Eucharistic service without a priest

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Is it allowed for lay people to preform a eucharistic service. At my catholic center a girl raises the eucharist and says “This is my body”. I feel like this is not okay.
 
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There is a prescribed and authorized (depending upon your bishop’s rulings) Celebration in the Absence of a Priest commonly called Communion Service.
 
From what I understand it’s only allowed if there is a pre consecrated host. A lay person consecrating a host defeats the purpose of the priesthood.
 
What you are descibing is not ok in a Catholic Church.
What might be ok would be a paraliturgical service in which already consecrated hosts are distributed to the people.
 
Does she actually say the words of the consecration, or does she say something like, “Behold the Lamb oh God who takes away the sins of the world…”
 
Jeeze, the insanity of the 70s and 80s is raising it’s ugly head again.
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
There is a prescribed and authorized (depending upon your bishop’s rulings) Celebration in the Absence of a Priest commonly called Communion Service.
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Correct, and it does not include a lay person aping the words of consecration. That is sacrilegious. A canon lawyer may be able to better explain, but it seems to me doing so might incur an automatic interdict.
§2. The following incur a latae sententiae penalty of interdict or, if a cleric, a latae sententiae penalty of suspension:

1/ a person who attempts the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice though not promoted to the sacerdotal order;
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http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P54.HTM
 
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As long as its been pre consecrated by a priest its perfectly fine - lay people bring it to the hospitals with no priest - if the priest is away and pre consecrated host there is no reason why not to do it - the consecration part of the mass is omited.
 
No! Only a bishop or priest can celebrate a Eucharistic service, i.e. the Mass.

Lay people can, subject to local diocesan regulations, lead a non-Eucharistic service, e.g. a Liturgy of the Word, at which Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament may be distributed.

In a diocese that neighbours mine the bishop has completely forbidden these liturgies. He gave as part of his reasoning that we do not have to receive Communion (not even at Mass). On Sunday one’s obligation is to go to Mass. If that is not possible the obligation is abrogated.

I find it sad and disheartening that there are some lay people who find the need to play at being priest and more so that their priests enable it to happen.
 
There are specific rites for a communion service. What is described in the OP is not permitted. Do not say its fine.
 
What she’s doing is not okay. Usually what happens in the absence of a priest is a Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion. Most of what is done is contained in the “Communion Rite” of the Mass, with the exception of actions specifically reserved to the priest.
 
Jragzz123 said:
and says “This is my body”
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That is the whole problem in this scenario. (I assume the hosts were already consecrated.)

It is not her body, but Christ’s body Those words are truly spoken only by one given the authority by the Church to speak in the person of Christ, that is, a priest.
 
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Beryllos said:
That is the whole problem in this scenario. (I assume the hosts were already consecrated.)

It is not her body, but Christ’s body Those words are truly spoken only by one given the authority by the Church to speak in the person of Christ, that is, a priest.
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I’d really like the OP to answer my question on this point – I wonder if she actually simulated consecration, or held up the host and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world …”
 
JulianN said:
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Beryllos:
That is the whole problem in this scenario. (I assume the hosts were already consecrated.)

It is not her body, but Christ’s body Those words are truly spoken only by one given the authority by the Church to speak in the person of Christ, that is, a priest.
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I’d really like the OP to answer my question on this point – I wonder if she actually simulated consecration, or held up the host and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world …”
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The second scenario seems more likely. Surely nobody would be ignorant enough to mimic the words of Consecration.

OP, what were her exact words?
 
“When we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim Your death, Lord Jesus, until you come again.”

Having said that, the correct words are exactly the same as uttered by EMHCs at the mass: “The Body of Christ.”

Anything else is a usurpation of authority or a blurring of roles. Not good.

Talk to Father.
 
spiritualsamurai said:
  • The Laity Problem: The laity should not handle the Eucharist. There is a reason the hands of the priest are consecrated. They are dedicated and consecrated to the Holy Eucharist. It is not the place of the laity to be touching the Eucharist. The only contact a lay person should regularly have with the Holy Eucharist is reception on the tongue while kneeling. (Of course, in special circumstances, a lay person can touch the Eucharist. If the Eucharist is going to be desecrated or if, in more normal circumstances, it has fallen to the floor, a lay person may pick it up to prevent further “damage”.)
  • The Feminine Problem: I don’t know how to put this sensitively but here goes. The role of women, while important, is not in the Liturgy. It is absolutely fine, it is even praiseworthy, for a woman to advance the Eternal Kingdom outside of the Liturgy. But as St. Paul writes: “Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak” (1 Corinthians 14:34)
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Except, of course, this is not Church teaching. The OP has not responded, but it’s quite possible this was a perfectly licit Communion service in the absence of a priest. We don’t know. If the lay person actually simulated consecration, that’s a huge problem.

But the objections you’ve posited are not.
 
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I would not attend any type of service with a woman in vestments or pretending to carry out priestly duties.
 
Vestments have not been mentioned prior to your post, but any baptized person may wear an alb when the circumstances warrant.
 
Tolle_Lege said:
I would not attend any type of service with a woman in vestments or pretending to carry out priestly duties.
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I doubt she was in vestments. And if she was conducting a Communion service in the absence of a priest, there was nothing wrong with that.

Of course, you’re free to attend or avoid any services you’d like.
 
I understand the Bishop’s reasoning. We did have an unusual situation at my parish where the priest was in an accident on the way to Mass, and was unable to attend. Our deacon held a such a service.

That being said, I recognize that there is a big difference in a deacon doing it over a lay person. And it was a very unusual circumstance.

Of course, as stated, the obligation would be abrogated. Though considering it was a Saturday evening Mass, I’m sure most of us could have made it to a Sunday Mass.
 
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