Deacons at Mass

[tgrrgt]

Are Deacons suposed to “take” communiun from the Holy Vessels as the Priest does himself or is he to receive them from the Priest?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

The deacon is to receive communion, not to take it.

Deacon Ed

 

[Cluny]

This applies to EMHCs as well.

 

[tgrrgt]

The deacon is to receive communion, not to take it.

Deacon Ed

The Priest holds the ciborium and the Deacon takes from it and then takes the chalice from the altar, I have brought this up with both our Priest and Deacon. The Priest agrees but lets it go. I have even showed the Deacon guide lines that he is to receive just as the rest of the faithful but he “boldly” says he can do as he is doing.

Should I pursue the subject further? Your thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks

 

[benedictgal]

Perhaps Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect Emeritus for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said it best when he noted back in 2003 that:

Because the nature of the Holy Eucharist is such that the person who is not a priest celebrating the Mass must be given the Body of Christ. You say “amen”. And you receive, on the tongue or in the hand. If you are not the priests celebrating Mass – if you are the deacon assisting – you must be given [Communion]. You may not take.

Even if you are bishop or cardinal, and you are not celebrating that Mass, you must be given. You must not take.

For example, if you watch us in Rome in St. Peter’s basilica or square, when the pope is saying a major Mass, there may be 40 cardinals, 100 bishops. When we are not concelebrating – we are wearing red vestments but we are not concelebrating – we are just assisting at Mass as all of you who are baptized. When it is time for Communion, we receive, exactly as everybody else. A deacon comes to us and says “the Body of Christ”. I say “amen”. He gives to me, and the same for all.

None of us is allowed to take. We must be given. This is the Church law. It is not to lower anybody, it is just the nature of the sacrament. Even when Christ multiplied bread and fish, He told the apostles to distribute it. It was a sign.

So the Church that regulates Eucharistic practice says that the holy Body and Blood of Christ will be given us. We will not take. Only the celebrating priests or the concelebrating communicate themselves. Everybody else must be given it, even if that person is a bishop or a priest.

While this is not a Church document and the Cardinal was speaking in his capacity as Prefect, it does stand to reason that only the celebrant consumes the Sacred Species. Everyone else must receive. Here is what the GIRM notes in the section on Masses with a Deacon:

1. **After the priest’s Communion, the deacon receives Communion under both kinds from the priest himself **and then assists the priest in distributing Communion to the people. If Communion is given under both kinds, the deacon himself administers the chalice to the communicants; and, when the distribution is completed, he immediately and reverently consumes at the altar all of the Blood of Christ that remains, assisted if necessary by other deacons and priests

Thus, he receives, he does not take.

 

[Cluny]

**The Priest holds the ciborium and the Deacon takes from it and then takes the chalice from the altar, I have brought this up with both our Priest and Deacon. The Priest agrees but lets it go. I have even showed the Deacon guide lines that he is to receive just as the rest of the faithful but he “boldly” says he can do as he is doing.

Should I pursue the subject further? Your thoughts/suggestions?**

There’s a saying.

You can always tell the Deacon–but you can’t tell him much.

You’re in no position to enforce the rules.

Let it go.

 

[benedictgal]

**The Priest holds the ciborium and the Deacon takes from it and then takes the chalice from the altar, I have brought this up with both our Priest and Deacon. The Priest agrees but lets it go. I have even showed the Deacon guide lines that he is to receive just as the rest of the faithful but he “boldly” says he can do as he is doing.

Should I pursue the subject further? Your thoughts/suggestions?**

There’s a saying.

You can always tell the Deacon–but you can’t tell him much.

You’re in no position to enforce the rules.

Let it go.

While the OP may not be in a position to “enforce the rules”, he certainly can and should say something. Redemptionis Sacramentum notes that:

1. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters
   [183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favoritism.

[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, **has the right to lodge a complaint **regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.290 It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.

Of course, the pastor should first be approached, and then, if nothing happens, you follow the chain of command.

 

[plato3]

I have the same problem with visiting priests from foreign countries. They have not keep up with the guide and many have not celebrated Mass with permanent deacons.