Eucharistic Ministers, what would you do?

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CARose

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Hi,

Here’s a two-fer for you. I’d be interested in getting your advice on how you would have handled this situation.

Set the scene - I belong to a very small parish in a tourist community, so we frequently have a number of people attending daily mass, even though there are only a few who ar local and upon whom we can call for lector, eucharistic minister, etc. I am a daily communicant and lector / eucharist minister on Tuesdays and fill-in on those occations when the regularly scheduled person doesn’t attend.

Yesterday, our regular lector / em wasn’t there shortly before Mass so Father asked me to step to the ambo to see which readings he had selected for the day (several available for Independence Day). There were approximately 20 people in attendance, only a couple of us were locals.

Obviously, I stepped up to help. Then, after doing the readings, the fact that the Pine Pollen was blowing made it’s full impression on my sinuses. I always carry tissues, so that wasn’t a problem, but I was sniffling and blowing my nose before approaching the altar to assist with the Eucharist.

Question 1, Should I have simply played dumb and not approached to avoid scandal for anyone afraid of catching what must have looked like a cold or other contagious sniffle?

Question 2, The first person to approach the chalice, a visitor whom I think I’ve seen here before, but whom I don’t know, took her host and dipped it in the wine. My eyes must have gotten to the size of silver dollars as I just stood there. The majority of the remainder of the attendees drank from the chalice.

What would you have done?

CARose
 
Answer 1: Try to carry a couple of Handi Wipes in your purse or pocket. They come wrapped in foil, and make your hands squeaky clean. If you want, be obvious about their use. 😉

Answer 2: If she’s a regular, point it out to Father. If she’s not, let it go. She obviously comes from a place where the Faithful incorrectly practice their own intinction.
 
Answer 1: The previous answer is good.

Answer 2: If a person tries to self intinct, I was taught to simply cover the chalice with your hand and say, sorry we don’t do that here, and ask them to please consume the host first before receiving the Precious Blood.

matthew
 
Thank you for your feedback. Your responses to question 1 help me to know that I didn’t do a major faux pas by approaching the chalice after a display of sniffles.

As for question # 2, since your answers differ, I think I’ll ask Father how he would like me to address the issue if it were to happen again. She was there again today but she did not self intinct (if that’s a word). I’d be unhappy to have her repeat it without my knowing how Father would prefer I respond. He tends to err on the side of reduced scandal and charity, while preferring that things be done correctly.

Thanks,

CARose
 
20 people at daily Mass should have taken Father about 3 minutes to communicate, why are EMHCs needed for daily Mass?
 
puzzleannie said:
20 people at daily Mass should have taken Father about 3 minutes to communicate, why are EMHCs needed for daily Mass?
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From the sounds of it, she was holding the chalice 🙂
Unless after everyone recieves the Host, the Priest can get the Chalice and anyone who wishes to partake in that Specimen could go through again and do so… but that might seem confusing…

As for your #2, I would have went to her after Mass and explained how the Host is to be eaten (can’t think of right word) upon recieving it ect… Or ask the Father to. Though asking him like you said is the best option.
 
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CatholicCid:
From the sounds of it, she was holding the chalice 🙂
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I guess I assumed that because it was daily Mass the chalice was not offered to the people, my ignorance because I have not been anyplace where that is done for daily Mass, I need to change these bifocals I did not get the part about self-intinction. anyhow the priest should instruct the EHMC on what to do in these cases
 
CatholicCid got it right, I was holding the Chalice. We only offer both species at daily Mass here. On Sunday, it is only the host that is offered (like I said, we get a lot of visitors who attend Sunday Mass).

Thanks for your responses.

CARose
 
We only offer His Body at daily, and Body and Blood on Sunday. It seems to be the same all over the midwest.

But I did go to a really nice daily Mass in Redding, CA, and they did offer under both species.
 
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