EMHCs: what do you do when there is simply way, way, WAY too much Precious Blood left over?

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EMHCs: what do you do when there is simply way, way, WAY too much Precious Blood left over?

As in too much for it to be consumed at Mass. What do you do with it?
 
After we go back behind the altar after communion, one or more of us consumes It.

John
 
(a) It must be consumed. It cannot be poured down the drain.

(b) If this happens, it means too much wine is being consecrated. The amount should be reduced. It is better to have too little than too much. (Note that this is the opposite situation from consecrating the hosts, which can be stored in the tabernacle.)
 
lepanto said:
My question presumes that there is simply too much to consume.

What then?
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Classic example…someone who filled our cups before Easter Sunday Mass put WAY too much wine in. Of course, after Communion, there was WAY too much Precious Blood left over - plus the other EMHC who was responsible for the cup could not drink the Precious Blood…so I was the only one who consumed after Communion. I left church with a buzz - very scary thought…going to church and leaving drunk.

Yes, it is a problem. You have to bite the bullet and consume what is left.

A question arises though - Is there a way to do this in a better fashion - say drink a little bit at a time, not consuming the whole lot in one shot?
 
lepanto said:
My question presumes that there is simply too much to consume.

What then?
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I was once asked to come and help consume the extra Precious Blood. Someone I knew saw me after Mass and asked me to help because there was more then they wanted to drink themselves.

I don’t know if that was exactly according to the rules, but it was a pragmatic way of avoiding the problem an earlier poster mentioned of leaving Mass with a buzz. SOMEONE has to drink it because you can’t dispose of it some other way.
 
Communion under one species or by intinction-you’ll never have too much Precious Blood again.
 
How could the contents of one’s own chalice be too much to consume? There should not be a problem if each EMHC consumes what is left in his/her chalice.
 
lak611 said:
How could the contents of one’s own chalice be too much to consume? There should not be a problem if each EMHC consumes what is left in his/her chalice.
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I have seen some very big chalices. Also, most EMHCs, per my observation, are women – not 300 pound football players.
 
Guess I’m strange in this, but I only consume the Precious Blood when “The Blood of Christ” is offered to me. After distribution, I place the chalice on the corporal on the altar with what remains after the last person has received. If any of the Precious Blood remains, I leave it to the celebrant to decide what to do. He is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion. He knows which EMHCs can assist if a large amount is left. If he wishes us to assist, he will hand us the chalice (receive vs take).
 
lepanto said:
I have seen some very big chalices. Also, most EMHCs, per my observation, are women – not 300 pound football players.
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If one cannot consume the accidents of wine (at most the equivalent of one glass), he/she should not be a minister of the chalice.
 
lepanto said:
EMHCs: what do you do when there is simply way, way, WAY too much Precious Blood left over?

As in too much for it to be consumed at Mass. What do you do with it?
Click to expand...
It must be consumed right after Holy Communion is finished. It is possible to ask a few additional people to help when this is truly necessary.
 
Perhaps a look at the liturgical norms would be in order.

Certainly see GIRM 279: “Care must be taken that whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ after the distribution of Communion is consumed immediately and completely at the altar.”

But for those in the US, note Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America, 52:

“When more of the Precious Blood remains than was necessary for Communion, and if not consumed by the bishop or priest celebrant, ‘the deacon immediately and reverently consumes at the altar all of the Blood of Christ which remains; he may be assisted, if needs dictate, by other deacons and priests.’ When there are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop.”

Thus EMHCs should see if the diocesan bishop has given permission for them to do so. One presumes the priest would know if this permission has been given.

Beyond that, it would seem suitable to me that the priest, rather than the extraordinary ministers of HC, should direct the subsequent reception by others of any remainder of the Precious Blood.
 
lepanto said:
EMHCs: what do you do when there is simply way, way, WAY too much Precious Blood left over?

As in too much for it to be consumed at Mass. What do you do with it?
Click to expand...
The Pope ‘mandated’ last year, that the empty chalices should be left for the priests to wash out and cleanse from now on. That is NOT something the EEM’s should be doing anymore. I was taught when I was a EEM to drink the wine that remains, and since the new edict from the Pope, not to wash/cleanse the inside of the chalice. But, you should drink the remains, or have one of the other EEM’s drink it ‘with’ you. Hope this helps.🙂
 
Who’d have thunk that you’d have to have a designated driver at Mass :bigyikes:
 
whatevergirl said:
That is NOT something the EEM’s should be doing anymore. I was taught when I was a EEM to drink the wine that remains, and since the new edict from the Pope, not to wash/cleanse the inside of the chalice. But, you should drink the remains, or have one of the other EEM’s drink it ‘with’ you. Hope this helps.🙂
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What is an EEM?
 
Philothea53 said:
What is a minister of the chalice? I’ve never heard that term before.
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The person or persons who give the Precious Blood to the congregation. It’s not anything different or special. An EMHC may be asked by the priest to offer either the Hosts or the Precious Blood. If there is a deacon, he is the ordinary minister of the Chalice, but there are usually also laypersons who also give the Precious Blood to the congregation.
 
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