Communion Protocol

[xyneshia]

Hello,

I have a question about taking communion. If a person cannot/does not speak what should he or she do when (s)he is suppsoed to say “Amen”? Is there a specific protocol? Priests have been almost denying a family member communion several times this summer as we are away from our home church where everyone knows that this person doesn’t verbally communicate and I am not sure what to do. His little feelings are being really hurt, he used to look forward to church and to taking Communion. Thank you in advance for your replies!

Xyneshia

 

[roadsend]

Find a TLM if possible. Those receiving Communion do not say Amen before receiving.

 

[xyneshia]

Good idea, the TLM, I think Holy Rosary PDX does one. How is it done at a TLM? If anyone knows about the Mass in the Vernacular that would still be great. Thank you for the suggestion roadsend!

 

[MarkThompson]

That’s unfortunate, although I can see how confusion could arise, since some people, even people who aren’t Catholic, might approach just to receive a blessing. Without know the specifics of your family member’s limitations, it’s tough to say exactly what would be the best course. If for some reason I’d lost my voice one Sunday, I suppose in response to “The Body of Christ” I’d nod yes, mouth the word “Amen,” and gesture briefly toward my throat to signal that I was having difficult speaking. Not all that different, really, from what I do at a restaurant when the waiter stops by to ask if I’m pleased with everything right after I’ve just taken a big bite.

 

[curlycool89]

Hello,

I have a question about taking communion. If a person cannot/does not speak what should he or she do when (s)he is suppsoed to say “Amen”? Is there a specific protocol? Priests have been almost denying a family member communion several times this summer as we are away from our home church where everyone knows that this person doesn’t verbally communicate and I am not sure what to do. His little feelings are being really hurt, he used to look forward to church and to taking Communion. Thank you in advance for your replies!

Xyneshia

I don’t think they should be denied communion for not saying the Amen. The Amen said after “the Body of Christ” is a personal profession that they believe that they are in fact receiving Jesus. It is not a public profession, and although the norm would be to verbally say Amen, some people may feel more comfortable saying it in their heart. Some may not be able to say it at all.

When I got trained as an EMHC, we were told not to worry about people saying Amen.

 

[choy]

I don’t think they should be denied communion for not saying the Amen. The Amen said after “the Body of Christ” is a personal profession that they believe that they are in fact receiving Jesus. It is not a public profession, and although the norm would be to verbally say Amen, some people may feel more comfortable saying it in their heart. Some may not be able to say it at all.

When I got trained as an EMHC, we were told not to worry about people saying Amen.

our pastor told us that he cannot give Communion if the Communicant doesn’t say Amen. can’t find it in the Church documents though, but i would trust him on that

i guess for those unable to speak, perhaps there’s a suitable sign language?

 

[Melchior_1]

Hello,

I have a question about taking communion. If a person cannot/does not speak what should he or she do when (s)he is suppsoed to say “Amen”? Is there a specific protocol? Priests have been almost denying a family member communion several times this summer as we are away from our home church where everyone knows that this person doesn’t verbally communicate and I am not sure what to do. His little feelings are being really hurt, he used to look forward to church and to taking Communion. Thank you in advance for your replies!

Xyneshia

There’s a girl who comes to my Church who is unable to receive the Body of Christ due to the ingredients found within the Host (severe allergies). This wouldn’t be an issue, but we often have guest Priests who come for the Mass who don’t know this.

Solution; the guest Priest is informed ahead of time and she receives the Blood instead.

So what may work is you can tell the Priest ahead of time before Mass and give them the low-down. I’m certain, if they knew ahead of time, they would totally understand.

 

[curlycool89]

our pastor told us that he cannot give Communion if the Communicant doesn’t say Amen. can’t find it in the Church documents though, but i would trust him on that

i guess for those unable to speak, perhaps there’s a suitable sign language?

I would ask him (if you are willing) what he has to justify not giving communion to those who don’t say Amen. Like I said (and I heard this from a canonist), the Amen is a personal profession, not a public one (the way he explained it to us is that there was a parish that would give everyone communion, then the priest would say “body of Christ” and they would all respond “Amen” and consume. Each Amen should be an individual profession of their belief). Unless I’m mistaken and someone can find something to say otherwise (while not saying that the norm should be a vocal Amen), it should be up to each communicant to decide how to make that personal response.

An obvious case is in the case of COTT. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is no Amen response (because they’re mouth is open and their tongue is out). If the priest was enforcing it, he would be denying COTT, which others will point out in a heart beat he is not allowed to do.

 

[twopekinguys]

I don’t think they should be denied communion for not saying the Amen. The Amen said after “the Body of Christ” is a personal profession that they believe that they are in fact receiving Jesus. It is not a public profession, and although the norm would be to verbally say Amen, some people may feel more comfortable saying it in their heart. Some may not be able to say it at all.

When I got trained as an EMHC, we were told not to worry about people saying Amen.

This is from the GIRM(bolding mine)

161. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes it entirely.

I would double check with whomever trained you as an EMHC to see if they know this is in the rubrics.

 

[choy]

I would ask him (if you are willing) what he has to justify not giving communion to those who don’t say Amen. Like I said (and I heard this from a canonist), the Amen is a personal profession, not a public one (the way he explained it to us is that there was a parish that would give everyone communion, then the priest would say “body of Christ” and they would all respond “Amen” and consume. Each Amen should be an individual profession of their belief). Unless I’m mistaken and someone can find something to say otherwise (while not saying that the norm should be a vocal Amen), it should be up to each communicant to decide how to make that personal response.

An obvious case is in the case of COTT. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is no Amen response (because they’re mouth is open and their tongue is out). If the priest was enforcing it, he would be denying COTT, which others will point out in a heart beat he is not allowed to do.

he did justify it and why its important
i’m trying to find a document to support it but can’t find one yet.

 

[curlycool89]

This is from the GIRM(bolding mine)

161. If Communion is given only under the species of bread, the priest raises the host slightly and shows it to each, saying, Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). The communicant replies, Amen, and receives the Sacrament either on the tongue or, where this is allowed and if the communicant so chooses, in the hand. As soon as the communicant receives the host, he or she consumes it entirely.

I would double check with whomever trained you as an EMHC to see if they know this is in the rubrics.

I would love to see the training people get on forcing people who forget or don’t know to say it

Like you can’t exactly hold up the line and embarrass them. That’s not really fair. Besides, an EMHC’s job isn’t to enforce rubrics.

 

[twopekinguys]

I would love to see the training people get on forcing people who forget or don’t know to say it

Like you can’t exactly hold up the line and embarrass them. That’s not really fair. Besides, an EMHC’s job isn’t to enforce rubrics.

In our parish, EMHC’s do not refuse communion to anyone, and I don’t recall anyone mentioning that they should.

A priest however can, and I have seen it done. Which it should be.

Also, the quote from the GIRM that I supplied, does contradict your earlier post about it not being required. It appears the canonist that told you otherwise is not familiar with the GIRM.

 

[curlycool89]

In our parish, EMHC’s do not refuse communion to anyone, and I don’t recall anyone mentioning that they should.

A priest however can, and I have seen it done. Which it should be.

Also, the quote from the GIRM that I supplied, does contradict your earlier post about it not being required. It appears the canonist that told you otherwise is not familiar with the GIRM.

Different person than the one who did the training actually.

Can you now point out where it says that the Eucharist should be denied to those who don’t say Amen?

 

[twopekinguys]

Different person than the one who did the training actually.

Can you now point out where it says that the Eucharist should be denied to those who don’t say Amen?

Since the rubric says the communicant is to respond with “Amen”, it would stand to reason that if they don’t, then they are not complying with the GIRM, and therefore not eligible to receive.

It is simple logic.

Now, in cases of those that are not physically able to communicate the word “Amen”, there are other indications that can be used.

For example, we have a teenager in our parish that has Cerebral Palsey, and is unable to communicate verbally. He and his family met with our Pastor, and our Bishop to discuss the situation, and were able to determine that even though he is unable to verbalize the word “Amen”, he is concisious of what is happening, and has the intent to communicate.

 

[Phemie]

This brings to mind a ‘diplomatic incident’ at the nearby mission last Christmas. The visiting priest said ‘Body of Christ’ to an elder of the aboriginal community. She doesn’t speak or understand English and this is usually said in their language so she didn’t respond with equivalent to Amen in her own tongue. The young priest refused her Communion. He had refused to learn “Body of Christ” and “Blood of Christ” in the language of that community, in spite of the fact that he speaks 5 languages and that he himself was brought to Canada from Poland to minister to members of the local Polish community in their own language.

Within an hour all h**l broke loose – angry faxes were sent and calls to the Bishop were made by the local community leaders. Young priest was told not to return to the community unless accompanied by the pastor and there was some major fence-mending to be done.

 

[Joannm]

I get all kinds of responses when distributing communion; “thank you,” "yes, “I do,” even sometimes repeating “the Body of CHrist.” We were taught to never refuse but to just say Amen before giving them the host, as a reminder of what they are to say.

Our catechumen last year at the Easter Vigil, even though she went through two years of RCIA and we rehearsed receiving communion and explained the Amen response on several occasions, was so nervous that she forgot what she had to say or do. She was going to receive in the hand and put them out, but last second decided to receive on the tongue and forgot to say Amen. The pastor was confused as well. Now, three months later, she has it down pat. Should we have refused her on the day of her entrance to the CHurch since she forgot the Amen. I don’t think so.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

When I had laryngitis I moved my lips to say “amen” even though no sound came out. No problem.

 

[roadsend]

Good idea, the TLM, I think Holy Rosary PDX does one. How is it done at a TLM? If anyone knows about the Mass in the Vernacular that would still be great. Thank you for the suggestion roadsend!

In Ptld St Birgitta’s on Highway 30 has a Sunday TLM scheduled, but I am not 100% sure it is actually happening.
Our Lady of Fatima (SSPX) in Garden Home (SE Ptld) has two scheduled TLM.
Communicants receive at the Communion rail on the tongue in both churches.

 

[CDNowak]

Since the rubric says the communicant is to respond with “Amen”, it would stand to reason that if they don’t, then they are not complying with the GIRM, and therefore not eligible to receive.

It is simple logic.

The problem with this simple logic is that it misses Canon Law on the subject:
Canon 912:

Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.

The OP('s family) should make an appointment to meet with the pastor to explain the situation, there really shouldn’t be any fuss beyond that (if there is then you go up the chain of command).

 

[twopekinguys]

The problem with this simple logic is that it misses Canon Law on the subject:
The OP('s family) should make an appointment to meet with the pastor to explain the situation, there really shouldn’t be any fuss beyond that (if there is then you go up the chain of command).

In actuality, we are dealing with two separate issues here.

1. An able bodied person who can say or communicate “Amen.”, and doesn’t.
2. An individual who for whatever reason cannot.

With regard to #2, please see post #14.

With regard to #1, I support the celebrants position in not administering Holy Communion to someone who does not know, or will not provide the proper response according to the Rubrics.