J
jmacclure
Guest
Is it proper for an EMHC to remove the Consecrated Hosts from the Tabernacle prior to Communion and replace it afterwards instead of the priest?
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Deacon_Ed
Guest
Jeremy,
In a word, yes. It would be better if a priest or deacon did this, but the EMHC is permitted to do this.
Deacon Ed
In a word, yes. It would be better if a priest or deacon did this, but the EMHC is permitted to do this.
Deacon Ed
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Fergal
Guest
Dear Friend,
The context differs.
In your question you refer to the extraordinary minister of the Eucharist going to the tabernacle to retrieve and repose the hosts. This is not the normal practice during Mass.
The GIRM, in No. 162, states: “(If) … there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. … These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.”
Likewise, after Communion is completed, No. 163 specifies: “[A]s for any consecrated hosts that are left, he (the priest himself) either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist.” If a deacon or other priests are present they may also return the hosts to the tabernacle
However
Can: 943 The minister of exposition of the blessed Sacrament and of the eucharistic blessing is a priest or deacon. In special circumstances the minister of exposition and deposition alone, but without the blessing, is an acolyte, and extraordinary minister of holy communion, or another person deputed by the local Ordinary, in accordance with the regulations of the diocesan Bishop.
So during Mass = No as their is a Priest there
For Exposition / Deposition = Yes only when no Priest is available.
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
The context differs.
In your question you refer to the extraordinary minister of the Eucharist going to the tabernacle to retrieve and repose the hosts. This is not the normal practice during Mass.
The GIRM, in No. 162, states: “(If) … there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. … These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.”
Likewise, after Communion is completed, No. 163 specifies: “[A]s for any consecrated hosts that are left, he (the priest himself) either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist.” If a deacon or other priests are present they may also return the hosts to the tabernacle
However
Can: 943 The minister of exposition of the blessed Sacrament and of the eucharistic blessing is a priest or deacon. In special circumstances the minister of exposition and deposition alone, but without the blessing, is an acolyte, and extraordinary minister of holy communion, or another person deputed by the local Ordinary, in accordance with the regulations of the diocesan Bishop.
So during Mass = No as their is a Priest there
For Exposition / Deposition = Yes only when no Priest is available.
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
Fergal,
What you have written is correct for Ireland. However, the bishops of the United States have asked for and received an indult which does permit an EMHC to take the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle and to place it back there. Of course, preference is given to a priest or deacon to perform this function. They are also permitted to do so when making sick calls, or in the absence of a priest or deacon for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Deacon Ed
What you have written is correct for Ireland. However, the bishops of the United States have asked for and received an indult which does permit an EMHC to take the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle and to place it back there. Of course, preference is given to a priest or deacon to perform this function. They are also permitted to do so when making sick calls, or in the absence of a priest or deacon for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
Deacon Ed
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Fergal
Guest
OOoooooooops!
Of course I do forget that we are in different regions.
Apologies.
The above does indeed apply for Ireland.
Hhmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks Deacon Ed. :tiphat:
I need to apply this now to all my thinking from now on. Never crossed my mind before.
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
Of course I do forget that we are in different regions.
Apologies.
The above does indeed apply for Ireland.
Hhmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks Deacon Ed. :tiphat:
I need to apply this now to all my thinking from now on. Never crossed my mind before.
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
S
Servulus
Guest
Deacon Ed:
Documentation of that indult would be a valuable addition to a liturgical reference library. Where might it be found?
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
One of our EMHC’s to the sick was returning hosts tothe Tabernacle last Sunday. She opened the Tabernacle, replaced the hosts, genuflected as instructed - - and hit her head quite badly on the Tabernacle door. She required several stitches.
Lesson - close the Tabernacle door before genuflecting. Or, if removing hosts, genuflect before opening the door.
Lesson - close the Tabernacle door before genuflecting. Or, if removing hosts, genuflect before opening the door.
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Fergal
Guest
AArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhh :bigyikes:
MY BIGGEST FEAR!!!
MY BIGGEST FEAR!!!
J
jmm08
Guest
I filled out paperwork for RCIA / RCIC yesterday.
God help me if I am ever asked to do EMHC someday (I hope I have sense to say no).
It seems to me that they are so much complained about and easily criticized. I’m sure every one of them I’ve seen is only doing exactly what their Priest has asked them to do and is doing their best to follow their instructions. It is so easy to sit in the pew and criticize on what they do, how they dress, how they look, whether they forgot to take off their coat, shirt tucked in, slip is showing, etc. They are human. We all are.
When I was growing up, our next-door neighbors (behind us) were Catholic. The father swore so much. I never heard so many unique swear words. The mother drank a lot. Sometimes she also took sleeping pills. They took her away in an ambulance twice. After some time, her neighbor across the street (also Catholic) helped her. She grew in her faith and quit drinking. She eventually became EMHC in her Church. She died recently. God bless her.
I apologize if I offended anyone. Maybe the questioner was asking because he is an EMHC. But if so, why not ask your Priest and just follow his instructions?
P
Panis_Angelicas
Guest
Wow. The indult is news to me. (Not that I know everything about the Church! 
)
When was this indult granted?
Are there any conditions to the emHC removing or replacing the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle during Mass? (ie: is it specified that it to be permitted where the tabernacle is located far away from the altar, or something like that?)
Why isn’t the exception mentioned in the GIRM?
Pax Christi. <><
)When was this indult granted?
Are there any conditions to the emHC removing or replacing the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle during Mass? (ie: is it specified that it to be permitted where the tabernacle is located far away from the altar, or something like that?)
Why isn’t the exception mentioned in the GIRM?
Pax Christi. <><
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Fergal
Guest
Woah Jmm08…
Who’s complaining here? I am an EMHC. We are simply sharing procedure(s) on whether EM’sHC should remove and replace sacred vessels from the Tabernacle.
Can’t see why you have felt justified to critisize this discussion???
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
Who’s complaining here? I am an EMHC. We are simply sharing procedure(s) on whether EM’sHC should remove and replace sacred vessels from the Tabernacle.
Can’t see why you have felt justified to critisize this discussion???
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
J
jmm08
Guest
I’m sorry. I am new. I got the impression that this post was a bunch of pew-sitters just criticizing their EMHC’s. I suppose I’m wrong. When I went to Mass, it seemed easy to me to find something to criticize and I do resist that.
J
jmacclure
Guest
It is/was not my intent to criticize, but to learn what is proper so that if I am ever inclined or asked to serve in this function I know what I (and others) are to and not to do so as not to accidentally invalidate the most holy part of the mass nor to offend our Lord while in his service. This is the concern of most who “complain” of abuses happening during the liturgies. I do appologize if for some reason you found this offensive, but I am glad you feel better now.So sit there in your pews and criticize. But I suggest following the Lords Prayer as well as praying it. If you cannot forgive, you will not be forgiven. Why go to Mass to incur sin? Far better for you to just get rid of that criticizing devil. Tell him to Go in Jesus Name and by the Holy Blood shed on the cross. And then stay free of it and listen to it no more.
Thanks. That made me feel better. I hope it helps you too.
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Deacon_Ed
Guest
Joe Kelley:
The “rules” for the tabernacle are to open the door, genuflect, remove (or replace), genuflect, close the door. One always genuflects with the door open, never closed. The lesson, then, is to be careful when genuflecting…
Deacon Ed
Joe,
The “rules” for the tabernacle are to open the door, genuflect, remove (or replace), genuflect, close the door. One always genuflects with the door open, never closed. The lesson, then, is to be careful when genuflecting…
Deacon Ed
D
Deacon_Ed
Guest
Panis Angelicas:
The indult was granted two years ago. In looking at that GIRM with adaptations none of the indults (such as permitting the EMHC to consume the precious the Precious Blood from his or her chalice). I’m not sure why they are not there since, for reasons unknown to me, the bishops didn’t bother to consult with me (yet again
)
Deacon Ed
Panis,Wow. The indult is news to me. (Not that I know everything about the Church!
When was this indult granted?
Are there any conditions to the emHC removing or replacing the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle during Mass? (ie: is it specified that it to be permitted where the tabernacle is located far away from the altar, or something like that?)
Why isn’t the exception mentioned in the GIRM?
Pax Christi. <><
The indult was granted two years ago. In looking at that GIRM with adaptations none of the indults (such as permitting the EMHC to consume the precious the Precious Blood from his or her chalice). I’m not sure why they are not there since, for reasons unknown to me, the bishops didn’t bother to consult with me (yet again
)Deacon Ed
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
Deacon Ed:
In any case our pastor is more worried about insurance than rules; so I guess we will have to do it his way.
Thanks. That is the way I wrote the rules. thought I remembered it from someplace. I felt a bit guilty about causing the accident.
In any case our pastor is more worried about insurance than rules; so I guess we will have to do it his way.
P
Panis_Angelicas
Guest
Deacon Ed:
But seriously, I, too would like to be able to read the indult. I guess it’s because I don’t want to get my shorts in a knot over things that are ok with the Vatican.
jmm08: 24 years ago, the Vatican released Inaestimabile Donum, which declared that the faithful have a right to a “True Liturgy” and that “no one, even…a priest,” has the right to change the rubrics of the Mass.
Just this year, the Vatican released Redemptionis Sacramentum, which outlines many abuses and calls for their immediate correction, and instructs the faithful that it is their duty to report liturgical abuses ~ first to the priest, then, if it is not corrected, to the bishop, and even if still uncorrected, to the papal nuncio.
So, according to the Vatican, it is our right to attend a True Liturgy and our obligation to protect It from abuse.
When sitting in the pew, some of us must endure many abuses, which cause us grief. Some of us observe situations that cause some confusion or bewilderment, and we seek clarification.
I don’t think the faithful should be chastised for doing what the Vatican feels is proper.
I consider it a priviledge to “sit in the pews” with my family ~ also to stand and kneel.
I, too, would never want to be an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, but for different reasons than yours. Human respect has little to do with it. The very real concern of possibly offending our Lord and disobeying the Magisterium would be my top reasons for rejecting the invitation. (I’ve seen considerable abuses myself, and I know that the emHC are used habitually in my parish, which, again, the Vatican has denounced.)
And why not just go to the priest and ask about abuses? For one, they are busy. Secondly, if they are committing or permitting a liturgical abuse, they aren’t likely to point you in the right direction. With the “information superhighway,” we can obtain the appropriate Church documentation and present it respectfully to our priests, requesting clarification or correction. Then, we’re not just taking up his time or giving him the opportunity to make excuses for a sloppy liturgy.
For the good of their own souls and the souls of the faithful, the priest and the emHCs should strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
for reasons unknown to me, the bishops didn’t bother to consult with me (yet again
Deacon Ed
But seriously, I, too would like to be able to read the indult. I guess it’s because I don’t want to get my shorts in a knot over things that are ok with the Vatican.
jmm08: 24 years ago, the Vatican released Inaestimabile Donum, which declared that the faithful have a right to a “True Liturgy” and that “no one, even…a priest,” has the right to change the rubrics of the Mass.
Just this year, the Vatican released Redemptionis Sacramentum, which outlines many abuses and calls for their immediate correction, and instructs the faithful that it is their duty to report liturgical abuses ~ first to the priest, then, if it is not corrected, to the bishop, and even if still uncorrected, to the papal nuncio.
So, according to the Vatican, it is our right to attend a True Liturgy and our obligation to protect It from abuse.
When sitting in the pew, some of us must endure many abuses, which cause us grief. Some of us observe situations that cause some confusion or bewilderment, and we seek clarification.
I don’t think the faithful should be chastised for doing what the Vatican feels is proper.
I consider it a priviledge to “sit in the pews” with my family ~ also to stand and kneel.
I, too, would never want to be an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, but for different reasons than yours. Human respect has little to do with it. The very real concern of possibly offending our Lord and disobeying the Magisterium would be my top reasons for rejecting the invitation. (I’ve seen considerable abuses myself, and I know that the emHC are used habitually in my parish, which, again, the Vatican has denounced.)
And why not just go to the priest and ask about abuses? For one, they are busy. Secondly, if they are committing or permitting a liturgical abuse, they aren’t likely to point you in the right direction. With the “information superhighway,” we can obtain the appropriate Church documentation and present it respectfully to our priests, requesting clarification or correction. Then, we’re not just taking up his time or giving him the opportunity to make excuses for a sloppy liturgy.
For the good of their own souls and the souls of the faithful, the priest and the emHCs should strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
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