Communion by the Priest

[rsagebrush]

The Priest in my mother’s parish takes communion after everyone else has recieved. Is this valid? It is certainly out of the ordinary from my experience.

 

[msproule]

Your concern is justified. This practice is not allowed.

According to Redemptionis Sacramentum:

** 3. The Communion of Priests

97.** A Priest must communicate at the altar at the moment laid
down by the Missal each time he celebrates Holy Mass, and the
concelebrants must communicate before they proceed with the
distribution of Holy Communion. The Priest celebrant or a
concelebrant is never to wait until the people’s Communion is
concluded before receiving Communion himself.

 

[kmktexas]

Valid but illicit would be my guess. Here is the relevant section of the GIRM

1. While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants’ union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart, and to highlight more clearly the “communitarian” nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful.74 If, however, there is to be a hymn after Communion, the Communion chant should be ended in a timely manner.

This would seem clear that the priest starts his reception, THEN the Communion chant begins, THEN the faithful receive.

 

[rsagebrush]

So it is illicit but valid. Should I recieve communion in this church?

Please explain ‘Illicit’ in contrast with invalid. Should I inform the Priest in writing concerning this issue. Why would he insist on doing it this way?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

rsagebrush:

So it is illicit but valid. Should I recieve communion in this church?

Please explain ‘Illicit’ in contrast with invalid. Should I inform the Priest in writing concerning this issue. Why would he insist on doing it this way?

Illicit is valid but wrong, Invalid means null or void, not having the intended effect.

Yes, you can receive Holy Communion in this church. Yes, inform the priest that you find this confusing. See what his response is. Then consider writing the Bishop if his response is to not comply with the norms.