Can any Catholic in Graces of the Church distribute the Eurcharist at mass?

[reyesrod3434]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

 

[FAB]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

Only if asked by priest, not an EMHC.

 

[benedictgal]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

To second what FAB stated (FAB, I am hoping we get a monsoon down here), this is what Redemptionis Sacramentum states:

1. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
   [154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.254 Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,255 to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.

[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,256 for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.257

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

[157.] If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons.258

[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.259 This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

[159.] It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.

I hope this helps.

 

[reyesrod3434]

First thank you for your reply. But, where does it say that teaching? I need to be able to provide truth to this.

 

[benedictgal]

First thank you for your reply. But, where does it say that teaching? I need to be able to provide truth to this.

The Catechism, by virtue of its nature, is a teaching document and not a legislative one. Redemptionis Sacramentum is an authoritative document of the Church, promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. What I highlighted in bold red letters is what the liturgical legislation says. This is binding, since the document was promulgated by Blessed Pope John Paul II.

 

[ibo]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

Yes.

 

[benedictgal]

Yes.

No. An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion cannot ask someone from the pews to distribute. Please see the reference that I posted from Redemptionis Sacramentum, which is has the force of universal law since the document comes directly from the Holy See.

 

[Defender1]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

I speak from experience , I am a lay catholic and for a couple of years along with other extraordinary Eucharistic ministers of communion would assist the priest at administering communion to the congregation(there is around 10,000 in our church) WE also have a ministry of lay Catholics that visit the sick and shutins . WE give people communion at home as well (to those who cannot make mass)

 

[benedictgal]

I speak from experience , I am a lay catholic and for a couple of years along with other extraordinary Eucharistic ministers of communion would assist the priest at administering communion to the congregation(there is around 10,000 in our church) WE also have a ministry of lay Catholics that visit the sick and shutins . WE give people communion at home as well (to those who cannot make mass)

It’s not a question as to whether or not the OP can serve; it’s who is doing the asking that can be problematic. An EMHC cannot recruit someone from out of the pews to help out during Mass; that request must come from the priest.

 

[reyesrod3434]

To second what FAB stated (FAB, I am hoping we get a monsoon down here), this is what Redemptionis Sacramentum states:

I hope this helps.

Very much so.

 

[reyesrod3434]

It’s not a question as to whether or not the OP can serve; it’s who is doing the asking that can be problematic. An EMHC cannot recruit someone from out of the pews to help out during Mass; that request must come from the priest.

Yes the question is in regards as to who asked. But it is my understanding that if a priest asked. It would be ok. This was for a traditional mass of about 100plus people with the priest and about 3 other ministers, besides me, who were distributing. (I am guessing that more were asked others too), since it did seems as if they didn’t have the usual 6 or so ministers, they asked me and others so that things would flow as normal. They gave a crash course just before mass and I distributed right next to the priest that day, (who, incedently was a substitute to the main priest, who had just left on travel. I didn’t question then since I didn’t know and felt I was helping where I was asked to help. What happened to the people who received communion from me? Was it not a valid communion? Do I need to go to confession? How should I bring this up to my priest?

 

[TrueLight]

Yes the question is in regards as to who asked. But it is my understanding that if a priest asked. It would be ok. This was for a traditional mass of about 100plus people with the priest and about 3 other ministers, besides me, who were distributing. (I am guessing that more were asked others too), since it did seems as if they didn’t have the usual 6 or so ministers, they asked me and others so that things would flow as normal. They gave a crash course just before mass and I distributed right next to the priest that day, (who, incedently was a substitute to the main priest, who had just left on travel. I didn’t question then since I didn’t know and felt I was helping where I was asked to help. What happened to the people who received communion from me? Was it not a valid communion? Do I need to go to confession? How should I bring this up to my priest?

100 people at a traditional parish? I’m
Not even sure why EMHCs were needed.

 

[Love_Divine]

100 people at a traditional parish? I’m
Not even sure why EMHCs were needed.

Aye. I’m pretty sure there’s more than that at the TLM I was attending. The priest alone got through communion just fine.

I think society has just become too impatient and can’t stand waiting for anything. A few weeks ago someone asked me to stop what I was doing at work and open another till because she couldn’t wait for the ONE person in line.

 

[thistle]

100 people at a traditional parish? I’m
Not even sure why EMHCs were needed.

I agree. 100 people can easily be covered by one priest only.

In my parish Church we have a parish of 14,000 people with 80% Mass attendence. To accomodate everyone we have 10 Masses every Sunday so we need EMHC’s to help distribute but never have any non-EMHC’s been asked to distribute.

 

[benedictgal]

Yes the question is in regards as to who asked. But it is my understanding that if a priest asked. It would be ok. This was for a traditional mass of about 100plus people with the priest and about 3 other ministers, besides me, who were distributing. (I am guessing that more were asked others too), since it did seems as if they didn’t have the usual 6 or so ministers, they asked me and others so that things would flow as normal. They gave a crash course just before mass and I distributed right next to the priest that day, (who, incedently was a substitute to the main priest, who had just left on travel. I didn’t question then since I didn’t know and felt I was helping where I was asked to help. What happened to the people who received communion from me? Was it not a valid communion? Do I need to go to confession? How should I bring this up to my priest?

If you were called to assist at a Mass in the Extrarordinary Form (sometimes called the Traditional Latin Mass), then, this was ilicit. The Extraordinary Form is governed by the rubrics of the 1962 Missal and thus does not allow for the laity to assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion.

 

[puzzleannie]

I Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

it is the priest who delegates this and who prepares, or oversees the preparation, of those serving in this minstry. Yes in general any adult Catholic who is confirmed and living in harmony with Catholic teaching, including that on marriage, who is capable of performing the duties can be commissioned in service of the liturgy in roles appropriate to their lay state. the source for the discipline has been given above

 

[TheMc]

I was wondering that if I were asked to distribute communion on Sunday mass. Would that be against any of the Church doctrine teaching? Can any one practicing Catholic distribute the Eucharist if asked by a layperson who is a Eucharistic Monister?

No. There is no such thing as a Eucharistic Minister who also is a layperson. The only Eucharistic Ministers are priests.

 

[FAB]

No. There is no such thing as a Eucharistic Minister who also is a layperson. The only Eucharistic Ministers are priests.

There are Ordinary Ministers of Communion: Priest and Deacons, (bishops but they were the other two first)

 

[TheMc]

There are Ordinary Ministers of Communion: Priest and Deacons, (bishops but they were the other two first)

Doh! You’re right. I guess I intended to say “Ordinary Ministers.”

 

[Defender1]

It’s not a question as to whether or not the OP can serve; it’s who is doing the asking that can be problematic. An EMHC cannot recruit someone from out of the pews to help out during Mass; that request must come from the priest.

You mean the approval of course must come from the priest