EMHCs and communion rails: do they mix?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lepanto
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lepanto

Guest
Have you ever seen them used together at a Mass?

If so, were altar boys handling patens as well?
 
I have not seen the use of EMHCs where a Communion rail is used; primarily because in those places Communion under both species is not given. And the problem with that is that it is all too easy to knock one’s elbows into the rail while receiving from the Cup.
 
otjm said:
I have not seen the use of EMHCs where a Communion rail is used; primarily because in those places Communion under both species is not given. And the problem with that is that it is all too easy to knock one’s elbows into the rail while receiving from the Cup.
Click to expand...
Our parish uses the Communion rails, and only very rarely uses EMHC’s; and even those are the seminarians from the parish when they are home for the summer, or a Chaldean Sub-Deacon who is in our parish.

We do offer both species at the Communion rail, but this is done by Intinction by a priest or deacon.

And, to the OP, altar boys do hold the paten when one of the EMHC’s are used.
 
Lepanto said:
Have you ever seen them used together at a Mass?

If so, were altar boys handling patens as well?
Click to expand...
I have never seen and it does not seem functional from a simple logistic point of view. Usually you have a couple of set of rails and the priests move along them while the faithfuls kneel down.
Usually in the case where the EMHCs are present you have fixed stations where the priest and the EMHCs distribute Communion and the people move along.
Your scenario would make sense only if you were to have several set of rails not aligned (distribution stations) and EMHCs distributing from the ciborium only. I do not think that such a scenario is really functional.
 
Lepanto said:
Have you ever seen them used together at a Mass?

If so, were altar boys handling patens as well?
Click to expand...
I do not see why EMHC cannot be used with people kneeling or standing at communion rails when they are needed.
 
It used to be the practice at Ave Maria University until they moved to the new campus. Usually an altar boy or one of the sisters would be the EMHC if another priest was not on hand. They did not offer the cup.

I don’t know all the reasons why the altar rail was discontinued so don’t want to speculate.

OTOH, I have seen both species given at an Episcopalian altar rail (at a wedding) and it didn’t seem to be problematic.
 
I know that in one of our conservative downtown chuches in Dayton Ohio, this is exactly what they do. Host only, with paten held by altar boys (yes boys not girls) and only male EMHC’s. While I am not a fan of EMHC’s, this scenario seems like a reasonable approach with me given the priest shortage. (This parish used to have three priests, but is now down to one.) What’s refreshing is that the EMHC’s come from the sacristy and get on with their duties without much fanfare. Much in the same way like the extra priests used to do. There is not the parade from the pews and the “meet and greet” distractions. Of course, they wouldn’t even think about purifying the sacred vessels. When they are done with their duties, they quickly go back to the sacristy. Perhaps if more parishes adopted this approach, EHMC’s would not be the source of division that they seem to be.
 
As a former Epicopalian I am very used to seeing this done.The
"ChaliceBearer " who is usually vested in cassock and surplus follows the priest with the chalice.Most of the time there are two “Chalice Bearers” one for each side of the altar rail. It is done in avery reverant manner and it does not take any more time.As a Catholic I miss the order and reverance.

👍 Cecilia
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top