EMHC Abuse

[michaeldaniels]

Am I the only one tired of the platoon of EMHC’s that storm the altar during Mass? They have become such commonplace that I have even been to daily Mass and there will be less than 20 people there…but there will still be 2-4 of them there and the Priest will stay at the Altar while they server Holy Communion…without Consecrated Hands I might add…to the faithful…It just makes me sick. First off…why are they even used when the number of Mass attendees during daily Mass is so low…secondly, why are Priest standing by why the laity distributes Holy Communion…I thought they were extraordinary…which in my mind means there is no other option than to use them…extraordinary doesn’t mean each time IMO opinion. Futhermore…I witnessed something that truly angered me…I watched a woman EMHC give a blessing to a child that was not yet old enough to receive Holy Communion…am I wrong to feel angered at this and to be upset that this is allowed to happen within Our Church???

 

[NetNuncio]

Am I the only one tired of the platoon of EMHC’s that storm the altar during Mass? They have become such commonplace that I have even been to daily Mass and there will be less than 20 people there…but there will still be 2-4 of them there and the Priest will stay at the Altar while they server Holy Communion…without Consecrated Hands I might add…to the faithful…It just makes me sick. First off…why are they even used when the number of Mass attendees during daily Mass is so low…secondly, why are Priest standing by why the laity distributes Holy Communion…I thought they were extraordinary…which in my mind means there is no other option than to use them…extraordinary doesn’t mean each time IMO opinion. Futhermore…I witnessed something that truly angered me…I watched a woman EMHC give a blessing to a child that was not yet old enough to receive Holy Communion…am I wrong to feel angered at this and to be upset that this is allowed to happen within Our Church???

It’s become very clear that the use of EMHCs has been incredibly abused. It is a continuation of the “clericalization of the laity” that occurs because of the misunderstanding (but often well meaning) of the idea of participation. It is quite frustrating and you are not the only one who is cranky about it!

Adam

 

[bkovacs]

It’s become very clear that the use of EMHCs has been incredibly abused. It is a continuation of the “clericalization of the laity” that occurs because of the misunderstanding (but often well meaning) of the idea of participation. It is quite frustrating and you are not the only one who is cranky about it!

Adam

Yeh and the NO can be just as reverant they tell us.

 

[lak611]

In my parish, there is only one EMHC at daily Mass. He or she distributes from the chalice, while the priest distributes the Hosts. We have no deacons at my parish. The deacon moved out of state.

 

[Joannm]

We also only have one EMHC at daily Mass unless one of the other priests is concelebrating. We usually have about 100 people attend.

 

[Brother_John]

Am I the only one tired of the platoon of EMHC’s that storm the altar during Mass? They have become such commonplace that I have even been to daily Mass and there will be less than 20 people there…but there will still be 2-4 of them there and the Priest will stay at the Altar while they server Holy Communion…without Consecrated Hands I might add…to the faithful…It just makes me sick. First off…why are they even used when the number of Mass attendees during daily Mass is so low…secondly, why are Priest standing by why the laity distributes Holy Communion…I thought they were extraordinary…which in my mind means there is no other option than to use them…extraordinary doesn’t mean each time IMO opinion. Futhermore…I witnessed something that truly angered me…I watched a woman EMHC give a blessing to a child that was not yet old enough to receive Holy Communion…am I wrong to feel angered at this and to be upset that this is allowed to happen within Our Church???

Have you discussed this concern, face to face with this priest?

 

[Joannm]

Have you discussed this concern, face to face with this priest?

Good point. Can’t really blame the EMHCs when it is the pastor that sets the parish policy and tells the EMHCs what they are to do. If he sits it out, so to speak, then he is wrong, not the EMHCs.

 

[alg775]

Whenever someone brings up the whole “unconsecrated hands” bit, I just think of Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, and all the other people that probably touched and embraced Jesus during his 33 yrs. on earth. I can hardly imagine Jesus batting them away, saying “Dont touch me, you’re hands aren’t consecrated!”

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Extraordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharistic are to be used only when there are not enough priests or deacons (ordinary ministers of the Eucharist) available to distribute Communion. A special indult has been granted by the USCCB for Extraordinary Ministers to be used. To be an extraordinary minister, the pastor must submit the names of the men and or women to the bishop/archbishop for approval and then installed before the congregation. The comment “with unconsecrated hands” really does not reflect the way people participated in the Eucharistic celebration inn the early Church. As a deacon, and ordinary minister of the Eucharist, my hands are not consecrated at ordination as are those of a priest. I do not worry about hands being consecrated, whether Holy Communion is received on the tongue, or on the hand., or whether they are kneeling or standing. What is most important is the reverence of the one giving as well as receiving the Eucharist and what is in their hearts and on their souls. This above all else should be our focus.
Deacon Ed B.

 

[bpbasilphx]

they server Holy Communion…without Consecrated Hands I might add…

But their hands WERE consecrated, as were mine and yours, and ALL of our faculties, in Baptism.

 

[lucybeebee]

What gets me is how it seems that the different parts of the mass are being outsourced to laypeople. I can see why vocations are so low when the priest seems to spend most of the mass sitting down while other people are doing his job.

 

[Phemie]

What gets me is how it seems that the different parts of the mass are being outsourced to laypeople. I can see why vocations are so low when the priest seems to spend most of the mass sitting down while other people are doing his job.

Other than Communion, what parts are you talking about? Because I don’t see any other that belong to the priest and are being farmed out.

 

[lucybeebee]

Other than Communion, what parts are you talking about? Because I don’t see any other that belong to the priest and are being farmed out.

What I mean is how the readings are done by laypeople. When I went to mass for Ash Wednesday, the there were EMHC giving those out too.

 

[Phemie]

What I mean is how the readings are done by laypeople. When I went to mass for Ash Wednesday, the there were EMHC giving those out too.

Even instituted lectors are lay people so that’s not a problem. Only the Gospel belongs to the ordained, either Deacon, Priest or Bishop.

 

[universalindult]

the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass

vatican.va/roman_curia/po…081997_en.html
INSTRUCTION

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED
FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA
VATICAN CITY 1997

…

Article 8

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
…

§ 1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the the Deacon.(96) Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.(97)

A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in un foreseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.(98)

§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100)

This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion.

To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

— the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of “a great number of the faithful”.

 

[twf]

From Redemptoris Sacramentum

[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.**258]

(Emphasis added).

 

[ac_claire]

Universalindult quoted Vatican Instruction document:

To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

Now, what does “apart from the other faithful” mean? Most masses, what I see is the EMHCs go up to the altar and stand in a line and receive communion. Then they’re handed their chalice or paten and they walk down to the front to distribute communion, and the rest of the congregation start filing up from the pews. I wonder if that’s what was meant by receiving “apart” from the other faithful?

 

[benedictgal]

From Redemptoris Sacramentum
(Emphasis added).

In my diocese, the pastor at one of our parishes does exactly that. He will distribute Holy Communion to the EMHC’s and then sit at his chair while they exercise the duty that belongs to him. He is an acquaintance of mine and was very supportive of me during a very difficult diocesan crisis. However, that still doesn’t excuse him from what he is doing. I brought this up to his attention and he said that he does distribute Holy Communion to the people, the EHMC’s. I told him that this was wrong. I’ll be sending him a copy of Redemptionis Sacramentum, along with Paschale Solemnitatis (he likes to have a Passion Play during Good Friday , something not allowed under Paschale).

The other sticking point is that the EHMC’s are dressed in vesture that mimics the priest’s, down to the liturgical color of the season. They do wear white albs, but, they wear something akin to a stole (almost like a mini fiddle-back vestment). This is also wrong.

Sometimes, he fills in at my parish for daily Mass. I’ve told a friend of mine who likes to serve as an EMHC (although, in all honesty, we don’t have enough communicants to warrant her serving in that capacity), not to rush up like a racehorse when he’s celebrating Mass. I told her that he needs to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful. He is not incapacited (loves to play golf) and can exercise his priestly obligation just fine.

My friend, who is elderly, really enjoys serving as an EMHC at daily Mass. She got upset when I told her that this practice was wrong since the number of people (under 50) doesn’t justify having an EMHC. In fact, I explained to her, that this function was meant only for extraordinary circumstances, but, we’ve all run away with it.

 

[PaixGioiaAmor]

The other sticking point is that the EHMC’s are dressed in vesture that mimics the priest’s, down to the liturgical color of the season. They do wear white albs, but, they wear something akin to a stole (almost like a mini fiddle-back vestment). This is also wrong.

Not really.

The GIRM speaks of lay people involved in the celebration wearing distinctive garb or albs to signify their role. My guess is that what you are thinking are the quasi-stoles are actually little things that come with choir robes, that are worn around the neck. It’s not a stole. And it’s not prohibited.

 

[benedictgal]

Not really.

The GIRM speaks of lay people involved in the celebration wearing distinctive garb or albs to signify their role. My guess is that what you are thinking are the quasi-stoles are actually little things that come with choir robes, that are worn around the neck. It’s not a stole. And it’s not prohibited.

Nope. I wish I could draw what I’ve seen. They do not resemble anything like what you are describing. It’s a full-body thing that looks like a fiddle-back chasuble, and, there is a cross in the front and in the back. It also goes all the way down to the hem of the alb.

Redemptionis Sacramentum has this to say on the subject:

[153.] Furthermore, it is never licit for laypersons to assume the role or the vesture of a Priest or a Deacon or other clothing similar to such vesture.

In the other churches in my diocese, all of the EMHC’s wear an alb.