M
minkymurph
Guest
In my Parish the consecrated Host is stored in the Tabernacle after the Mass to be distributed to the sick. I received Holy Communion when I was in hospital. Hospital Chaplin’s carry it with them. The Chaplin who came to see me was a priest, but I know nuns who have been hospital Chaplin’s. I think lay people visit people in prison and they can give them Holy Communion. They also visit the sick.Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses.
I am going to tomorrow’s evening mass. It’ll be Saturday vigil, so they HAVE to have a priest there, and bonus, there will be music!
Even my non-denom-Christian family members are shaking their heads at a woman leading any kind of church service. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. I mean, it’s fine for a lady to be a lector or pass out Jesus like any male Catholic, but when she was saying the words that the priest usually says I was thinking “that should be an octave lower” not because I’m sarcastic, but because it felt like my mom was talking. And I know the Church is personified as feminine, but the priesthood is pastoral and paternal in character. For me personally the fact that we call priests “Father” is a big deal.
So if I get this straight, this was technically a valid Communion service and it really was Jesus I partook of, but another go would never hurt.
St. Paul said women could pray in the Church. He said they should wear a head covering but according to Catholic commentaries I have read that was to do with custom of the time.