Can an EMHC, struggling with his faith, continue to volunteer?

[PJM]

Then how did God and Satan get together and make bets about how Job would react if God let Satan torture Job and kill his children?

Excellent point my friend.

First the story of Job is a Fable with a Moral teaching; still your question IS a good one.

I should have used more precise language. I was speaking of His Eternal Presence; not His earthly one. …my OOPS!

Thanks for pointing it out.

God Bless you,
Patrick

 

[Brendan_64]

I was always taught by our priests and bishops over the years that it’s at very least “bad form” to serve as an EMHC if you aren’t receiving yourself. It really doesn’t make sense.

Why is it considered “bad form”? If a EMHC considers himself unworthy of receiving and has the humility to show this publicly on the sanctuary rather than offend Our Lord, is this not an expression of love for Our Lord?

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

@Brendan_64
Because there’s an important principle at play here, namely:

It’s a basic principle that a non-communicant can’t give Communion. Even the priest receives before he gives; and priests must receive in order to say Mass. The old saying was, “Nemo dat quod non habet.” “No one can give what he does not have.”

 

[Brendan_64]

I can get that to a point, but in strictly (as opposed to a strong recommendation) of having the same requirement of EMHCs as you would of the priest celebrating the Mass does this not run the danger of elevating the role and importance of EMHCs above them being ordinary laypeople effectively helping out the priest (reverently of course) with distribution of Communion at busy times?

There would seem to me to be nothing theological or essential to the Liturgy that would absolutely insist on this, although I can see how it ought to be strongly recommended.

 

[TheOldColonel]

The challenge has always been to recognize Christ in the Sacrament while not failing to recognize him in the one standing before you.