Eucharistic Minister

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Serenity412

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I am Eucharistic Minister. Im going through a lot in my life rigt now. Ive been diagnosed with PTSD, MDD(major depressive disorder) and social anxiety. I am however very comfortable around the people at my parish.

I have mass in thirty minutes and they may ask me to minister…problem is I self harmed a couple days and have not been to confession. I know I shouldnt do it and all that but Im not in a state of grace and dont want to tell them why. In order to minister you have to reeive.

If they ask and I do it what should I do

PS I am sering a good Catholic therapist so please dont harp on the self harm
 
If it was me, I would refrain from Ministering the Holy Eucharist. If you are asked, kindly refuse by saying you are unable to serve in that capacity today. I have had to excuse myself in the past for one reason or another.
 
I think you mean Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

You’ll be in my prayers!

In corde Iesu
 
R_C said:
I think you mean Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
/QUOTE]

Agreed . . .there is no such title in the Roman Catholic Church as “Communion Minister” or “Eucharistic Minister” . . one is either an ordinary (meaning ordained) minister, or one is a non-ordained person who is trained and commissioned to serve only when needed in specific circumstances . . . hence, the “Extra” part of the title. Although I know some who do in fact think they are “extraordinary” . . . .instead of extras 😉

And no one should have to explain themselves. As said above, a simple, “nope, I cannot serve today” should more than suffice.
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Suslar said:
Agreed . . .there is no such title in the Roman Catholic Church as “Communion Minister” or “Eucharistic Minister” . . one is either an ordinary (meaning ordained) minister, or one is a non-ordained person who is trained and commissioned to serve only when needed in specific circumstances . . . hence, the “Extra” part of the title. Although I know some who do in fact think they are “extraordinary” . . . .instead of extras 😉

And no one should have to explain themselves. As said above, a simple, “nope, I cannot serve today” should more than suffice.
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Thank you for that clarification. I have tried to find that outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, however I could not find it. Do you have links to where it is stated there or other official documents? That way if I explain to a lay person he is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion I can back myself up?
 
Sure. See Chapter VII of Redemptionis Sacramentum
old.usccb.org/liturgy/documents/instructioneng.shtml#9

Chapter VII: Extraordinary Functions of Lay Faithful
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 “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist,” by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.”
 
Suslar said:
Sure. See Chapter VII of Redemptionis Sacramentum
old.usccb.org/liturgy/documents/instructioneng.shtml#9

Chapter VII: Extraordinary Functions of Lay Faithful
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 “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist,” by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.”
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Awesome. Thanks, just what I was looking for!
 
Bergon said:
That would be a bishop, priest or deacon.

That is a bishop or priest.
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No, any ordained person would be an “ordinary minister” . or simply a.“minister”

In para 154 of Redemptionis Sacramentum, it states, in part, “Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon 255. . . ”

The footnoted reference is to Code of Canon Law, can. 900 §1. And also Pope John Paul II, Letter, Dominicae Cenae, no. 11: AAS 72 (1980) p. 142; Congregation for the Clergy et al., Instruction, Ecclesiae de mysterio, Practical Provisions, article 8 §1: AAS 89 (1997) pp. 870-871.

Nowhere did I see the title “Communion Minister” or “Eucharistic Minister” used. The ordained are properly referred to as “sacred ministers” and “ordinary ministers.”

“CM” and “EM” are misnomers.
 
Suslar said:
No, any ordained person would be an “ordinary minister” . or simply a.“minister”

In para 154 of Redemptionis Sacramentum, it states, in part, “Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon 255. . . ”

The footnoted reference is to Code of Canon Law, can. 900 §1. And also Pope John Paul II, Letter, Dominicae Cenae, no. 11: AAS 72 (1980) p. 142; Congregation for the Clergy et al., Instruction, Ecclesiae de mysterio, Practical Provisions, article 8 §1: AAS 89 (1997) pp. 870-871.

Nowhere did I see the title “Communion Minister” or “Eucharistic Minister” used. The ordained are properly referred to as “sacred ministers” and “ordinary ministers.”

“CM” and “EM” are misnomers.
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No they are not.

They are useful terms. If you want to follow, rigidly, the document you quoted you’d exclude bishops from celebrating the Mass. A eucharistic minister is one who can (con)celebrate the Mass and confect the Eucharist.

A communion minister is an ‘ordinary’ minister, i.e. by virtue of their ordination, of the Holy Communion, viz. bishops, priests and deacons. I concur, they are ‘sacred’ ministers and ‘ordinary’ ministers.
 
Serenity,

Do you have another parish close by? We used to have a priest who would crook his finger from the altar and summon a particular person up for the job, so I tended to go hide at a different parish on a day when I couldn’t go up. It is the zero confrontation way to fix the problem.
 
Bergon said:
No they are not.

They are useful terms. If you want to follow, rigidly, the document you quoted you’d exclude bishops from celebrating the Mass. A eucharistic minister is one who can (con)celebrate the Mass and confect the Eucharist.

A communion minister is an ‘ordinary’ minister, i.e. by virtue of their ordination, of the Holy Communion, viz. bishops, priests and deacons. I concur, they are ‘sacred’ ministers and ‘ordinary’ ministers.
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We can disagree. That’s ok. The phony titles of “Communion Minster” and “Eucharistic Minister” are not at all helpful or useful because they have already been usurped by a laity who then does not understand their distinct role as one separate from clergy. Lay people are using the “titles” - not clergy - and that is problematic. Still, if the ordained were to claim such a title back from the laity, calling priests, bishops and deacons “Eucharistic ministers” seems to put limits on the breadth and scope of the Sacramental offices assigned to clergy.

I am curious, can you site any Church teaching that uses either the term “Communion Minster” or “Eucharistic Minister” to refer to clergy? I’ve not come across that and would be interested. Thanks.
 
Suslar said:
We can disagree. That’s ok. The phony titles of “Communion Minster” and “Eucharistic Minister” are not at all helpful or useful because they have already been usurped by a laity who then does not understand their distinct role as one separate from clergy. Lay people are using the “titles” - not clergy - and that is problematic. Still, if the ordained were to claim such a title back from the laity, calling priests, bishops and deacons “Eucharistic ministers” seems to put limits on the breadth and scope of the Sacramental offices assigned to clergy.

I am curious, can you site any Church teaching that uses either the term “Communion Minster” or “Eucharistic Minister” to refer to clergy? I’ve not come across that and would be interested. Thanks.
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Usurpation of titles doesn’t make them redundant; they should be reclaimed.

I can’t see any title that wouldn’t have its problems. I remember when EMHCs were referred to as special ministers. Unfortunately, many still see the term “extraordinary” as meaning special.
 
Reported.

By the way, didn’t mean to start a discussion on the title EMHC…I am 100% certain that he used it in the most simple and respectful way…just wanted to call things with their name 🤷
 
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