly distributing Holy Communion, in a massive Mega Church in some undisclosed location, all the while bravely holding onto her infant child, it is posible to forget that at sometimes inopportune moments, babies move, kick or flail about, even when in slings. In such a scenario, isn’t it possible, heck maybe even probable that the Chalice might be knocked from our heroic Extraordinary Ministers hand, thus spilling the Precious Blood of Christ everywhere? Can’t blame the child of course, but what about the mom? I somehow doubt that she was plucked from the congregation at random to assist in this worthy endeavor.

And am I the only one to notice the distinctly Marian character of the entire episode, coming as it does in the first week of Advent??

Palmas85, are you mocking my meditation? I don’t get what you are aiming for. I think it’s an unusual situation and I was somewhat uncomfortable reading about it happening, but then this thought hit me so I decided to share it.

 

[palmas85]

Palmas85, are you mocking my meditation? I don’t get what you are aiming for. I think it’s an unusual situation and I was somewhat uncomfortable reading about it happening, but then this thought hit me so I decided to share it.

Not at all my friend. It is a very unusual situation, surreal actually. To tell you the truth, it is almost unbelievable. No in fact it is unbelievable. Sorry. Since this is the start of Advent, what better way to get some responses than to post something with obvious Marian as well as infant child qualities?

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Well the sling sounds to be a better option than those mega stroller from John Deere etc. I just hope the infant doesn’t wake up and want to be fed (not with a bottle). Actually the lady in directly in front of me last week breastfed in church during the service. A little uneasy was I and it is hard to focus on the mass. But the kid was great and beautiful.

 

[lizaanne]

What was she supposed to do with the baby? Hang it from a coathanger? When it comes to EMHCs, people tend to get all upset really easy. I don’t have a problem with the lady and the baby.

Perhaps she could have declined her duties until a time where she could fully focus her attention on the task at hand.

Just because we CAN do something, does not mean we SHOULD.

~Liza

 

[palmas85]

Perhaps she could have declined her duties until a time where she could fully focus her attention on the task at hand.

Just because we CAN do something, does not mean we SHOULD.

~Liza

Come now, you are being most uncharitable:tsktsk: . We should be allowed to do anything we want to. You know that full well. It is our right to do as we please.

 

[Cristiano]

If she were the only EMHC available to support the priest I could understand her doing it. He she were unable to leave the child with anyone else I could understand her doing it. Yes the child could kick and so on, but we must remember that at that point the Holy Spirit is in control and that we must trust in it. We must learn to accept things that might push our buttons.(This is my positive take on the OP)

(Now to my negative take on the OP)
The priest duty is to make sure that the EMHCs are ready to “fully” devote themselves to serve. If he lets the EMHCs running the show (I apologize for the wording, but sometime people can turn the Mass in a circus) then he does not show proper reverence to the Eucharist. If an EMHC has a reasonable motive not to serve he should tell the priest and pull back to the pew. If the woman made the assumption that it would not be a big deal to “do the job” with the baby and it would not be a “big deal” if anything happened, then the situation would be different. We would then go from trusting the Holy Spirit to testing God. While the first is a good thing the second is a sin.

Here I am not interested in trying to read into people hearts, it is not my responsibility and I do not have that capability. All of us must remember what the EMHCs’ intents and tasks are expected to be. If the intent to serve or how perform the task is wrong then we are not doing God’s will but we are trying to subject Him to ours.