Asked to be a EM?

[gatorsmom]

But do you understand why it is so offensive, to have lay men (and even worse, women), handling the Sacred Host?

Yes, it has been allowed under extreme circumstances.

Where I go to Mass, if you’ve got a crippled old over-the-hill priest who can’t walk up and down the communion rail, then the altar boy gets him a chair, and people file up, and kneel one at a time. Holy Communion might take longer than usual, but hey, whats more important? Getting home in time to watch the footy, or showing Our Lord some respect?

And as to the Masses where there are thousands or several hundred communicants, and only one priest? Well, there lies a deeper problem, innit? Like, why have we got so few priests these days? Could it be to do with laicisation of the holy ministry? People think they can be priests, and mum and dads as well?

The poor little altar boy that would love to be helping the priest out up on the altar, getting closer to God, is pushed out (not literally, but psychologically), by the other little girls, who want to be part of the show. POOF! There goes a potential vocation, and POOF! there appears a potential disgruntled lady of the future, who just can’t understand why we can;t have women priests…

Wake up people. The Church up until the 60’s had the right idea. She understood people, and their nature.

The church up until the 60’s would have asked me to be open to a big family (which I am) but then would have given me and my little ones dirty looks in church if my 16 month old twins started to act like normal toddlers. And if they have suddenly filled their diapers in church and we need to get out to change them because they are prone to infections- should we wait for an hour for the Eucharist while they are crying and in pain? Thank GOD for EMHCs. I thanked God the day when I was in the hospital after my third c-section that an EMHC saw that there was a Catholic mom in the maternity ward and came to offer me the Eucharist. I was so happy I cried. The fact is YES there are fewer priests nowadays and that makes me sad. But that is currently the reality and we NEED more people to help in the church RIGHT NOW. Not all Vatican 2 changes were bad. Some have made living-by-the-rules much easier.

How can we bring more people (and potentially priests) back to the church? By joyfully living as gentle witnesses to the beauty of Catholic life. Catching more flies with honey and all that.

ETA: to the OP, welcome to the church and how wonderful to be called to serve this way! I truly believe that it was God that called you to serve. I completed training to be a EMHC but never once did it. I just never felt like I was properly prepared and was just never comfortable doing it. If you don’t feel prepared either, I’d encourage you to keep praying about it since it’s not something to be taken lightly.

 

[carmel_quail]

Well said Gator(name removed by moderator)! If this were a perfect world, there would be lots of priests to fill our parishes and lots of others in religious life to teach in our schools and care for the sick in our hospitals etc. The situation as it is, is extaordinary, we are in desperate need in many areas. If properly trained lay people can help fill a need, I’m all for it. Love to you and yours!

 

[Penance94]

The church up until the 60’s would have asked me to be open to a big family (which I am) but then would have given me and my little ones dirty looks in church if my 16 month old twins started to act like normal toddlers…

I go to a Tridentine Mass every week and you would never be given dirty looks.

At the NO mass on the other hand, If I politly abstain from participating the sign of peace and decide to silently pray instead, people rudly interupt me and grab my hands from their folded position and start shaking them.

 

[603304529]

I go to a Tridentine Mass every week and you would never be given dirty looks.

At the NO mass on the other hand, If I politly abstain from participating the sign of peace and decide to silently pray instead, people rudly interupt me and grab my hands from their folded position and start shaking them.

Same here.

Trad Mass: encourage people to have kids. Give out if anyone tattle tales to the priest that there are kids making noise: “put up and shut up. Good on you parents for having kids and bringing them to Mass. You need every bit of encouragement you can get, and you will get it from me - your kids are the future”. (from the pulpit).

Novus Ordo Mass: loads of people publicly living in sin, giggling and carrying on all through Mass, priest causing scandal giving such people Holy Communion, and then same people disturbing private prayer (ie, eyes closed, head bowed, hands together) insisting on hand shaking.

 

[daughteroftruth]

I go to a Tridentine Mass every week and you would never be given dirty looks.

At the NO mass on the other hand, If I politly abstain from participating the sign of peace and decide to silently pray instead, people rudly interupt me and grab my hands from their folded position and start shaking them.

They do that with me too. I don’t get it, I remain kneeling, hands folded, head bowed, eyes shut, and they will just *grab *my hand, W-! When my sister attended Mass with me ( she’s a non believer) we always stayed in the very back of the church, behind the pews, and she “kept guard” so to speak. When someone was clueless enough to not comprehend that I was trying to focus on Christ for the five minutes He was there, she’d block them (and explain if they still didn’t understand).
BTW, she decided to do that on her own, I never asked her to…if that’s not a Saint in the making, what is?

 

[damooster]

They do that with me too. I don’t get it, I remain kneeling, hands folded, head bowed, eyes shut, and they will just *grab *my hand, W-! When my sister attended Mass with me ( she’s a non believer) we always stayed in the very back of the church, behind the pews, and she “kept guard” so to speak. When someone was clueless enough to not comprehend that I was trying to focus on Christ for the five minutes He was there, she’d block them (and explain if they still didn’t understand).
BTW, she decided to do that on her own, I never asked her to…if that’s not a Saint in the making, what is?

Something similar happened at daily Mass yesterday. The woman next to me knelt down to pray during the sign of peace, but a man came over to her ready to grab her hand. I knew what she was doing so I politely grabbed his hand in a handshake just before he reached her and quietly said “she’s praying.” After Mass she thanked me for intercepting the guy.

I felt like a hero.

 

[daughteroftruth]

Something similar happened at daily Mass yesterday. The woman next to me knelt down to pray during the sign of peace, but a man came over to her ready to grab her hand. I knew what she was doing so I politely grabbed his hand in a handshake just before he reached her and quietly said “she’s praying.” After Mass she thanked me for intercepting the guy.

I felt like a hero.

You were.

 

[EnchantedEve]

In my own experience I turned the offer down. I never receive communion from EMs, and even though permitted, are hard to justify theologically. The idea of hands, unconsecrated by God, handeling the host in any manner is to me such an extraordinary concept I cannot fathom its permissibility, since to me the very concept that priestly human hands could even be consecrated for handling the Sacred Body is astounding. I am sure you would probably be a most reverant minister, but I have seen SHOCKING abuses from this malevolent practice (A minister pouring leftover Precious Blood down the sink, people dropping hosts and with no thought receiving a “new” one!) in addition to people stealing hosts. Also, the practice, unlike lectors, is unknown to the early Church, and certainly must be considered a novelty. I personally would not do it, not because it is forbidden, but because I have a hard time believing it pleases God. Besides, it also helps perpetuate the equally unfortunate practice of communion in the hand, which in any case is at best discouraged by Rome.

 

[Malkin71]

I consider myself an EM, however I’m quite unhappy that the use of EM’s at my parish some something of a regular thing. Anyway, as an EM, you are expected to know how to help out at communion, and treat the Eucharist with the respect it deserves. It also means that you should look out for people who walk away without consuming. It’s horrible the things you might see sometimes. I can’t really think of what else might be involved. Just remember that if someone walks up to you for a blessing, you don’t do it like the priest! Please! it’s not your place to do so, yes you can do a little quick prayer for them, but not making a cross over their head or anything like that. Hopefully someone else will add anything I missed or correct my errors.

As for Easter Sunday, I usually go to the vigil, but I have heard of people being welcomed to the Church on Sunday instead of Saturday.

My Priest asked me to be a EMOHC. I asked if here was going to some training or a special cermony, "he said “Ad Hoc” That is why I did not become one. I believe there has to be respect For Holy Communion. I age with all what you said. I even seeen the EMOHC dropping Holy Communion. Also I would like to add it sickens me to see the EMOHC going to the altar and grabbing the Chalace from the Tabernacle and standing around the altar during the “Agnus Dei”.

 

[BayernAnhaenger]

My Priest asked me to be a EMOHC. I asked if here was going to some training or a special cermony, "he said “Ad Hoc” That is why I did not become one. I believe there has to be respect For Holy Communion. I age with all what you said. I even seeen the EMOHC dropping Holy Communion. Also I would like to add it sickens me to see the EMOHC going to the altar and grabbing the Chalace from the Tabernacle and standing around the altar during the “Agnus Dei”.

Minor points:
EMHC. No “o”.

Chalace = Chalice = Sacred vessel that holds the Blood of Christ

Ciborium = Vessel that holds the Body.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

EHMCs are a travesty in the church.

Since you asked.

 

[daughteroftruth]

Woah!!

OK?

Emmm - i apologise if i put this in the wrong forum but i thought Traditional Catholics was in relation to catholics born into the faith and those who have a deep reverence to their faith??

As for the above quoted poster - i only asked a question and people were kind enough to answer my questions with good intentions and free will - something i treasure and respect.
I mean no ill will to anyone who is holy devouted to their faith and have lots of respect for them - but a question was asked and unuseful answers like the above dont really help people who are new to this faith - and it also shows why there is a big divide between very traditional catholics and others.

the trad forum is the best place to put any of your questions regarding the faith (as far as this site goes, anyway).

When asked to handle the Eucharist, you should humbly decline. John Paul II said that to handle the sacred vessels (which, as I’m sure we can all agree on, are less sacred than the *actual *Body of Christ) is a privilege (note: not right) of the ordained (note: not baptized Christian).

To handle the Holy Eucharist is an honor and should only be done in extreme circumstances, like protecting Him from abuse.

Keep studying and praying!:hug1: