Bringing Hosts from Tabernacle

[CharlesJ1952]

Hi,
At our church we have the tabernacle over on the side wall in a reservation chapel, so at Communion time, one of the Eucharistic Ministers goes to the tabernacle and brings a ciborium of hosts to the altar.

The new GIRM calls for only consecrating enough hosts for each individual Mass but in practicality when there are crowds of 600-800 people at Mass, that’s pretty hard to do. So we bring the hosts from the tabernacle for extras to use at each Mass and after Communion, the extras are returned to the tabernacle.

My question concerns the “bringing of those hosts over from the tabernacle.” We have been recently told that we Eucharistic Ministers should take the hosts each way in a low-key manner, not in a procession, because the emphasis is on the just consecrated hosts on the altar and that we don’t want to give the impression that as we bring the hosts over to the altar and return them, that “Jesus is entering the sanctuary and then again leaving the sanctuary - the emphasis is to be the Christ within us and our community.”

I have trouble reconciling this whole idea - I believe that the True Presence in the Eucharist should be respected, wherever it is, be it on the altar or in the hosts that we bring from the tabernacle. I carry the ciborium at about shoulder level, as do most of us EM’s. My thought is that we should carry it at at least the same height as the Book of the Gospels, which we are instructed to do when we carry it into the Church at the beginning of Mass, as it contains the Word and therefore God’s presence.

Can you help me sort this out and give me some direction?
Thank you.

 

[tru_dvotion]

I carry the ciborium at about shoulder level, as do most of us EM’s. My thought is that we should carry it at at least the same height as the Book of the Gospels, which we are instructed to do when we carry it into the Church at the beginning of Mass, as it contains the Word and therefore God’s presence.

No way! For the simple reason, it is not the safest way to transport it. I grasp it tight with one hand on the stem and one encircling the dish. I carry it close to my body, right about the chest area. This way, if I trip or fall, at least I have a chance NOT to spill the precious contents of the ciborium. Besides what you describe sounds a bit theatrical to me.

 

[JimG]

That’s right. In this case the object is simply to get the ciborium safely from the tabernacle to the altar, for distribution of communion.

If the priest were reposing the ciborium in the Holy Thursday procession, more ceremony would be required.

 

[moira]

CharlesJ1952:

Hi,

we Eucharistic Ministers

.

Not to sound picky, but the term is extraordinary minister of Holy Communion not Eucharistic minister.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CharlesJ1952:

Hi,
At our church we have the tabernacle over on the side wall in a reservation chapel, so at Communion time, one of the Eucharistic Ministers goes to the tabernacle and brings a ciborium of hosts to the altar.

The new GIRM calls for only consecrating enough hosts for each individual Mass but in practicality when there are crowds of 600-800 people at Mass, that’s pretty hard to do. So we bring the hosts from the tabernacle for extras to use at each Mass and after Communion, the extras are returned to the tabernacle.

My question concerns the “bringing of those hosts over from the tabernacle.” We have been recently told that we Eucharistic Ministers should take the hosts each way in a low-key manner, not in a procession, because the emphasis is on the just consecrated hosts on the altar and that we don’t want to give the impression that as we bring the hosts over to the altar and return them, that “Jesus is entering the sanctuary and then again leaving the sanctuary - the emphasis is to be the Christ within us and our community.”

I have trouble reconciling this whole idea - I believe that the True Presence in the Eucharist should be respected, wherever it is, be it on the altar or in the hosts that we bring from the tabernacle. I carry the ciborium at about shoulder level, as do most of us EM’s. My thought is that we should carry it at at least the same height as the Book of the Gospels, which we are instructed to do when we carry it into the Church at the beginning of Mass, as it contains the Word and therefore God’s presence.

Can you help me sort this out and give me some direction?
Thank you.

That would not be correct . This is not a Eucharistic procession. Carry the ciborum in a reverent manner without elevating it. By the way only the priest or deacon should be going over to the tabernacle, EMHC should no longer do this.

 

[Hudsonite]

As a sacristan, I would bring the most Blessed Sacrament to the Altar and return Him after Communion to the Tabernacle. I held on to the ciborium with two hands and clutched it as close to my heart as I could. There are some who know who you have and they will generally kneel until you have passed by.

As far as having enough hosts for each Mass. We have anywhere from 500-900 at each Mass. At the start of Mass I would stand in the back and count heads. It didn’t take very long , by the time of the 2nd reading I was done. Before Mass I would place 300 in the bowl and make stacks 20’s to add to the 300 later . After my count I would go into the Sacristy and place the proper amount plus 50 in the bowl. The only time I would bring the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle was when the Mass prior to mine had a full ciborium left over. What ever is left is consumed at daily Mass.

 

[Hudsonite]

Br. Rich SFO:

By the way only the priest or deacon should be going over to the tabernacle, EMHC should no longer do this.

My understanding is that the Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion or Sacristans can go if and when needed or like in our Parish, the Tabernacle is in the CHapel at the front of the Church and if Father was to , it would take way too long for him to go back and forth.

 

[tru_dvotion]

By the way only the priest or deacon should be going over to the tabernacle, EMHC should no longer do this.

Is this correct? Was this included in Redemptoris Sacramentum? I red it but it must have escaped me… This is only required during Easter and Christmas at our parish, when we have to move into the parish hall to accommodate the large crowds. Our Tabernacle is in the same place it has been for the last 50 years, thank God! But I would like to know if it is a liturgical abuse for the extraordinary minister to transport the ciborium. Anyone in the know? Anyone with a source or web address about this?

 

[stbruno]

At our parish with the new GIRM, no longer are Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist carrying Communion from the tabernacle to the altar for distribution. The deacon or the priest transfers all Eucharist from the Tabernacle. After it is distributed any unused Blessed Sacrament may be replaced in the tabernacle by the extraordinary ministers. Also any vessels to be purified are placed on the altar for either the deacon or priest to purify them.

 

[stbruno]

In addition, when the Holy Eucharist is distributed in 2 species, both Body and Blood, the wine must be fractionalized by either the priest or the deacon into separate vessels before it is consecrated to avoid any possible spillage of the Sacred blood after consecration.