Eucharistic ceremony

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I just moved back to Germany after living in the States for 8 years. Well, the parish here is nice, very active and lively ( very liberal, too, as are most German parishes, and leaning very closely to the ecumenical thought with the Lutheran Church ). We have a great pastor and a new young junior priest, who are both great with the kids. My question, though. I usually attend the Family Mass with the kids right now. They usually skip one reading ( mainly the OT one) if they have any, and here it comes with the Eucharist. Father will consecrate the gifts , hold up the host- and then, before he consumes it, he hands it to the eucharistic ministers! HUH?:confused: I thought he was supposed to consume the Body first? The EMs usually wait for him to eat it first, but still, the mere fact that he hands it to them first…I’m confused. The same with the Blood, he lets the EMs drink first. Is that ok? I’m no theologian, so I wouldn’t know. But I was a lector in the US, and in all my training, it was always stressed that everybody waits for Father to consume the Body and Blood first. Any (name removed by moderator)ut?
Thanks, God bless
 
Unfortunately, I’ve seen that happen in the US as well.

It is an abuse. The priest should consume the sacred body and precious blood before distributing it.

Adam
 
If my visit to Germany is any indication, they generally don’t believe in the True Presence either.

My host mother’s daughter, about 7, said she didn’t know if she should receive her 1st Communion b/c she couldn’t get the whole True Presence thing. Her mom took her to the priest, who explained “It’s only a symbol honey, you don’t need to worry.” :eek: The mother relayed this to me as an amusing anecdote about her daughter’s naivety.

Then my host father tried to convince me that marriage should be short term, reevaluated every 2 or 3 years or so. The Church in Germany needs our prayers!
 
Well, I don’t really get it. The priest usually gathers all the children around the altar when he consecrates the Body and Blood. He always wants them to be quiet and bow in reverence. From how I was brought up, Father never spoke of Body and Blood, but just “the host”. I hope I don’t remeber incorrectly. But hearing of the “real presence” was in the US for the first time. I love how they get kids to like attending Mass, and they always stress the Christian mission etc., but even my mom agreed that this paasing off the Body and Blood to the EMs first wasn’t right, she had just never noticed it before. I guess this country DOES need a lot of prayers…:yup:

Peace and God bless
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vluvski:
If my visit to Germany is any indication, they generally don’t believe in the True Presence either.

My host mother’s daughter, about 7, said she didn’t know if she should receive her 1st Communion b/c she couldn’t get the whole True Presence thing. Her mom took her to the priest, who explained “It’s only a symbol honey, you don’t need to worry.” :eek: The mother relayed this to me as an amusing anecdote about her daughter’s naivety.

Then my host father tried to convince me that marriage should be short term, reevaluated every 2 or 3 years or so. The Church in Germany needs our prayers!
Click to expand...
 
40.png
vluvski:
If my visit to Germany is any indication, they generally don’t believe in the True Presence either.

My host mother’s daughter, about 7, said she didn’t know if she should receive her 1st Communion b/c she couldn’t get the whole True Presence thing. Her mom took her to the priest, who explained “It’s only a symbol honey, you don’t need to worry.” :eek: The mother relayed this to me as an amusing anecdote about her daughter’s naivety.

Then my host father tried to convince me that marriage should be short term, reevaluated every 2 or 3 years or so. The Church in Germany needs our prayers!
Click to expand...
It’s not just in Germany. I’ve met many people here in California who say it is only symbolic as well. Actually, that might be a good question to post on this forum as a poll, what do you think?
 
Prior to the General instructions of the Roman Missal, many American churches practiced this method of distributing Holy Communion. But since the instructions were installed and practiced, the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist do not approach the altar until the celebrant consumes the Host. Hopefully, this will come to your parish soon. You can read more about it by linking onto the website
usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter4.shtml#sect4
*162. 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.*
 
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