EMHC's in sanctuary?

[trimont]

At a friend’s new parish the EMHC’s sit in the sanctuary (in robes)! behind the priest during the entire Mass. She and her husband are both ministers and are uncomfortable with this. She asked me where to find the official guidelines regarding this, so I knew if I put it out there to you guys, you’d have the answer in no time! Thanks…

 

[space_ghost]

try this…

usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.htm

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

There are not to be any special “vesting” of Lay ministers in albs. They are Lay persons who are needed because the number of necessary ordinary ministers is lacking. The proper symbol is that they come out of the assembly to serve and return back to the assembly when done.

Extraordinary ministers should only be in the sancturay during the time thay are performing their function.

 

[Marauder]

The primary section that refers to this is here:

1. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and 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.97 In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.98

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.

There is some leeway in the phrase “should not approach the altar.” Depending on the layout of the church, it is possible to be in the sanctuary without being near the altar.

IMHO, having the EMHC behind the priest is putting them in a much too preemanent spot. If it is a small sanctuary they shouldn’t be there at all.

If you have ever watched a Mass from the National Shrine on EWTN, you will see that the EMHC are in the sanctuary, but they are always on the right side of the sanctuary behind the Ambo and do not approach the altar until after the priest(s) have received. They also do not wear anything special, unless they are an adult altar server that has been “deputized” to be a EMHC.
At my church, they don't even enter the sanctuary until the priest(s) have received.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Our church has a rug which extends a three or four feet each side of the altar and extends from the back wall down the steps to the main floor. This provides a good break from the altar area. The EMHC’s line up each side of the altar but stay off the rug.

 

[deogratias]

Joe - when do they line up? I.E. before or after the priest receives his communion?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

deogratias:

Joe - when do they line up? I.E. before or after the priest receives his communion?

During the Agnus Dei. It avoids a rush after the Priest’s communion. Also it allows a last minute count so a replacement can be brought up if someone is missing. It appears to be in keeping with the Instruction since they do not approach the altar.

 

[deogratias]

Of course they approach it - if I leave my seat and head toward the altar I am approaching it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Joe Kelley:

Our church has a rug which extends a three or four feet each side of the altar and extends from the back wall down the steps to the main floor. This provides a good break from the altar area. The EMHC’s line up each side of the altar but stay off the rug.

This is the case in most churches. There are at least a few steps up into the Sanctuary from the main floor. EMHC should not leave the main floor level until after the priest receives Communion. IMO

 

[deogratias]

The parish I used to attend when first I went there not only had the EMHC’s on the altar prior to the priest receiving communion but would place it in their hands where they would hold it until after he received his communion and then they would put it in their mouths.

They were told to not do this and so stopped but they still come up on the altar before he receives and stand in a semicircle behind him. He then receives and turns and administers communion to them and the altar servers with the assistance of the Deacon. An improvement but still not correct.

 

[PASCENDI]

I stopped receiving from them a year and a half ago. Ignore them and hopefully, they’ll…go away.



PLEASE… just GO Away !

 

[Marauder]

PASCENDI:

I stopped receiving from them a year and a half ago. Ignore them and hopefully, they’ll…go away.

PLEASE… just GO Away !

That isn’t really an appropriate attitude either. From Archbishop Chaput.

Sometimes a friend will say that, “I’ll never receive Communion from an extraordinary minister, only from the priest!” But this approach obviously violates the spirit of collaboration I’ve outlined here. All the faithful should realize that extraordinary ministers are a recognized ministry within the Church, called upon when not enough ordinary ministers are available. When you see the handing over of a vessel to an extraordinary minister, the priest is acknowledging and reminding everyone in the congregation of the extraordinary minister’s commission into the sacred action he or she is about to perform.

Link

 

[deogratias]

, called upon when not enough ordinary ministers are available

but note this is part of Chaput’s publication. Sometimes there are soooooooooooooo many EMHC on the altar being served communion that the time it takes for the Priest to serve them takes as long as it might for him and the Deacon to just serve the people right off.

 

[Marauder]

deogratias:

but note this is part of Chaput’s publication. Sometimes there are soooooooooooooo many EMHC on the altar being served communion that the time it takes for the Priest to serve them takes as long as it might for him and the Deacon to just serve the people right off.

But that is a different issue. If there are too many EMHCs then that is a problem that should be addressed with the pastor and/or the Bishop. If a person feels that they should not receive from a valid EMHC because they don’t like the idea of a EMHC, then they are in Archbishop Chaput’s words violating “the spirit of collaboration.”

My church is a VERY large parish (over 4000 families registered, not people, familes) and EMHCs are required at every Sunday service. Especially those Masses where communion is available under both species. If everyone felt that EMHCs were not appropriate, then the priest(s) would have extremely long lines.

I also volunteer at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Even with ALL the priests that are assigned to church and all visiting priests at the Masses serving communion, except for special Masses where there are a lot of priests in attendance, there is still a need for EMHCs.

 

[rfk]

trimont:

She asked me where to find the official guidelines regarding this, so I knew if I put it out there to you guys, you’d have the answer in no time! Thanks…

Here are some relevant paragraphs from Redemptionis Sacramentum on extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

[151.] Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the Liturgy. Such recourse is not intended for the sake of a fuller participation of the laity but rather, by its very nature, is supplementary and provisional.[252] Furthermore, when recourse is had out of necessity to the functions of extraordinary ministers, special urgent prayers of intercession should be multiplied that the Lord may soon send a Priest for the service of the community and raise up an abundance of vocations to sacred Orders.[253]

Quite interesting, eh. I know some people who act as if it is their permanently defined means of participation, rather than realizing that the presence of EMHC is actually evidence of an urgent need for more priests. I think when you have gone to the step of purchasing robes, is no longer have the character of being “provisional”.

[152.] These purely supplementary functions must not be an occasion for disfiguring the very ministry of Priests, in … matters which pertain in the first place to Priests assisted by Deacons. It must therefore never be the case that in parishes Priests alternate indiscriminately in shifts of pastoral service with Deacons or laypersons, thus confusing what is specific to each.

They are quite emphatic about not blurring the lines between religious and laity, aren’t they. Phases like “must not be an occasion” and “It must therefore never be the case” are not exactly ambiguous or wishy-washy.

[153.] Furthermore, it is never licit for laypersons to assume the role or the vesture of a Priest or a Deacon or other clothing similar to such vesture.

That is the black and white answer to your robes question.

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister , and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

Again, the Vatican is making quite clear that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may be needed in certain circumstances, but they are trying to keep very clear limits to their function and preserving the distinction with Priests or Deacons.

Make no mistake about it – these guidelines are not optional. Here is how the document is signed:

This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned. (emphasis added)

I’ll finish with an interesting quote from the USCCB in the next message.

 

[rfk]

As part of the GIRM 3rd edition, the USCCB requested a number of indults from Rome. One of them was turned down, and the language is very specific about EMHC’s. From the USCCB, Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy, In the March-April 2002 BCL Newsletter…, the indult request was:

As a part of the practical norms, the Bishops of the United States requested indults by which extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion would be permitted to assist with the distribution of the Precious Blood to other chalices at the Lamb of God…

The response was:

The Congregation declined, however, to confirm the third request of the USCCB for an indult by which extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion could help with the distribution of the Precious Blood to other chalices during the singing of the Agnus Dei. Cardinal Medina noted that the duties of an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion are, by nature, limited to assisting ordained ministers and then only when a clear need to do so presents itself. Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion aid in the distribution of Holy Communion when requested, thereby supporting the priest celebrant or deacon who are considered the ordinary ministers as such. Cardinal Medina added that the commissioning of extraordinary ministers does not entitle them to assume any other role at the liturgy except this kind of limited assistance. He wrote: “Any extrapolation from that provision in the direction of other responsibilities that they may fulfill as a consequence of that extraordinary deputation may indicate that the extraordinary nature of their deputation is in danger of being obscured. No such deduction or extrapolation of additional responsibilities is legitimate for an essentially extraordinary provision. It is for this reason that the Holy See has ascertained the need at the present moment to reassert such a distinction both by making certain clarifications in the general liturgical norms of the Roman Rite, and by refraining from the approval of new legislation that would **extend the competence of extraordinary ministers into areas that were not previously encompassed ** but according to the understanding of the legislator.”

 

[CD4]

Br. Rich SFO:

This is the case in most churches. There are at least a few steps up into the Sanctuary from the main floor. EMHC should not leave the main floor level until after the priest receives Communion. IMO

Our new instructions say this:

**Eucharistic minsiters should participate in the Sign of Peace, proceed into the aisle and be standing at the read at te top of the aisle. As soon as the Presider completes the first break of the large host, they should proceed into the sanctuary. **

**We have as many as sixteen EMOHC. Since we no longer have “stations” at the back of the church, there are more Cup people than Bread people. This seems to help keep the flow of people going…now that everyone comes forward to receive. It works pretty well. **

**Having said that, I also want to say that I believe the flow could be just as good if there were still an altar rail, with only the priest, and perhaps a deacon or two distributing. **

Having said THAT, I want to say that the first time I was in a Cathoic Church (1985), it was a very large, very modern place…I was absolutely awed at the sight of all those people simply leaving their places…from all over that large church…to come serve their fellow Christians…I am still moved by this…even though I woud dearly love to see the return of the altar rail…Guess I want it all!

 

[deogratias]

Did he really call them Eucharistic Ministers in his instructions? Redemptionis Sacramentum is pretty clear on this.

**
1. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254] Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,[255] to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.

[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,[256]** for one occasion or for a specified time**, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.[257]

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened

**.

 

[CD4]

Did he really call them Eucharistic Ministers in his instructions? Redemptionis Sacramentum is pretty clear on this.

.

This was not written by our pastor, but by the Director of LIturgy, or whatever her title is. She is in charge of the Worship Commision, directs the choir, etc…This is not the only mistake she made when writing up the new instructions for the EMOHC. The Body and Blood were referred to as the “elements”, even after the Consecration…The ministers were instructed to take their “elements” from the priest at the altar…I was appalled, because I know that the Evangelical church my husband now attends refers to the bread and wine (grape juice) as “elements”…

 

[deogratias]

Gotta love those liturgists - NOT!