EMHC giving communion to a priest

[Lapey]

Dear Deacon,
I don’t think we are in disagreement, just looking at different circumstances. Given the mythical niece, I would contact the parish ahead of time and the pastor if I could serve. I will say I went to another diocese parish for the first communion for a nephew, and the deacon insisted that I serve since he was expecting me.
I understand what you are saying and what the canon says, I also know there are many times it is not followed, even by people in possition who know better. Sometime it’s better to just be the humble servant.
Dcn. Frank

Agreed.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

When a priest approaches a lay minister to receive Holy Communion, the minister should simply present the ciborium for the priest to remove and consume a Host, without saying “Body of Christ.” As an ordinary minister of Holy Communion, he may and should self-communicate.

 

[L_Marshall]

When a priest approaches a lay minister to receive Holy Communion, the minister should simply present the ciborium for the priest to remove and consume a Host, without saying “Body of Christ.” As an ordinary minister of Holy Communion, he may and should self-communicate.

This is incorrect. Only priestly celebrants can self-communicate. This is why you never see a bishop’s master of ceremonies (who is usually a priest) self-communicate, or a monk who is a priest self communicate when at Mass and not celebrating.

 

[Lapey]

When a priest approaches a lay minister to receive Holy Communion, the minister should simply present the ciborium for the priest to remove and consume a Host, without saying “Body of Christ.” As an ordinary minister of Holy Communion, he may and should self-communicate.

You will not find support for this any where but in your statement. If he were vested and in choro are an active part of the liturgy, yes but otherwise no.

I understand the premise, that the priest has consecrated hands; but in this case he is a congregant. There are several priests here on this forum; maybe they can help us with this.

 

[Gelnhausener]

Hi all,

I am an EMHC in a parish which is generally very faithful, prayerful and great. When I underwent training as an EMHC I was able to discuss my reluctance to ‘bless’ people who came forward in the communion line, for example.

It is never permitted for an EMHC to bless anyone presenting themselves for communion. Blessings are the function of the ordained ministry.

 

[Cristiano]

You will not find support for this any where but in your statement. If he were vested and in choro are an active part of the liturgy, yes but otherwise no.

I understand the premise, that the priest has consecrated hands; but in this case he is a congregant. There are several priests here on this forum; maybe they can help us with this.

I think that you might be partially wrong. I know of two different cases. The first where there is a priest that always attends the midnight Xmas Mass and he sits in the front pew, he is not a member of the clergy in that parish. During communion the pastor of the parish extends he ciborium to him and he self communicates. The second happened to me where one of the parish priests was attending Mass and seating in the first pew, handicapped seats, because he could not stand. I was the EMHC and when I approached him with the ciborium he self communicated.

 

[L_Marshall]

I think that you might be partially wrong. I know of two different cases. The first where there is a priest that always attends the midnight Xmas Mass and he sits in the front pew, he is not a member of the clergy in that parish. During communion the pastor of the parish extends he ciborium to him and he self communicates. The second happened to me where one of the parish priests was attending Mass and seating in the first pew, handicapped seats, because he could not stand. I was the EMHC and when I approached him with the ciborium he self communicated.

Although this was done, I would argue it was still incorrect.

Firstly, we must recognize that the tradition of priest attending Mass en choro is no longer done frequently. When a priest attends Mass en choro, he would sit in the sanctuary, and be vested in only a cassock and surplice. The priest would not participate as a concelebrant. The priest would don a stole for the reception of Holy Communion, and would be used to distribute the Blessed Sacrament before any EMHC could be used. Immediately after he is done handling the Blessed Sacrament, the priest would doff his stole.

This practice is not as common as it once was, since priestly concelebration has been restored. However, some priests still opt to attend Mass in choir for various reasons (they have already celebrated several Masses that day, they are in a state of mortal sin, or they are leaving early). Now, bishops are really the only clerics frequently seen in choir dress, since they cannot concelebrate when a priest is the primary celebrant.

Most liturgical documents separate those who participate in the Mass into two groups: 1) celebrants (and concelebrants), 2) the faithful. The documents specify that only celebrants and concelebrants may self-communicate. While we may initially think that a priest could not be counted among the faithful, we should recognize that he is certainly not participating as a celebrant or concelebrant. I would argue, then, that the documents indicate he should not self-communicate.

That’s my take on it.

 

[Cristiano]

I am neither a canon lawyer nor a priest. I just mentioned that three different priests in two different situtations decided that self communion was appropriate. What is the necessary distance from the altar and the appropriate vestments for a priest to concelebrate? This is not only a liturgical question but one of sacramental theology. I am too ignorant about the holy orders to have an educated opinion in regard.