Eucharistic Minister. Should I resign?

  • Thread starter Thread starter phgboy
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

phgboy

Guest
Here’s my situation. I’ve been doing a lot of research (not extensively, just through browsing the internet) on the Traditional Latin Mass. The more I read up on it, the more the desire and conviction to attend one. One of the subjects I came accross during my research was that on Eucharistic Ministers. To my shocking suprise, I did not know that Eucharistic Ministers was never ordered by Vatican II. It was started as a result of direct disobedience to the Pope. They are only used on rare occasions, hence the true title “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion”. I other words, I guess they are not to be used on an on-going basis. Now here is where it gets tricky. I currently am a Eucharistic Minister at my parish. I’ve been commissioned, and my hands have been annointed. Based on what I have read on this, should I resign this position and start going to the Latin Mass instead? I welcome any feedback. Thank you
 
Extraordinary ministers are generally not needed in most circumstances. The problem is that Communion under both kinds (Sacred Body and Blood) has become normal. There are not enough deacons and priests to hand out both properly, so lay ministers are required. If it was only in terms of the Host being consumed, there would be no need for E.M.H.C.s, it seems!

Your dilemma is one of faith. If you believe a priest’s soul is irrevocably changed so as to be made slightly worthy of holding the Body of Christ, you cannot be a Eucharistic Minster in good conscience, for you are not a priest. It’s logic, but also childlike faith in the holiness of priests. 🙂
 
Not just because it was not part of Vatican II doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been introduced by the Church later on.

The fact today that its allowed by the Church, from the Pope all the way down to the priest, then there is no issue of it today. But if you feel that your mind has changed and you want to quit, then by all means. That decision should be yours alone.
 
GloriousOrder said:
Extraordinary ministers are generally not needed in most circumstances. The problem is that Communion under both kinds (Sacred Body and Blood) has become normal. There are not enough deacons and priests to hand out both properly, so lay ministers are required. If it was only in terms of the Host being consumed, there would be no need for E.M.H.C.s, it seems!
QUOTE]

I disagree…we have only one priests…three Masses on Sunday. Even distributing under one species…the Mass would be unduly delayed…in fact backing up into the next Mass.

I don’t really think its a problem that both species are being used. I appreciate it. Also more and more people are becoming gluten intorlerent so consuming the Precious Blood is there only option.
Click to expand...
 
phgboy said:
Here’s my situation. I’ve been doing a lot of research (not extensively, just through browsing the internet) on the Traditional Latin Mass. The more I read up on it, the more the desire and conviction to attend one. One of the subjects I came accross during my research was that on Eucharistic Ministers. To my shocking suprise, I did not know that Eucharistic Ministers was never ordered by Vatican II. It was started as a result of direct disobedience to the Pope. They are only used on rare occasions, hence the true title “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion”. I other words, I guess they are not to be used on an on-going basis. Now here is where it gets tricky. I currently am a Eucharistic Minister at my parish. I’ve been commissioned, and my hands have been annointed. Based on what I have read on this, should I resign this position and start going to the Latin Mass instead? I welcome any feedback. Thank you
Click to expand...
For your information you are not a Eucharistic Minister. Only the priest at Mass is the Eucharistic Minister.
 
thistle said:
For your information you are not a Eucharistic Minister. Only the priest at Mass is the Eucharistic Minister.
Click to expand...
Good catch!

Only a priest or bishop can be a Eucharistic Minister (one who confects the Eucharist).

Those who distribute Communion are Ministers of Communion. The clergy are ordinary ministers, the laity are extraordinary ministers.
 
@thistle, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind and in prayer. I’m assuming you attend a Latin Mass parish? Just curious.
 
There’s an old Latin phrase that says (in English), “Wherever the Pope is, there is the Church.”
 
There’s an old Latin phrase that says (in English), “Wherever the Pope is, there is the Church.”

The unity in the Church exists through the office of Peter.
 
In our Church usually 150 people receive communion in a Sunday Mass (in both rites). Usually two priests are distributing communion and it takes about 5 minutes. 4 second a communion. In this Church the communion is only under the species of bread.

In a large Church it is usual that 500 people receive communion, and under both species. One priest (for the host) and one deacon (for the cjalice) and 4 seconds for a receiving this would mean 33 minutes. The masses are usually 90 minutes apart, and at least 20 minutes are necessary between masses to avoid mess in the parking lot. The communion has to be done within 10 minutes, which requires at least 4 pairs of those who distribute the Eucharist

In the present situation of frequent (weakly) communions for everybody the Extraordinary Eucharistic ministers are absolute necessity.

Some better selection process: require background check, at least two years of special theological study, a discernment process, some revocable blessing (like the minor order of acolyte), strict dress code, my be vestment would be preferable.

The recent practice that is some churches 10+% of the regular churchgoers are Eucharistic ministers is too low level.

So my advise for the original poster is let him accept the reality, study, pray and show example what an Eucharistic minister should be.
 
phgboy said:
I currently am a Eucharistic Minister at my parish.
Click to expand...
As others have pointed out, the only correct title for a lay person who has been instituted to distribute Communion is “Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.” It sounds picky, but since Redemptionis Sacramentum (#154) made a point of mentioning that the wrong names (e.g. Eucharistic Minister) should not be used, it is worth noting.
phgboy said:
…should I resign this position and start going to the Latin Mass instead?
Click to expand...
Well, the Ordinary Form (the regular Mass you see everywhere) can be said in Latin. (This has always been allowed for all priests at their own discretion.) Extraordinary Form is the appropriate name for the Mass that is basically as it was said in 1962. It is also referred to as Traditional Latin Mass.

But anyway, if you are feeling drawn to the Extraordinary Form, you should try it out. Make sure you go at least a few times at least before you decide whether it is good for your spiritual journey. The first time can be a little frustrating. 🙂

If you are attending the EF, you will not be able to be an EMHC there, because (as I understand it) there are no rubrics for the EF that permit laypepople to distribute Communion.

There is nothing at all sinful in being an EMHC. Even if they are overused in the US (and I personally think they are), the EMHCs are not responsible for that overuse, and anyway, some are needed.

OTOH, if you feel, through prayer, that it would be better for you not to be one, then that is a decision it is perfectly OK to make too. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever go to an OF Mass again. 🙂 So basically, the decision to attend the Ordinary Form or the Extraordinary Form does not have to be the same decision as to whether to be an EMHC.

Also, there is no rule that says that you have to make a choice between the OF and the EF. I personally attend each on a regular basis.

–Jen
 
@revert_jen, thanks a million. This helps a lot in my decision making process.
 
Anyone is able to attend a Latin Mass. I presume you will be going to both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form in the future, which is perfectly fine? No need to resign any ministry in the OF, if that’s the case. Just know when receiving in the EF, a priest or deacon will administer the sacrament on the tongue and generally at the communion rail. He will use a formula other the “Body of Christ” and he will say the “Amen.”
 
Now it is jobs for lay people. The Priest and Deacon’s hands are consecrated for a reason.
 
The church has given permission for Extraordinary Ministers, who are we to put ourselves above the authority of the Church? If permission is given, then it is fine (presuming the conditions are met).

Priest are Ordinary ministers of Communion, even if they irregularly distribute communion. Likewise Extraordinary ministers remain Extraordinary no matter how regularly the fulfil that ministry.

At the discretion of the bishop and priest, communion may be received by the faithful under both species at any mass (again presuming the conditions are met), and where this is possible, it is encouraged. In most parishes this will mean that there is at least one Extraordinary minister at every mass.

RS 102. The chalice should not be ministered to lay members of Christ’s faithful where there is such a large number of communicants that it is difficult to gauge the amount of wine for the Eucharist and there is a danger that “more than a reasonable quantity of the Blood of Christ remain to be consumed at the end of the celebration”. The same is true wherever access to the chalice would be difficult to arrange, or where such a large amount of wine would be required that its certain provenance and quality could only be known with difficulty, or wherever there is not an adequate number of sacred ministers or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion with proper formation, or where a notable part of the people continues to prefer not to approach the chalice for various reasons, so that the sign of unity would in some sense be negated."

God Bless

Fr Michael Grace
 
ProVobis said:
Anyone is able to attend a Latin Mass. I presume you will be going to both the Ordinary Form and the Extraordinary Form in the future, which is perfectly fine? No need to resign any ministry in the OF, if that’s the case. Just know when receiving in the EF, a priest or deacon will administer the sacrament on the tongue and generally at the communion rail. He will use a formula other the “Body of Christ” and he will say the “Amen.”
Click to expand...
Thanks. I most definitely am planning to attend a TLM very soon. If being an EMHC is not an issue then I guess I shouldn’t discontinue it.
 
Fr_Michael_Grac said:
The church has given permission for Extraordinary Ministers, who are we to put ourselves above the authority of the Church? If permission is given, then it is fine (presuming the conditions are met).

Priest are Ordinary ministers of Communion, even if they irregularly distribute communion. Likewise Extraordinary ministers remain Extraordinary no matter how regularly the fulfil that ministry.

At the discretion of the bishop and priest, communion may be received by the faithful under both species at any mass (again presuming the conditions are met), and where this is possible, it is encouraged. In most parishes this will mean that there is at least one Extraordinary minister at every mass.

RS 102. The chalice should not be ministered to lay members of Christ’s faithful where there is such a large number of communicants that it is difficult to gauge the amount of wine for the Eucharist and there is a danger that “more than a reasonable quantity of the Blood of Christ remain to be consumed at the end of the celebration”. The same is true wherever access to the chalice would be difficult to arrange, or where such a large amount of wine would be required that its certain provenance and quality could only be known with difficulty, or wherever there is not an adequate number of sacred ministers or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion with proper formation, or where a notable part of the people continues to prefer not to approach the chalice for various reasons, so that the sign of unity would in some sense be negated."

God Bless

Fr Michael Grace
Click to expand...
Father, at most Sunday Masses extraordinary Ministers are scheduled. They are no longer extraordinary.
 
Fr_Michael_Grac said:
The church has given permission for Extraordinary Ministers, who are we to put ourselves above the authority of the Church? If permission is given, then it is fine (presuming the conditions are met).

Priest are Ordinary ministers of Communion, even if they irregularly distribute communion. Likewise Extraordinary ministers remain Extraordinary no matter how regularly the fulfil that ministry.

At the discretion of the bishop and priest, communion may be received by the faithful under both species at any mass (again presuming the conditions are met), and where this is possible, it is encouraged. In most parishes this will mean that there is at least one Extraordinary minister at every mass.

RS 102. The chalice should not be ministered to lay members of Christ’s faithful where there is such a large number of communicants that it is difficult to gauge the amount of wine for the Eucharist and there is a danger that “more than a reasonable quantity of the Blood of Christ remain to be consumed at the end of the celebration”. The same is true wherever access to the chalice would be difficult to arrange, or where such a large amount of wine would be required that its certain provenance and quality could only be known with difficulty, or wherever there is not an adequate number of sacred ministers or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion with proper formation, or where a notable part of the people continues to prefer not to approach the chalice for various reasons, so that the sign of unity would in some sense be negated."

God Bless

Fr Michael Grace
Click to expand...
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut Father. Do you use the EF yourself?
 
buffalo said:
Now it is jobs for lay people. The Priest and Deacon’s hands are consecrated for a reason.
Click to expand...
A deacon’s hand is not consecrated.

And the reason a priest’s hand is consecrated is not just for handling the Eucharist, but for actually consecrating it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top