Extraordinary Eucharist ministers addressing communicants first before Christ

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I was wondering if anyone can help me with this.

There are Extraordinary Eucharistic ministers in my parish who while offering, during Communion, either the Body or Blood of Christ, address the communicant by name first before offering Holy Communion. I hear time and time again while in the Communion line:

Helen, the Body of Christ…or

Rose, the Blood of Christ

This seems to me to be very wrong; to be addressing the communicant first before Christ. I was wondering if there are any writings in Canon Law or Encyclicals (sp??) that state this is wrong Church protocol?

Thank you all and may God Bless us!
 
I’d love to hear an ansnwer to this too. Our priest does this with people he knows. He doesn’t show them the host - just says *“Body of Christ, Bob” *and then hands our Lord to him as if he was handing out poker chips.
 
Well, the person is speaking to you when they say “the body of Christ.” Why can’t they say their name as well? It is common to use someones name when addressing them. Is this necessary? No, Is it wrong to do so? I don’t see why.
As a recovering pharisee, I say be careful.
 
southernCONVERT said:
Well, the person is speaking to you when they say “the body of Christ.” Why can’t they say their name as well? It is common to use someones name when addressing them. Is this necessary? No, Is it wrong to do so? I don’t see why.
As a recovering pharisee, I say be careful.
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Because doing things differently than what is instructed leads to confusion among the faithful.

The proper mannar for administering Holy Communion is to say, “Corpus Christi” in the New Rite. There is no allowance for anything else. Any additions or omissions to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal can and has in fact led to much confusion on the layity.

That is why I am no longer attending the Novus Ordo Mass, as much as possible and driving 40 miles every Sunday for Mass to my indult parish where I am now registered.

Ken
 
From Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America:
Distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord
41. Holy Communion under the form of bread is offered to the communicant with the words “The Body of Christ.” The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: “When you approach, take care not to do so with your hand stretched out and your fingers open or apart, but rather place your left hand as a throne beneath your right, as befits one who is about to receive the King. Then receive him, taking care that nothing is lost.” (51)
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  1. Among the ways of ministering the Precious Blood as prescribed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Communion from the chalice is generally the preferred form in the Latin Church, provided that it can be carried out properly according to the norms and without any risk of even apparent irreverence toward the Blood of Christ. (52)
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  1. The chalice is offered to the communicant with the words “The Blood of Christ,” to which the communicant responds, “Amen.”
    nccbuscc.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml
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As you can see, there is no mention of any other innovation that may be added.
 
Fidelis said:
From Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America:As you can see, there is no mention of any other innovation that may be added.
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Thank you Fidelis.

I believe the reason this is bothering me is because I believe I read on this exact site about 2 years ago that it is forbidden to say a person’s name before administering Holy Communion. I am going to look in the search files on this site and on the EWTN website to be sure I in fact read that.

Thank you for this attachment. It is very helpful.
 
Elzee said:
I’d love to hear an ansnwer to this too. Our priest does this with people he knows. He doesn’t show them the host - just says *“Body of Christ, Bob” *and then hands our Lord to him as if he was handing out poker chips.
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I still have this done to me as well by clergy. However, they don’t address me by name, but do handle our Lord like a poker chip. It’s extremely disturbing when clergy show no reverence to this most sublime and loving offering God gives of Himself.
 
EWTN-FAN said:
I still have this done to me as well by clergy. However, they don’t address me by name, but do handle our Lord like a poker chip. It’s extremely disturbing when clergy show no reverence to this most sublime and loving offering God gives of Himself.
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One of our associate pastors last week took the time before the end of Mass to remind everyone on how to receive Holy Communion properly. He told the congregation:

If you are holding a baby or a walking cane or otherwise have one hand tied up, you should only receive on the tongue.

You should not extend one hand, “take” the Host, and clap it in your mouth like a potato chip.

Babies are always encouraged and welcome at Mass, but if yours is loudly and prolongingly crying or screaming or otherwise disruptive, please take them outside until they calm down.

To all this I say:

👍 :yup: :amen:
 
Please correct me if I’m wrong but the term “Extraordinary Eucharist Ministers” is not correct. For any position filled by a lay person with the title “Extraordinary” means that they would have to be installed by the Bishop. From what I understand EEM are not installed. I personally don’t live in a Diocese that has Eucharist Ministers but rather we have Acolytes (Men only) who are installed by the Bishop.
 
Jared123 said:
Please correct me if I’m wrong but the term “Extraordinary Eucharist Ministers” is not correct. For any position filled by a lay person with the title “Extraordinary” means that they would have to be installed by the Bishop. From what I understand EEM are not installed. I personally don’t live in a Diocese that has Eucharist Ministers but rather we have Acolytes (Men only) who are installed by the Bishop.
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“Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion” is the correct phrasing. “Extraordinary” means that the use of these ministers should not be “ordinary”.

Sadly, “Extraordinary” doesn’t seem to be the case in very many places. 😦

-Penitant
 
I understand that this is the correct term, but the lay people involved need to be installed by a Bishop. I have been told this by priests in a Diocese that use Eucharistic Ministers. If they are not installed by a Bishop, then the correct term would be “person handing out communion at mass.” From what I understand.
 
Jared123 said:
I understand that this it the correct term, but the lay people involved need to be installed by a Bishop. I have been told this by priests in a Diocese that uses Eucharistic Ministers.
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Probably I am just stating my misunderstanding here, but the EMHCs are not always installed by a Bishop. Probably the reason is that the Bishop delegated the authority to the Pastor of the parish.
 
I don’t know of any Diocese that installes Eucharistic ministers by the Bishop. However, in the Diocese where I live we have Acolytes. This is an office of which men can belong and we are installed after taking classes by the Bishop. We then help out at mass and distribute communion. This was practice several years ago but has since gone by the wayside. Same thing with only having alter boys and not allowing alter girls.
 
Yes, I understand that is the correct name, if installed by the local Bishop. However, if not installed that is incorrect terminology for a person handing out communion?

What warrents the name Extraordinary to a person who is not installed? Shouldn’t they simply be called Eucharistic Ministers? I have been told this by two priests, but haven’t formally looked it up in the GIRM myself. If I’m not correct could someone site a source to refute this?
 
Jared123 said:
Yes, I understand that is the correct name, if installed by the local Bishop. However, if not installed that is incorrect terminology for a person handing out communion?

What warrents the name Extraordinary to a person who is not installed? Shouldn’t they simply be called Eucharistic Ministers? I have been told this by two priests, but haven’t formally looked it up in the GIRM myself. If I’m not correct could someone site a source to refute this?
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No, the ministers of Holy Communion are “ordinarily” the priest and/or deacon (I guess perhaps an installed acolyte would be as well, but I’m not sure). The “extraordinary” ones (and they’re not that extraordinary, unfortunately, at Mass anyway) are the lay “distributors,” extraordinary precisely because they are not the “ordinary” ministers. If we had more priests and deacons, we wouldn’t have to have EMHCs, because “ordinarily,” these services are performed by the ordained clergy.

I’m not dumping on EMHCs, incidentally, I simply think that they are overused.

It was to correct the use of the term “Eucharistic Minister” that the Holy See directed that they be called EMHCs. I don’t recall what document, but as I read it in the forums, I’m sure we could find it.
 
JKirkLVNV,
I am an Acolyte for the Diocese of Lincoln Nebraska. I had to take classes and was installed by the Bishop of Lincoln. The criteria for Acolytes are that they have to be men and in good standing with the Church, and installed by the Bishop since it is a recognized office. It was the norm for the Church to only use Priest, Deacons, and Acolytes to distribute communion in the past, but eventually this went by the wayside and parts of the country starting using Euchrastic Ministers, alter girls etc. Now this is common in most parts of the country. Not having enough Priest and Deacons has no bearing on Acolytes since a married lay man in good standing can be installed in this office. We don’t use Eucharist Ministers or alter girls.
 
I have a pastor that addresses me by name, but he does so very quietly. In my opinion, this should not be done by a priest nor a layperson. The reason for this is it can lead to pride by the receiver and disdain by the person in line behind them. Pride because of the “Look at me, the priest knows me!!!” attitude and disdain because some may feel like they are an outsider or not in the loop. I believe at mass, all should feel welcomed and loved. The last thing we should do is alienate anyone.
Peace
 
Recieving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is the most important thing you will do in your life. The only words that are worthy to be said at this time is “The Body of Christ” with a firm “Amen” by the person receiving. 👍
 
Jared123 said:
JKirkLVNV,
I am an Acolyte for the Diocese of Lincoln Nebraska. I had to take classes and was installed by the Bishop of Lincoln. The criteria for Acolytes are that they have to be men and in good standing with the Church, and installed by the Bishop since it is a recognized office. It was the norm for the Church to only use Priest, Deacons, and Acolytes to distribute communion in the past, but eventually this went by the wayside and parts of the country starting using Euchrastic Ministers, alter girls etc. Now this is common in most parts of the country. Not having enough Priest and Deacons has no bearing on Acolytes since a married lay man in good standing can be installed in this office. We don’t use Eucharist Ministers or alter girls.
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I think this is an excellent practice.
 
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