Eucharistic service without a priest

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JulianN said:
Because the alb is the garb of the baptized; it is not clerical. For a lay person performing a liturgical function, such as leading a Communion service, it is the appropriate garment. Vestments would not be appropriate.
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I do not know who or where it says all the baptised can wear an alb. I have read various guidelines and they consistently recommend that laymen when leading a service dress like laymen and do not wear anything that would hint at them being clergy.
JulianN said:
You’d expect the leader of a service to hold up the host and say, “Behold the Lamb of God … etc.” from the main part of the congregation?
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That is only a very small part of the entire liturgy. Again, referring back to various guidelines I have read the lay leader should be with the congregation and must not sit in or use the chair in the sanctuary used by the priest when he celebrates Mass or otherwise presides at a liturgy.
 
I would think that is what she did, and someone may have misunderstood and recalled it wrongly.

If, indeed, she said that…it needs attention.
 
vz71 said:
Your opinion is that the church does not ‘like’ the faithful to receive Christ outside the presence of a priest?

How odd.

It places you in the uncomfortable position of claiming that a long standing tradition, one that has been from the very beginning, is disliked.
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Did you not actually read what I posted earlier??

Here is an example of the position of the Bishop of Santa Rosa in California and the instructions he sent out to the priests in his diocese:

"Therefore, I have explained to the priests of the Diocese that the following is to be observed:
  1. As a general policy, Communion Services instead of Mass are not allowed either on Sundays or on weekdays. Those who have been asked to do them in the past may no longer do so.
  2. Information about the times for Masses at nearby Parishes and Chapels is to be published regularly in Parishes of the Diocese so that those who are able may travel to other sites for Mass.
  3. Pastors are encouraged to make arrangements, when they are unable to celebrate Mass, for a Parish Leader to be instructed to lead the Community in Prayer according to the Approved Rites. The Rites include leading Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer or a Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word. A lay person leading the Service may read a text prepared by the Pastor. Only a Deacon may preach. These Services are to be conducted without the Distribution of Holy Communion.
  4. Deacons may also expose the Blessed Sacrament for a period of adoration followed by Benediction. Distribution of Holy Communion is not permitted in conjunction with Benediction.
  5. This policy is not intended to impede those persons charged with the important duty of bringing Holy Communion to the Sick and to Shut-ins.
  6. Under no circumstances are those charged with the duty of bringing Holy Communion to others to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their own homes.
  7. These Regulations become effective on August 1, 2018."
 
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TomH1 said:
That is only a very small part of the entire liturgy. Again, referring back to various guidelines I have read the lay leader should be with the congregation and must not sit in or use the chair in the sanctuary used by the priest when he celebrates Mass or otherwise presides at a liturgy.
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Yes, but it was the part of the liturgy we were discussing in the OP. No one was talking about using the presider’s chair. There are also readings – they are appropriately proclaimed from the ambo, not from a place within the congregation.
 
Why is everyone doubting what the OP said? He said her words were “this is my body.” He even used quotation marks to indicate a direct quote. The most charitable thing to do is to take him at his word.

I do agree that he really should write a follow up response. Just to show he’s actually reading the comments on the thread he started, and not just ghosting everyone.
 
Asinner said:
Why is everyone doubting what the OP said? He said her words were “this is my body.”
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Because this is so highly unusual that people are thinking it’s quite possible he mixed up “this is my body” with “This is the Lamb of God” – also done while holding up the host. If the lay person actually simulated consecration, that’s quite serious. It’s just quite unlikely.
 
thistle said:
Did you not actually read what I posted earlier??
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Yes, I did.
thistle said:
It would appear that Rome does not like Communion Services.
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It appears to me that you are taking actions taken as a general dislike.
That is not the case.

While it is possible, and probable, that abuses are happening; we should not confuse a dislike for the abuses and action taken to reduce them as a dislike of the communion service.

The communion service is very often the only means by which the faithful can receive.
Whether it be because the faithful is a shut in or if there is simply a shortage of priests to cover everyone, this service is of vital importance.

Actions to reduce an abuse are not actions to reduce the service.
 
TomH1 said:
do not know who or where it says all the baptised can wear an alb. I have read various guidelines and they consistently recommend that laymen when leading a service dress like laymen and do not wear anything that would hint at them being clergy.
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The GIRM: “In the Dioceses of the United States, acolytes, altar servers, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other appropriate and dignified clothing” (No.339).
 
I’m going to take him at his word. I also think it is unhelpful to have an entire discussion in a thread while laboring under the assumption the OP is mistaken about his own observations.
 
A follow up question. Was this established after Vatican ii or was it always in existence? Because every time I see it it feels weird.
 
TK421 said:
A priest acts in the person of Christ, so ‘this is my body’ has a special significance during the Liturgy of the Eucharist that does not correspond with a layperson.
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Correct, as does “The Lord be with you.” — that’s reserved to clergy, too, but a harder item to get across sometimes when these services are implemented.
 
Jragzz123 said:
Because every time I see it it feels weird.
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I’m sorry it “feels weird” to you, but that’s not the best indicator of what the Church permits. When it started and with what council as the marker in time seems hardly relevant.

Do you have any thoughts on the other questions people have raised of you in particular?
 
vz71 said:
It appears to me that you are taking actions taken as a general dislike.
That is not the case.

While it is possible, and probable, that abuses are happening; we should not confuse a dislike for the abuses and action taken to reduce them as a dislike of the communion service.

The communion service is very often the only means by which the faithful can receive.
Whether it be because the faithful is a shut in or if there is simply a shortage of priests to cover everyone, this service is of vital importance.

Actions to reduce an abuse are not actions to reduce the service.
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Did you not read above the banning of Communion Services by the Bishop of Santa Rosa which I quoted.
I do not believe “The communion service is very often the only means by which the faithful can receive.”
 
thistle said:
I do not believe “The communion service is very often the only means by which the faithful can receive.”
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In California, perhaps. But there are many areas that are not so blessed to have a number of priests available.
 
vz71 said:
In California, perhaps. But there are many areas that are not so blessed to have a number of priests available.
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Where then? You have made a sweeping statement without backing it up.
Remember too that while it is recommended to receive Communion regularly it is not required to receive daily, or weekly, or monthly. It is only required once a year so I don’t see the need for Communion Services.
 
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thistle said:
"Therefore, I have explained to the priests of the Diocese that the following is to be observed:
  1. As a general policy, Communion Services instead of Mass are not allowed either on Sundays or on weekdays. Those who have been asked to do them in the past may no longer do so.
  2. Information about the times for Masses at nearby Parishes and Chapels is to be published regularly in Parishes of the Diocese so that those who are able may travel to other sites for Mass.
  3. Pastors are encouraged to make arrangements, when they are unable to celebrate Mass, for a Parish Leader to be instructed to lead the Community in Prayer according to the Approved Rites. The Rites include leading Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer or a Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word. A lay person leading the Service may read a text prepared by the Pastor. Only a Deacon may preach. These Services are to be conducted without the Distribution of Holy Communion.
  4. Deacons may also expose the Blessed Sacrament for a period of adoration followed by Benediction. Distribution of Holy Communion is not permitted in conjunction with Benediction.
  5. This policy is not intended to impede those persons charged with the important duty of bringing Holy Communion to the Sick and to Shut-ins.
  6. Under no circumstances are those charged with the duty of bringing Holy Communion to others to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their own homes.
  7. These Regulations become effective on August 1, 2018."
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In my post #43:

Instructions from the Bishop of Santa Rosa to the priests in his diocese:

"Therefore, I have explained to the priests of the Diocese that the following is to be observed:
  1. As a general policy, Communion Services instead of Mass are not allowed either on Sundays or on weekdays. Those who have been asked to do them in the past may no longer do so.
  2. Information about the times for Masses at nearby Parishes and Chapels is to be published regularly in Parishes of the Diocese so that those who are able may travel to other sites for Mass.
  3. Pastors are encouraged to make arrangements, when they are unable to celebrate Mass, for a Parish Leader to be instructed to lead the Community in Prayer according to the Approved Rites. The Rites include leading Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer or a Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word. A lay person leading the Service may read a text prepared by the Pastor. Only a Deacon may preach. These Services are to be conducted without the Distribution of Holy Communion.
  4. Deacons may also expose the Blessed Sacrament for a period of adoration followed by Benediction. Distribution of Holy Communion is not permitted in conjunction with Benediction.
  5. This policy is not intended to impede those persons charged with the important duty of bringing Holy Communion to the Sick and to Shut-ins.
  6. Under no circumstances are those charged with the duty of bringing Holy Communion to others to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in their own homes.
  7. These Regulations become effective on August 1, 2018."
 
I’m only saying that because Vatican 2 started a lot of new things especially in the liturgy. And it doesn’t seem like lay people should have such a role since their hands aren’t consecrated. And I’ve seen women do it as well and I was under the impression that women weren’t allowed on the alter. So that’s why I think the idea is weird because it doesn’t seem like it’s rooted in tradition but instead a modern addition. So that’s what I’m curious on.
 
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