EMHC abuse?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MaryAgnes
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MaryAgnes

Guest
Recently in our parish we celebrated a major event. Six or so priests came to concelebrate Mass with our pastor. Yet, during the distribution of Communion, the concelebrating priests (all physically fit) took their seats while EMHCs distributed Communion.

Are priests “obligated” to distribute Communion to avoid what appeared to be an abuse of the extraordinary minister?
 
Yes, it’s an abuse.

“The faithful, whether religious or lay, who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute Communion only when there is no priest, deacon or acolyte, when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of the Mass excessively long.”
From Inaestimabile Dominum

The practice also reeks of a master/servant relationship: I’ll sit down while you do my work for me.
 
40.png
severinus:
Yes, it’s an abuse.

The practice also reeks of a master/servant relationship: I’ll sit down while you do my work for me.
Click to expand...
I thought so … even giving that it was a special celebration. I had never given consideration to the final point you made though–a master/servant relationship. It is a good one. Especially since there are so many priests that are narcisistic–a good topic for another thread! 😃
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
Recently in our parish we celebrated a major event. Six or so priests came to concelebrate Mass with our pastor. Yet, during the distribution of Communion, the concelebrating priests (all physically fit) took their seats while EMHCs distributed Communion.

Are priests “obligated” to distribute Communion to avoid what appeared to be an abuse of the extraordinary minister?
Click to expand...
I do believe there is an over use of the EMHCs, however I think sometimes we tend to criticize the EMHC’s themselves. I think they are dedicated people trying to serve and I appreciate them.

The abuse comes from the priest and Bishops that over use these good people.

Trick
 
The way I see it is looking at the last supper where Jesus broke the bread and said take this all of you , this is my body which will be offered up for all.
The apostles one by one ate the Holy bread. I am not sure if Jesus gave the bread to each of them or passed the bread around. Even so the apostles were appointed men to serve Christ as priests.
The question is I’d like to know is when the disciples went forth to spread the Good News is whether they they served communion themselves.
Did they administer God’s teachings first to men (For the priesthood) then they were able to serve communion?.
I must take into account the Holy Sacredness of the Eucharist these men understood. I think it was unlikely that the disciples (priests) would have asked anyone to help distribute the communion.
 
I personally believe priests should be the ones giving communion as they are representives of Christ and as if Christ is totally present. It just seems right that way. For they are called by God to do so.
I know that the host is the Body of Christ but it is very Sacred. It would be blasphemous to allow a EMHC if they aren’t in a state of grace. Don’t try to kid me that the EMHC are and I don’t want to diverge into knowing what I know about some EMHCs.
 
mickey doolan:
It would be blasphemous to allow a EMHC if they aren’t in a state of grace. Don’t try to kid me that the EMHC are and I don’t want to diverge into knowing what I know about some EMHCs.
Click to expand...
I know where you are coming from Mickey, but are you assuming that the priest is always in a state of grace when he distributes Communion? … or when he consecrates the bread and wine? The validity of the sacrament does not depend upon the spiritual state of the minister–ordinary or extraordinary.
 
We hear of Our Lady administering to her chosen ones at Apparitions but this is so different . She is the Holy Mother of God and no one even comes within a drop of her depth to even consider that to be a basis for a EMHC.
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
I know where you are coming from Mickey, but are you assuming that the priest is always in a state of grace when he distributes Communion? … or when he consecrates the bread and wine? The validity of the sacrament does not depend upon the spiritual state of the minister–ordinary or extraordinary.
Click to expand...
I could be wrong but with a priest ,he is ordained by God and he has the extra reponsibility to be in the state of grace and if he isn’t I think we may be extempted by the washing of his hands prior to offering of the Mass but this doesn’t happen I believe with EMHCs because they haven’t recieved that special administing grace during ordination.
 
mickey doolan:
I could be wrong but with a priest ,he is ordained by God and he has the extra reponsibility to be in the state of grace and if he isn’t I think we may be extempted by the washing of his hands prior to offering of the Mass but this doesn’t happen I believe with EMHCs because they haven’t recieved that special administing grace during ordination.
Click to expand...
How about this scenerio: It is God who changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord THROUGH the action of the priest (whether or not he is in a state of grace).

EMHC should be in a state of grace (since they receive the Eucharist at Mass), but that is certainly not the criteria for their BECOMING EMHCs.
 
40.png
severinus:
Yes, it’s an abuse.

“The faithful, whether religious or lay, who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute Communion only when there is no priest, deacon or acolyte, when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of the Mass excessively long.”
From Inaestimabile Dominum

The practice also reeks of a master/servant relationship: I’ll sit down while you do my work for me.
Click to expand...
The Sabbath day is 24 hours long , I had to laugh at “or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of the Mass excessively long.”
When I was young this was normal.
In Jesus’s day of the Loaves and the Fishes , I would loved to have been there and me at the back of the line as usual LOL. But sersiously that would have been really something and so special.
So wherever you are in that line ,know that Jesus is waiting for you.
 
The state of the minister’s soul, ordinary or extraordinary, has no effect on the validity of the Sacrament. “Blasphemous” is a different question. I suppose if a notorious sinner were distributing communion that would be a scandal. But the state of his soul has no bearing on the efficacy of the Sacrament.
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
How about this scenerio: It is God who changes the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord THROUGH the action of the priest (whether or not he is in a state of grace).

EMHC should be in a state of grace (since they receive the Eucharist at Mass), but that is certainly not the criteria for their BECOMING EMHCs.
Click to expand...
I respect your views ,it just that I prefer to receive communition by a Priest and I stand in the line when he is administering the bread. If not , I remain seated.
 
mickey doolan:
I respect your views ,it just that I prefer to receive communition by a Priest and I stand in the line when he is administering the bread. If not , I remain seated.
Click to expand...
OMG! Forgive my surprise or misunderstanding … Are you saying you would refrain from receiving Communion unless a priest administers it to you? Doesn’t that make the minister of the sacrament more important than the Sacrament itself?

What about the Blood of Christ? Does your priest administer both?
 
40.png
JKirkLVNV:
The state of the minister’s soul, ordinary or extraordinary, has no effect on the validity of the Sacrament. “Blasphemous” is a different question. I suppose if a notorious sinner were distributing communion that would be a scandal. But the state of his soul has no bearing on the efficacy of the Sacrament.
Click to expand...
Thanks for noting the distinction … it does make a difference.

Should there be different criteria for EMHC than for Lectors? After all, the Lector proclaims God’s Word and it is a liturgical ministry.
See thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=67163 (Unlaicized Married Priest)
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
Recently in our parish we celebrated a major event. Six or so priests came to concelebrate Mass with our pastor. Yet, during the distribution of Communion, the concelebrating priests (all physically fit) took their seats while EMHCs distributed Communion.

Are priests “obligated” to distribute Communion to avoid what appeared to be an abuse of the extraordinary minister?
Click to expand...
You are correct. Let the Bishop know that this happened.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
You are correct. Let the Bishop know that this happened.
Click to expand...
Are WE really supposed to notify the Bishop every time the pastor messes up? I’ve heard such people are referred to as “Liturgy Police” by the clerics.

Can’t the Bishop police his own clergy? Isn’t that HIS responsibility?
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
Are WE really supposed to notify the Bishop every time the pastor messes up? I’ve heard such people are referred to as “Liturgy Police” by the clerics.

Can’t the Bishop police his own clergy? Isn’t that HIS responsibility?
Click to expand...
Do you really think that the “Police” would catch many offenders without the help of the citizens “He went that-a-way>>>>” ? OF course not! When the Bishop meets with his priests he tells them what he expects and expects that they will do as told. Many however do as they please. The Bishop cannot possibly put on sunglasses and pop into a different parish every Sunday unnoticed. Someone must keep him aware of what is happening around his diocese, and those who should do this are the faithful. They should be letting the Bishop know what is happening around the parishes in his diocese. One would hope that he gets more positive then negative feedback.
 
40.png
MaryAgnes:
Are WE really supposed to notify the Bishop every time the pastor messes up? I’ve heard such people are referred to as “Liturgy Police” by the clerics.

Can’t the Bishop police his own clergy? Isn’t that HIS responsibility?
Click to expand...
We ARE the Liturgy police! If you witness the abuse and do nothing to help correct the situation, you are just as guilty as the perpetrator. Same holds if you observe someone abusing the Eucharist, would you not bring that to the attention of your priest so he could correct the person? If we go by your ideology, ‘isn’t that HIS responsibility?’

Certainly there are clerics who label those who will not tolerate abuses as the ‘Liturgy Police’. They probably have been corrected of many abuses and had their toes stepped on. So they intimidate the faithful by snidely calling them ‘Liturgy Police’. They are the ones who give our good and holy priests a bad name.

Long live the Liturgy Police!
 
JC Nixon:
We ARE the Liturgy police! If you witness the abuse and do nothing to help correct the situation, you are just as guilty as the perpetrator. Same holds if you observe someone abusing the Eucharist, would you not bring that to the attention of your priest so he could correct the person? If we go by your ideology, ‘isn’t that HIS responsibility?’

Certainly there are clerics who label those who will not tolerate abuses as the ‘Liturgy Police’. They probably have been corrected of many abuses and had their toes stepped on. So they intimidate the faithful by snidely calling them ‘Liturgy Police’. They are the ones who give our good and holy priests a bad name.

Long live the Liturgy Police!
Click to expand...
Oooh! Oooh! Can I get a badge?!?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top