Do you avoid female Extraordinary Ministers Of the Holy Eucharist?

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jlw:
Protestants, essentially, believe that the apostolic succession, the direct line back to Peter is unnecessary, no?? And therefore, it would follow that a CATHOLIC priest is unnecessary, right?? When the emc’s are doing what the priest is doing, it lessens his importance, no??
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No more than the Blessed Virgin’s intercession detracts from her son’s role as our intercessor with the Father.

Irony: Someone decrying the alleged “protestantization” of the Church using a Protestant argument.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
**Our new church seats 1500 people…We have almost three-thousand families…So…Yes…we DO need Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at our Masses. **
**I am almost never in the priest’s line, because I am with the music people…But, it doesn’t matter to me. I know I am receiving Jesus…no matter who is serving. **
**I do not believe that women EM’s aspire to be anything other than what they are…women who are privileged to serve in this way. They do not see themselves as preist wannabee’s or anything else. **
**I serve as an EM whenever I can, because I love to do so, not because I think I look like a priest or want to be a priest. **
**One of the things that impressed me when I first attended a very large Catholic church near here (it was about twenty years ago, but I still remember it!) was seeing the people come forward from all over the church to serve as Extradordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The sight gave me chills…It was, if you will, a sort of “calling forth”. **
**Although I do think the ideal l would be to have only a priest and/or deacon distributing, I am still deeply moved when I see my fellow Christians come forward to serve in this special way. **
**I have only “jumped” line once…And that was because I wanted the priest to give my grandson a blessing. **
 
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bones_IV:
We catholics have the real presence, you don’t. The real presence is in the church and only in the Catholic church. Let me ask you this. If you believe in the real presence then why do you have women as ministers? If you believe in the real presence, then why don’t you accept the authority of the Pope? While you say you believe in the real presence it’s not the same as the Holy Roman Church. That’s why I say that the Eucharist you have is not the real presence. The Anglican Church lost its apostolic authority when they broke up with Rome.
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You apparently did not even read my post. I am a former Anglican who is now a Roman Catholic in union with the Holy Father.

Further more, I never said Anglicans had a valid Eucharist. I said ** they ** believe that they do.
 
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bluerose:
I applaud your courage in even bringing up such a potentially volatile subject.

But I, and my entire family, do the same.

Why? Well, because we have yet to see a female (or male, for that matter) extraordinary minister of the Eucharist (yeeks, I used the word extraordinary! slap hand Bad girl!) who is actually necessary.

Come on… less than two hundred people in the church, maybe two-thirds receive communion and they never needed more than the priest and the deacon to distribute communion BEFORE women were allowed to do so. Now they need SIX extraordinary ministers (5 women, 1 man)? And our parish never offered communion under both species UNTIL female extraordinary ministers were permitted. It was as if they were creating a need for these women to fulfill.

At one time, the women all wore robes similar to what the priest was wearing. The lone man who served as EME did not. What gives? What were they trying to say with that?

And why don’t ALL extraordinary ministers, male and female, dress as if they really believe they are touching the Body and Blood of Christ? Sloppy jeans, mini skirts (on the women, of course!), T-shirts with writing on them (good ol’ Nike logo is the favorite, followed by NFL teams)… shouldn’t there be a dress code for ministers?

Maybe I’ve been tainted by negative images–female EMs who practically elbow the priest aside when their lines are finished so as to continue distributing, seeing them bustling about behind the altar and practically taking things out of the priest’s hands, and mostly, it’s knowing that most of them are women who believe that women should be ordained (not surmising, KNOWING, from things they’ve said)–that prompts me to find out which communion line leads to the priest. I want him to know that, despite the propaganda to the contrary, yes, Father, we still need priests!

BlueRose
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I am a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and I consider it the greatest privlege of my life to assist the priest and deacons in this ministry. Oftentimes I tremble or weep while holding the ciborium or chalice in my hands during the mass. We have a parish of 2200 families. One mass on Saturday, and 4 packed masses on Sunday. We have three priests (Pastor, Associate Pastor and our Beloved Retired Priest in Residence), one permanent deacon and we usually are granted a transitional deacon (seminarian in formation for ordination) during the seminary session year. The church building itself seats about 1000 people. We have 4 to 6 ciborium and 8 chalices at every mass. The ordained (priests and/or deacon) arrange themselves at the foot of the sanctuary on the main aisle, then flanking out from them are 3 chalice ministers, one or two more ciborium ministers and one more chalice minister on the end. With all these ministers it still takes roughly 10-12 minutes to complete the distribution of the most precious Body and Blood of the savior. Without our EMHC’s, communion would take at least 30 to 45 minutes. Mass times are 0730, 0900, 1030 and Noon. 30 minutes transition between each. On Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, we further separate the mass times to allow 60 minutes of transition.

We have to have our EMHC’s.
 
Call me old-fashion and behind the times but unless I have no choice, I avoid ALL Extraordinary Ministers Of the Holy Eucharist whether they be male or female. I think only priests and deacons should be giving out the sacred body & blood of Christ.
 
Just a thought…

Since there are SOOO many people receiving communion in some parishes that creates a necessity to have EMEs so that the lone priest won’t have to distribute communion for longer than 10 minutes or so, I have to wonder about something…

How long does it take Father to get through all those confessions he must be hearing every Saturday? I mean, you must be in a state of grace to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, and I know that, speaking for myself, I have to go at least once a month, so if we figure that there are (just to grab a number from one of the latest posts) 2200 communicants on any given weekend, then divide that by 4 weeks, there should be an average of 550 people going to confession on any given Saturday. Even with 3 priests, that’s still more than 180 people per priest going to confession on any given Saturday. Right?

Riiiiiiight…

St. John Vianney (who used to spend 12 hours a day hearing confessions), pray for us!

BlueRose
 
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Catholic Heart: Although I do think the ideal l would be to have only a priest and/or deacon distributing,
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**

Why?
otm: Some fear to question at all, as if that were to introduce heresy; but it is only in questioning that we can grow into an adult faith, on that is tru to what Christ taught, and the Church has taugh ever since.
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My thoughts exactly.
Affirmed: I don’t like having them either.
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Why?
otm: When there are other priests available, they should be distributing Communion beofre EMHCs; the same goes for deacons.
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Why?
OhioBob: Would I prefer to see only ordained ministers distributing the Eucharist? Sure I would.
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Why?
 
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mlchance:
No more than the Blessed Virgin’s intercession detracts from her son’s role as our intercessor with the Father.

Irony: Someone decrying the alleged “protestantization” of the Church using a Protestant argument.

– Mark L. Chance.
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Comparing MARY’s role in heaven to Aunt Betty’s role as an emc??? Hmmm. Okie-dokey. Have you got a theological argument to support that claim???

Maybe “protestantization” is a bad choice of words. Let it be stricken from the record. 😃

It’s just that I think we can THEOLOGICALLY argue why the priest is necessary, but we can only argue in PRACTICAL terms why Rome allows emc’s. Rome allows them, so be it. For practical necessity, on extraordinary circumstances.

The priest is a theological necessity, always. Doesn’t matter if he is young or old, conservative or liberal, holy or not, the Mass is not the Mass, the bread is not transubstantiated into His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity without a validly consecrated priest. And from those hands, touched by the Holy Spirit, would you not prefer to recieve the Holy Eucharist??
 
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Affirmed: I don’t like having them either.

Why?

Because I would like to se such an increase in voactions to the priesthood that they would be rendered obsolete. I prefer to recieve from a priest, but you sure as heck won’t see me jump lines to do so!!! I submit to the authority of Rome.
 
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Affirmed:
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Affirmed: I don’t like having them either.

Why?

Because I would like to se such an increase in voactions to the priesthood that they would be rendered obsolete. I prefer to recieve from a priest, but you sure as heck won’t see me jump lines to do so!!! I submit to the authority of Rome.
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Hmm. I think you are making the very common mistake of putting the cart before the horse:

The “priest shortage” is not fixed by the use of emc’s, but it fact, it is the use of emc’s that contributes to the “priest shortage”.

I submit to the authority of Rome too. :bowdown: I just PREFER to recieve from a consecrated priest. I don’t conspicuously “line jump”, drawing attension to myself and my family! We sit in the VERY back when we visit a parish other than our own (that doesn’t emc’s at all, and has altar boys with pateens) and casually get into the line when the priest is located.
 
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jlw:
The “priest shortage” is not fixed by the use of emc’s, but it fact, it is the use of emc’s that contributes to the “priest shortage”.
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This illustrates the difference between thinking strategically and tactically. Let Roman and the USCCB decide what is allowed and is best for the Church as a whole. The local priest has to concern himself also with having communion distributed in a timely enough manner to avoid the traffic jam between Masses.
 
It is not the use of EMHC’s that is the cause of the priest shortage. It is the fact that young men are not being encouraged to pursue calls to their vocations. Too mich emphasis is being put on ME ME ME in our society. This is the cause of the priest shortage. Or one of them. I can’t imagine many young men deciding against the priesthood simply because there are laypeople giving communion. Afterall, without the priest, there would be no communion for them to distribute. So the argument against EMHC’s because they cause a decrease in vocations is absulte bunk.That being said, I would always prefer to recieve from a priest or deacon. But once again, the CHURCH KNOWS WHAT IS BEST. Even if you are being discrete about jumping lines, you are still saying that you know better than Rome. Subtle defiance is, afterall, still defiance.
 
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pnewton:
This illustrates the difference between thinking strategically and tactically. Let Roman and the USCCB decide what is allowed and is best for the Church as a whole. The local priest has to concern himself also with having communion distributed in a timely enough manner to avoid the traffic jam between Masses.
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A “traffic jam between masses??” Honestly THIS is theologically important?? Practicality trumps Theology. Hmmm. Well where it is truly NECESSARY, I absolutely agree. Only one priest on Sunday?? probably have to have at least a deacon or emc.

Maybe I suffer from an alternative reality or naivity as to the condition of parishes around the world. :eek: But I also think that just as much as emc’s are necessary some places, they are rediculously UNnecessary elsewhere.

Our 4 Sunday Masses are packed, and at communion, the celebrant is joined by just one other priest, only the Host is ministered (the Sacred Blood ministered only on Holy Thursday, Easter, Christmas, and a few other Feast Days), and they get through it just fine!
 
Packed, like how many people? Becuase packed for us means about 1000. Per Mass. Which is normal.
 
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jlw:
A “traffic jam between masses??” Honestly THIS is theologically important?? Practicality trumps Theology.
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Do not laugh. Someone has to care about such matters. Besides we are talking about something that is theological permissable, a discipline, not a doctrine.

BTW - We only have one priest, who does 5 Masses in a parish with 1000 families, 300 seating and parking for about half that. Money for expansion is needed, but slow in coming due to the demographics (we have many immigrants and lower-income families). It truly takes a tactician to pull it off.

EDITTED - I notice one other difference. In our diocese we were told to offer the Mass under both species.
 
It is not the use of EMHC’s that is the cause of the priest shortage.
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It is not the cause. But it contributes to…
…the fact that young men are not being encouraged to pursue calls to their vocations. Too mich emphasis is being put on ME ME ME in our society. This is the cause of the priest shortage. Or one of them.
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Bingo.
I can’t imagine many young men deciding against the priesthood simply because there are laypeople giving communion.
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No, but there is a underlying context that emphasizies the “sameness” of laypeople and priests,…in a way de-empasizing the specialness of the priesthood, and the hierarchegal (sp?) way we theologically see things (badly articulated, maybe you can translate?? :o )
Afterall, without the priest, there would be no communion for them to distribute.
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I think that is very, very, very ,very big deal. And I suspect THAT is the reason why many here keep saying they would “*rather *have the priest be the only minister, but…”
So the argument against EMHC’s because they cause a decrease in vocations is absulte bunk.
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Agreed, if I said it was the reason. It isn’t. But it is a factor, much like female altar servers, much like the feminization of our Catechesis over the years
That being said, I would always prefer to recieve from a priest or deacon.
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Why? Explain.
But once again, the CHURCH KNOWS WHAT IS BEST.
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Agreed. Maybe this can turn into an argument more about the importance and subtlties of Traditon vs tradition??
Even if you are being discrete about jumping lines, you are still saying that you know better than Rome. Subtle defiance is, afterall, still defiance.
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Hmmm. I am taking an honest and humble look at that. I guess I look at this way: I am obedient to Rome, and accept the NO English Mass, but prefer Latin. Am I disobedient?? I prefer to be a parishioner at a parish approved by Rome of course, that does not have emcs (and the gasoline bill show’s it). Am I disobedient?? I prefer to recieve Jesus from the a consecreted priest instead of the emc (which I accept, because Rome does)when I travel elsewhere. But am I truly disobedient when I fall in line where the celebrant is ministering???
 
I stand corrected. (Actually, I sit corrected!) You did say it contributed, not caused. Mea culpa.

I prefer to recieve from a preist because he stands in persona Christe, of course. But I understand that this is not always possible. And I trust the Church to provide an alternative.
Disobedience to Rome doesn’t come in the form of our preferences. It is in how we act out those preferences. It is more Christ-like to be obedient to the will of His Church, even though it may go aganist our own wants. Christ Himself was obedient to the Father, suffering an agonizing death. Surely this small cross, recieveing from a person whom His Church has delegated to assist our priests is not too much for Him? Even if we would prefer to receieve from His priest?
 
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jlw:
Comparing MARY’s role in heaven to Aunt Betty’s role as an emc??? Hmmm. Okie-dokey. Have you got a theological argument to support that claim???
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Pay careful attention: It was stated that EMHCs detract from the office of the priest. No evidence is offered for this assertion; it is merely made as a bald assertion.

This is exactly the same kind of argumentation used by anti-Catholics against Mary. Basically, it is predicated on the mistaken notion that God cannot/will not share his glory with others.

All baptised Christians share in Christ’s priestly ministry. A very few do so via the Sacrament of Holy Orders. As such, these ordained man have unique roles to fill. No argument.

But the role of ministry is not unique to the priesthood, just as the role of intercessor between man and Christ is not unique to Mary. We are all intercessors.

The Church has seen fit to allow certain members of the laity to exercise their share of the priesthood of the believers by assisting in the distribution of Christ’s Body and Blood at Mass. This doesn’t detract from the priest’s unique role of acting in persona Christi.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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