EMHC Not Receiving Communion?

[cargopilot]

I received a PM from a very reliable poster on this forum, who is also a Deacon. I hope he doesn’t mind my sharing his very wise and thoughtful reply to me. It is as follows:

“A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.” (canon 916)

Leading others by a public action or non action to draw conclusions about the state of one’s soul has been understood as providing such a grave reason. If you find yourself conscious of grave sin and are faced with distributing the Blessed Sacrament, which normally will entail receiving it as you are a “lay minister” (unlike clerics who may be called on to minister Holy Communion but may not be assigned to that Mass) you may apply this canon.

 

[palmas85]

cargopilot:

I’m an overused EMHC, and since many of the scheduled EMHC’s often don’t show up for Mass, the job usually falls to me and a couple of others who do. We don’t mind, and our elderly Priest needs the help. Besides, everyone else is in a huge hurry for Mass to be over, and there is serious whining :crying: if Mass goes into OT.

If I’m not prepared to receive Holy Communion, then I just don’t. As a sinner, I celebrate the Sacrament of reconcilliation often, especially when I anticipate my deployment as EMHC, but this time I was unable to go to confession. Also, it is very likely that I’ll be needed to minister Holy Communion today. It will be hard to ‘hide-out’ for this one. If I can’t duck-out, my only options will be to RECEIVE the Blessed Sacrament, and just ‘tack on another sin’, or NOT receive HC. But I have to ask, if I’m not prepared to receive the Blessed Sacrament, can I even minister it?

Obviously, the simple solution would be to simply not serve, but if that’s not an option, what is the best way to handle this? I’ve never, ever seen an EMHC not receive HC, and I can’t help but think that it would be scandalous for an EMHC to NOT receive, for all to see. So, what to do? Don’t make waves, or follow my conscience?

Not being an extraordinary minister I really don’t know, but the Priest is supposed to receive prior to distributing isn’t he? So I would assume that the Extraordinary Ministers would have to receive as well wouldn’t they? If you are unable or unwilling to receive, then why do it? Just say no. I don’t believe that it is a requirement that you distribute, is it?

 

[Breton]

RichT:

I believe you can serve withough receiving, however, if you can not receive because you are in a state of sin, you should not be serving Holy Communion. I don’t know where to look for “Official Teaching” but I have always understood this as the rule.

If there is an impediment to receiving the Eucharist (mortal sin), it is also an impediment to ministering it.

I’m not sure though why one would serve without receiving when no impediment exists? Can you explain. I was thinking maybe because the EMHC received and served at a mass earlier in the day and can’t receive again but I’m not sure.

Thanks.

 

[Orionthehunter]

cargopilot:

I received a PM from a very reliable poster on this forum, who is also a Deacon. I hope he doesn’t mind my sharing his very wise and thoughtful reply to me. It is as follows:

“A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible.” (canon 916)

Leading others by a public action or non action to draw conclusions about the state of one’s soul has been understood as providing such a grave reason. If you find yourself conscious of grave sin and are faced with distributing the Blessed Sacrament, which normally will entail receiving it as you are a “lay minister” (unlike clerics who may be called on to minister Holy Communion but may not be assigned to that Mass) you may apply this canon.

While I’m sure that the Deacon is right here, I have a different take. I think that you should serve as an EMHC and not recieve. In addition to “fasting” from the ultimate meal as penance despite you having this legitimate opportunity to recieve as directed by the Deacon above, consider it a teaching moment: Some will notice and know why you didn’t receive which will remind them that this too is there obligation. Some will notice and wonder which may cause them to research it. Some will notice and ask you why which will give you the chance to teach them that this too is their obligation. And probably, most won’t even notice.

If your Priest needs the help, I think it meritorious to always find ways to respond positively to a request to a Priest rather than finding ways to respond negatively. Cargo, go for it!

 

[Sir_Knight]

cargopilot:

Leading others by a public action or non action to draw conclusions about the state of one’s soul has been understood as providing such a grave reason. If you find yourself conscious of grave sin and are faced with distributing the Blessed Sacrament, which normally will entail receiving it as you are a “lay minister” (unlike clerics who may be called on to minister Holy Communion but may not be assigned to that Mass) you may apply this canon.

Can someone explain this paragraph to me?