Can women take the host for Adoration?

[nana3]

In our parish, we have Holy Hour every day from 9 am until 9 pm. After the 8:30 am Mass, the priest leaves and I have seen the women of the parish wear the white cope the priest wears when he handles the transfer of the Eucharist from the Tabernacle to the Monstrance. She goes to the Tabernacle and takes out the Host for the Monstrance and brings it into the little chapel we have in the church for Adoration. There is reverance. I don’t know if this is allowed? Our parish pastor is orthodox, but I don’t know anymore. I don’t understand why the priest can’t take a few minutes after Mass to do this, he does on the First Fridays and he is the one to carry Jesus to the Adoration Chapel.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Since women can be Eucharistic ministers, I don’t see a problem with them doing this. I’m not sure why they would wear a certain robe, though.

I don’t claim it is orthodox, just that I don’t find it a problem for my own sensibilities.

Alan

 

[Animadversor]

Is it actually a cope she is wearing, or just a humeral veil?

 

[nana3]

Is it actually a cope she is wearing, or just a humeral veil?

I am unsure of what either of these are. My husband told me it was a cope, but what they wear is like a white shaw that goes over their shoulder.

 

[Animadversor]

I am unsure of what either of these are. My husband told me it was a cope, but what they wear is like a white shaw that goes over their shoulder.

That was a humeral veil. Here’s a picture of a cope with a humeral veil:

http://www.strangfordlinenco.citymax.com/i/Copes/CopeHumeralVeil1.JPG.

It does seem a bit incongruous to see a woman in a humeral veil; it is, however, entirely appropriate to wear one when transferring the Sacred Species. I don’t know that the use of the humeral veil is limited by law or liturgical custom to clerics or instituted ministers, or if it is proscribed for women. Certainly the cope can be worn by more persons and in more circumstances than many might think. Perhaps there is someone expert in these matters who can answer the questions: Can a humeral veil be worn by a woman who is transferring the Blessed Sacrament? Is it allowed for a woman to transfer It?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In our parish, we have Holy Hour every day from 9 am until 9 pm. After the 8:30 am Mass, the priest leaves and I have seen the women of the parish wear the white cope the priest wears when he handles the transfer of the Eucharist from the Tabernacle to the Monstrance. She goes to the Tabernacle and takes out the Host for the Monstrance and brings it into the little chapel we have in the church for Adoration. There is reverance. I don’t know if this is allowed? Our parish pastor is orthodox, but I don’t know anymore. I don’t understand why the priest can’t take a few minutes after Mass to do this, he does on the First Fridays and he is the one to carry Jesus to the Adoration Chapel.

A Lay person can place the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for adoration and repose it to the tabernacle after. The key is: if a priest or deacon is not available. It seems that there is a priest available.

A Lay person should NEVER put on ANY priestly vestment!

 

[Animadversor]

A Lay person can place the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for adoration and repose it to the tabernacle after. The key is: if a priest or deacon is not available. It seems that there is a priest available.

A Lay person should NEVER put on ANY priestly vestment!

Copes and humeral veils are not priestly vestments, unlike, for example, chasubles or the stole when worn around the neck.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Copes and humeral veils are not priestly vestments, unlike, for example, chasubles or the stole when worn around the neck.

I do remember altar servers who were holding the Bishops crosier and miter at one Mass were wearing a humeral veils. So I agree that it at least would not be a priestly vestment.

 

[Animadversor]

I do remember altar servers who were holding the Bishops crosier and miter at one Mass were wearing a humeral veils. So I agree that it at least would not be a priestly vestment.

You were seeing a vimpa, or a humeral veil filling in for an unavailable vimpa. The rules and customs regarding the use of the cope and the humeral veil were obviously developed in contemplation of the liturgical offices as they existed before the recent reforms and innovations, and new rules and customs have not yet come into being. In the meantime, the only thing to do is to try to understand the principles behind these rules and customs and to apply these principles to the present situation. Obviously this leads sometimes to awkward situations such as a woman in a humeral veil, in which case a ruling ought to be made, I think, by the proper Roman authorities.

 

[vince2paul]

-Off topic-
I remember a close friend told me that when he was still an altar server, his friend touched the monstrance (with the host still in it) with his barehand. He fainted and an ambulance was called, he was brought to the hospital right away. That’s how powerful it is.

 

[HailMary]

Since women can be Eucharistic ministers

The term “Eucharistic ministers” is not to be applied to anyone but the preist. The Church uses the term “Holy Communion servers” so as to not confuse the role of the priest with anyone else.

 

[nana3]

The term “Eucharistic ministers” is not to be applied to anyone but the preist. The Church uses the term “Holy Communion servers” so as to not confuse the role of the priest with anyone else.

I must say that our parish and actually the entire Orlando Dioceses uses the term “Eucharistic Ministers.” I have never heard of Holy Communion servers. I am confused. Which is correct then?

 

[SeekerJen]

I must say that our parish and actually the entire Orlando Dioceses uses the term “Eucharistic Ministers.” I have never heard of Holy Communion servers. I am confused. Which is correct then?

Actually, I believe the correct term is Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

 

[HailMary]

I must say that our parish and actually the entire Orlando Dioceses uses the term “Eucharistic Ministers.” I have never heard of Holy Communion servers. I am confused. Which is correct then?

According to catholic-pages.com/mass/ministers.asp

“To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:
extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;
association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;
the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of “a great number of the faithful”.”

 

[nana3]

According to catholic-pages.com/mass/ministers.asp

“To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:
extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;
association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;
the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of “a great number of the faithful”.”

Thanks for the information. Our dioceses was very liberal for many years and many of the parishes still are. The new Bishop has been slowly trying to get us back to what the Church really teaches, thank God. But we have many who oppose him. We don’t call the priest, a priest in some parishes, but a presider of the Mass is what they call him or have on the Bulletin of the church.

About 10 years ago, I joined a group that was being taught on the Teachings of the Church from the Loyola Univerisity. I found out in the first meeting that they are for women priest and didn’t believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and were obviously not in union with the Pope. I withdrew from the class immediately. This is what our diocese is like in some parishes.