EMHCs receiving Communion along with the priest

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On my honeymoon in Hawaii, I attended a Mass where the EMHCs received Communion in the manner of concelebrants – that is, they came into the sanctuary during the Fraction and received the Host from the priest before the Non sum dignus. After the priest consumed his they consumed theirs.

I alerted the pastor to the abuse afterwards, but I was unable to find a lot of documents discussing this error. The only two references I found were Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass (USCCB) and Ecclesia de mysterio (Vatican) Article 8, Section 2.

I seem to recall reading something (although perhaps it was not a Vatican source) about recognizing that the priest must consume the Body and Blood first because that is the consummation (no pun intended) of the sacrifice, that the priest offering it eats it; that makes it wholly inappropriate for anyone besides a priest to partake of the sacrifice before it has been completed. Has anyone else read something like this? What is the source?
 
japhy said:
On my honeymoon in Hawaii, I attended a Mass where the EMHCs received Communion in the manner of concelebrants – that is, they came into the sanctuary during the Fraction and received the Host from the priest before the Non sum dignus. After the priest consumed his they consumed theirs.

I alerted the pastor to the abuse afterwards, but I was unable to find a lot of documents discussing this error. The only two references I found were Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass (USCCB) and Ecclesia de mysterio (Vatican) Article 8, Section 2.

I seem to recall reading something (although perhaps it was not a Vatican source) about recognizing that the priest must consume the Body and Blood first because that is the consummation (no pun intended) of the sacrifice, that the priest offering it eats it; that makes it wholly inappropriate for anyone besides a priest to partake of the sacrifice before it has been completed. Has anyone else read something like this? What is the source?
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vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

INSTRUCTION

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED
FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

Article 8

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

etc.
 
japhy said:
On my honeymoon in Hawaii, I attended a Mass where the EMHCs received Communion in the manner of concelebrants – that is, they came into the sanctuary during the Fraction and received the Host from the priest before the Non sum dignus. After the priest consumed his they consumed theirs.

I alerted the pastor to the abuse afterwards, but I was unable to find a lot of documents discussing this error. The only two references I found were Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass (USCCB) and Ecclesia de mysterio (Vatican) Article 8, Section 2.

I seem to recall reading something (although perhaps it was not a Vatican source) about recognizing that the priest must consume the Body and Blood first because that is the consummation (no pun intended) of the sacrifice, that the priest offering it eats it; that makes it wholly inappropriate for anyone besides a priest to partake of the sacrifice before it has been completed. Has anyone else read something like this? What is the source?
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Try the GIRM since they are still part of the United States.
 
Dear Br Rich SFO,

If my memory serves me correctly; while Hawaii is part of the United States it is NOT under the authority of the USCCB.

Br Mark,OSB
 
Br_Mark said:
Dear Br Rich SFO,

If my memory serves me correctly; while Hawaii is part of the United States it is NOT under the authority of the USCCB.

Br Mark,OSB
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You know there was a voice in the back of my mind saying something like that. Who are they with? Philippines? Is there an Asia-Pacific Conference? Isn’t the GIRM for all English speaking countries? The US adaptions would not apply though.
 
Dear Br Rich SFO;

I believe hawaii is under the authority of the Pacific Conf. of Catholic Bishops.

However as you know the majority of Catholic Dioceses worldwide (not just those in the USA) are not in conformity with the literal guidelines of the GIRM. And this is for many different reasons; from not conforming to the “traditions” of a certain area to a different “reading” or guidance of the local see.

Br Mark, OSB
 
We did something like this in our parish for a short time. The EMHCs would receive the host in their hands. The priest would communicate and then the EMHCs would consume theirs immediately after. This changed again not long after to where the EMHCs come up onto the level of the altar, but hang back and wait till the priest has communicated both species, then they form a line and receive the host from the priest and the cup from the first two EHMCs to receive.
New pastor or Bishops order? Who knows. Did I really care one way or the other? No.
 
Br_Mark said:
Dear Br Rich SFO;

I believe hawaii is under the authority of the Pacific Conf. of Catholic Bishops.

However as you know the majority of Catholic Dioceses worldwide (not just those in the USA) are not in conformity with the literal guidelines of the GIRM. And this is for many different reasons; from not conforming to the “traditions” of a certain area to a different “reading” or guidance of the local see.

Br Mark, OSB
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I also thought RS which is a Church wide document addressed this specific issue also? I may be mistaken, I’m not any place where I can look at it.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I also thought RS which is a Church wide document addressed this specific issue also? I may be mistaken, I’m not any place where I can look at it.
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RS is a Church-wide document, yes, but I can’t find anything in it pertaining to the manner of EMHCs (or deacons for that matter) receiving in a manner similar to priests.
 
Br_Mark said:
Dear Br Rich SFO,

If my memory serves me correctly; while Hawaii is part of the United States it is NOT under the authority of the USCCB.

Br Mark,OSB
Click to expand...
They might not be under the jurisdiction of the USCCB, but the pastor did say at the end of Mass that the parish is reviewing the GIRM to better adhere to it; the particular issue he brought up was the sign of reverence before receiving the Body and Blood, as well as the necessity of consuming the Host immediately after receiving it. (I found that ironic since the EMHCs weren’t consuming it immediately, since they were waiting until after the priest had consumed his.)
 
rwoehmke said:
We did something like this in our parish for a short time. The EMHCs would receive the host in their hands. The priest would communicate and then the EMHCs would consume theirs immediately after. This changed again not long after to where the EMHCs come up onto the level of the altar, but hang back and wait till the priest has communicated both species, then they form a line and receive the host from the priest and the cup from the first two EHMCs to receive.
New pastor or Bishops order? Who knows. Did I really care one way or the other? No.
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ditto at our parish
 
japhy said:
…I seem to recall reading something (although perhaps it was not a Vatican source) about recognizing that the priest must consume the Body and Blood first because that is the consummation (no pun intended) of the sacrifice, that the priest offering it eats it; that makes it wholly inappropriate for anyone besides a priest to partake of the sacrifice before it has been completed. Has anyone else read something like this? What is the source?
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From the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (which applies worldwide to the Roman Rite, at least the post Vatican II form):
“[88.] The faithful should normally receive sacramental Communion of the Eucharist during Mass itself, at the moment laid down by the rite of celebration, that is to say, just after the Priest celebrant’s Communion. [footnote 172: Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 55.]”

From Sacrosanctum Concilium, “55. That more complete form of participation in the Mass by which the faithful, after the priest’s communion, receive the Lord’s body from the same sacrifice, is stongly endorsed.”
 
The EMHC’s are on the altar when our priest is taking communion in 2 of our local parishes. I am going to bring this up at our next church meeting. It is up to the parishioner’s to help direct abuses out of the Mass. Just keep on pointing these things out to the proper authorities.
 
rwoehmke said:
This changed again not long after to where the EMHCs come up onto the level of the altar, but hang back and wait till the priest has communicated both species, then they form a line and receive the host from the priest and the cup from the first two EHMCs to receive
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Every parish I have attended has the EMHC’s come up just before or during the Angus Dei (Lamb of God), and wait as above. EMHC’s receive at the same time as the Altar Servers. The deacons recieve the Body from the priest, and the cup from the Altar or the celebrant.

In my current parish, the celebrant communicates the Body to the EMHC’s, then the deacons the EMHC’s of the cup, and they communicate the EMHC’s of the Body with the Blood, then the priest and deacons hand the ciboria to the EMHC’s of the body.
 
Aramis said:
Every parish I have attended has the EMHC’s come up just before or during the Angus Dei (Lamb of God), and wait as above. EMHC’s receive at the same time as the Altar Servers. The deacons recieve the Body from the priest, and the cup from the Altar or the celebrant.
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I believe the GIRM does not allow for anyone besides a priest to communicate the Chalice from the altar himself, not even a deacon:

“Communione a sacerdote facta, diaconus Communionem sub utraque specie ab ipso sacerdote accipit” (IGMR 182) / “After the priest’s Communion, the deacon receives Communion under both kinds from the priest himself” (GIRM 182)
 
At the parish my husband and I currently attend, the Priest and the EMHC’s don’t receive communion until after they have distributed it to the whole congregation. This is very disconcerting to me…:confused:
 
dewhuss said:
At the parish my husband and I currently attend, the Priest and the EMHC’s don’t receive communion until after they have distributed it to the whole congregation. This is very disconcerting to me…:confused:
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What what WHAT?! That is totally wrong. Please inform your priests immediately!

“The faithful should normally receive sacramental Communion of the Eucharist during Mass itself, at the moment laid down by the rite of celebration, that is to say, just after the Priest celebrant’s Communion.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum 88)

It points to the Vatican II constitution on the liturgy: “That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest’s communion, receive the Lord’s body from the same sacrifice, is strongly commended.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 55)

As for EMHCs waiting until after the congregation to receive, I suggest you show your priests what the USCCB has to say on the matter:

“The practice of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law.” (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass)

“If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by pastoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.” (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion 38)

Sigh.
 
Last year (or the year before?) in our diocese, it was specified that the USCCB instruction is that EMHC are NOT to approach the altar until the priest has consumed both Body and Blood.

We wait - then we go to the sides of the Altar and receive Body and Blood.

Also…the priest is to cleanse the vessels after communion - and before the end of Mass.

Does any of this make a difference in my life? Probably not. However, this is part of obedience to the Bishops and I comply. I want to make sure that I show utmost respect for the sanctity of Mass and the authority of my pastor, the bishop.

PEACE.
 
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