For distribution of Holy Communion to the sick it is useful to have the official liturgical book âHoly Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Massâ. It is for sale at
amazon.com/Holy-Communion-Worship-Eucharist-Outside/dp/0899426484 .
An alternative would be
A Ritual for Laypersons, Liturgical Press, 1993, ISBN 0814621503.
At Mass the General Instruction to the Roman Missal is the main document. It can be accessed from
romanrite.com/girm.html or bought as a book. It has directions like:
â162. 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.â
And: â279. The sacred vessels are purified by the priest, the deacon, or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, insofar as possible at the credence table.â
Another useful document is the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum at
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html . Particularly 100-107, 129-133 and 154-160. Some extracts from this:
â[104.] The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand.â
â[107.] ⌠Furthermore all will remember that once the distribution of Holy Communion during the celebration of Mass has been completed, the prescriptions of the Roman Missal are to be observed, and in particular, whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ must be entirely and immediately consumed by the Priest or by another minister, according to the norms, while the consecrated hosts that are left are to be consumed by the Priest at the altar or carried to the place for the reservation of the Eucharist.â
â[133.] A Priest or Deacon, or an extraordinary minister who takes the Most Holy Eucharist when an ordained minister is absent or impeded in order to administer it as Communion for a sick person, should go insofar as possible directly from the place where the Sacrament is reserved to the sick personâs home, leaving aside any profane business so that any danger of profanation may be avoided and the greatest reverence for the Body of Christ may be ensured. Furthermore the Rite for the administration of Communion to the sick, as prescribed in the Roman Ritual, is always to be used.â
â[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 âspecial minister of Holy Communionâ nor âextraordinary minister of the Eucharistâ nor âspecial minister of the Eucharistâ, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.â
And:
â[159.] It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.â
, along with the priest and the bishop.