Confused about the use of Lay Eucharistic Ministers

[Redlady]

Since I am still a relatively new convert, I admittedly have a lot to learn. However, I do have one question. In the Catholic Church I attend, the lay people pass out BOTH the body and the blood of Our Lord during Eucharist. The priest consecrates, but after that, he just stands there behind the altar and watches while the lay Eucharistic ministers actually hand the wafer to the lay people as they process up to the front of the church. Since in this parish, they commune in both kinds, they also use lay Eucharistic ministers to pass the Cup. Is this in accordance with guidelines?

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Nope.

Anna

 

[tee_eff_em]

Anna Elizabeth:

Nope.

Anna

More specifically:

[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.

Redemptionis Sacramentum
April 23, 2004​

(Unless the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, as noted in paragraph 158 of the same document)

tee

 

[amantoan]

No. The priest should always participate unless he physically cannot. From the EWTN web site:

“Bishops, priests and deacons are the only ordinary ministers of the Eucharist and, unless impaired by a grave reason such as a serious health problem, they should always give out communion at Mass before any supplementary ministers are used. Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are just that, extraordinary, and their function remains a supplementary one. If the celebrant can easily distribute Communion to all without causing excessive delay, then extraordinary ministers should not be used.”

The whole thing is here: http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zliturg5.htm

 

[Kielbasi]

How communion is given in the Catholic church varies quite widely from parish to parish, from diocese to diocese.

It would probably be for the best if that wasn’t the case, and maybe when the bishops and pope have some time they’ll iron out some of the irregularities which exist with a more clear instruction on procedures.

No. The priest should always participate unless he physically cannot. From the EWTN web site:

"Bishops, priests and deacons are the only ordinary ministers of the Eucharist and, unless impaired by a grave reason such as a serious health problem, they should always give out communion at Mass before any supplementary ministers are used.

Should isn’t the same as must , and basically leaves the whole matter of priestly participation in communion distribution up to his discretion.

I’d say its still within the guidelines, its certainly within the guideline of currently accepted practice in many places.
.

 

[marty1818]

Redlady:

The priest consecrates, but after that, he just stands there behind the altar and watches while the lay Eucharistic ministers actually hand the wafer to the lay people as they process up to the front of the church.

Before the consecration the bread can be called a wafer, however, after consecration the bread has become Jesus. We should talk about these issues using appropriate terminology.

matt

 

[Cockney_Clive]

Kielbasi:

How communion is given in the Catholic church varies quite widely from parish to parish, from diocese to diocese.

It would probably be for the best if that wasn’t the case, and maybe when the bishops and pope have some time they’ll iron out some of the irregularities which exist with a more clear instruction on procedures.

Should isn’t the same as must , and basically leaves the whole matter of priestly participation in communion distribution up to his discretion.

I’d say its still within the guidelines, its certainly within the guideline of currently accepted practice in many places.
.

I am afraid that I cannot agree. Just because practice differs parish to parish doesn’t mean it should. Most definitely it should not as the writings of Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict on this matter over the past several years demonstrate. It is not a matter for the discretion of the Priest. The should in the sentence quoted by Kielbasi is exactly that. A command.

And could we use the correct terms. The ONLY Eucharistic minister is the Ordained Priest. Occasionally, as circumstance dictates, the Priest may avail himself of the services of **Extraordinary ** Eucharistic Ministers. However, their services should be very restricted and ought never to be relied on routinely.

 

[Exporter]

Just before the Cannon of the Mass the priest says,“Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas:…”. The washing of the fingers is done at this time. The priest distributes the Hosts.

Have any of you ever seen the lay people wash their fingers? No, I didn’t think so. Do you want to take the Eucharist from an unwashed hand?