Extraordinary Minister approaching the Tabernacle

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papist777

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During our training for new extraordinary ministers of communion, the teacher indicated that we shoud approach the priest if we ran out of hosts duing the distribution of euacharist. It is then up to him if he would go to the tabernacle for additional hosts or instruct us that we would, but ONLY if the priest instructed us to.

Is this allowed? If not, where is this referenced?

Kindest regards;
Steve Chechet
 
I don’t know the answer, but as a suggestion I know that some priests bring out the chalice with the reserved Hosts before beginning distribution of Communion and places it on the altar. This way the EMHCs who run out of Hosts can go to the altar and get Hosts from there instead of approaching and opening the tabernacle.
 
papist777 said:
During our training for new extraordinary ministers of communion, the teacher indicated that we shoud approach the priest if we ran out of hosts duing the distribution of euacharist. It is then up to him if he would go to the tabernacle for additional hosts or instruct us that we would, but ONLY if the priest instructed us to.

Is this allowed? If not, where is this referenced?

Kindest regards;
Steve Chechet
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The g.i.r.m.#163 " as for any consecrated hosts that are left, he either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist." Unless the priest is hindered from fufilling his assigned task, we do not approach the Tabernacle during mass.

We do not take the Eucharist we receive Him. We do not pick up the chalice from the altar, we receive from the priest. We do not pass the chalice from one communicant to another. Once you receive the chalice from the priest that is your assignment.
The inattentiveness, by the E.M.H.C. and the priests, in clearly establishing and following prescribed rules are causes for much confusion.

Once you have assumed this activity, I believe it is your responsibility to perform this function correctly. Read the rubics available, buy a guide for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
 
thomas_jd said:
The g.i.r.m.#163 " as for any consecrated hosts that are left, he either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist." Unless the priest is hindered from fufilling his assigned task, we do not approach the Tabernacle during mass.

We do not take the Eucharist we receive Him. We do not pick up the chalice from the altar, we receive from the priest. We do not pass the chalice from one communicant to another. Once you receive the chalice from the priest that is your assignment.
The inattentiveness, by the E.M.H.C. and the priests, in clearly establishing and following prescribed rules are causes for much confusion.

Once you have assumed this activity, I believe it is your responsibility to perform this function correctly. Read the rubics available, buy a guide for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
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Thomas, I have to wonder if you have read the OP. It was nothing to do with what happens to any Hosts left at the end of Mass. It was asking about what the EMHC should do if they ‘run out’ during distribution.

I have to say that the priest’s instructions seem very sensible. In effect, he will give extra Hosts from his ciborium (NOT ‘chalice’!) if he has enough both for his remaining queue and that of the EMHC, , otherwise, the EMHC are to go to the Tabernacle to get more. It will be his judgement. He will have regard to what will result in least disruption and awkwardness caused by making a queue wait.

I don’t understand why the EMHC doesn’t support their priest when he makes a decision during Mass, ‘on the hoof’ according to how the priest judges the situation - surely that is one of the priest’s jobs. Why this endless quibbling and implied criticism? It’s disloyal, IMO.
 
In our parish, the consecrated Hosts that are in the tabernacle from a previous Mass are brought out by the deacon or priest prior to distribution of Holy Communion. So during Communion, there are no reserved Hosts in the tabernacle except for the ones that are for distribution to the homebound. These would only be available to use if there were extra Hosts remaining after the EMHC have gone on their routes. I gather from reading this forum that things are sometimes done differently, but not necessarily wrong, in other parishes.
 
zab said:
In our parish, the consecrated Hosts that are in the tabernacle from a previous Mass are brought out by the deacon or priest prior to distribution of Holy Communion. So during Communion, there are no reserved Hosts in the tabernacle except for the ones that are for distribution to the homebound. These would only be available to use if there were extra Hosts remaining after the EMHC have gone on their routes. I gather from reading this forum that things are sometimes done differently, but not necessarily wrong, in other parishes.
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I’m thinking in larger parishes there may be one or more chalices with Hosts reserved in the tabernacle, and the priest may only bring out any number but not all of them. So in the case that what has been brought out has run out, then there is no other recourse than to get those that are in the tabernacle.

Also I’ve seen another practice where EMHCs would go to the priest and receive Hosts from him, and the priest would be the one to go back to the altar or tabernacle to get more Hosts.
 
I know that in our parish all the Hosts are distributed between the two ciboria from which Communion is distributed by the priest and the EMHC. If those are emptied there is nothing left. I’ve only seen that happen once in 13 years here. By the time it became obvious that they were running out there were really too few left to break and give to all.
The priest opted to finish giving what was left, then he used unconsecrated hosts to intinct (also a big no-no) and gave Communion that way to those who were left to receive.
 
Phemie said:
I know that in our parish all the Hosts are distributed between the two ciboria from which Communion is distributed by the priest and the EMHC. If those are emptied there is nothing left. I’ve only seen that happen once in 13 years here. By the time it became obvious that they were running out there were really too few left to break and give to all.
The priest opted to finish giving what was left, then he used unconsecrated hosts to intinct (also a big no-no) and gave Communion that way to those who were left to receive.
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Shouldn’t they start dividing the Hosts first?
 
When I first became Catholic the Extraordinary Ministers did approch the tabernacle and take out the ciboria with the extra hosts, but then the new Bishop declared that was not proper. So the priest takes out the ciboria before he gives the Extraordinary ministers communion, and the priest puts it back in the tabernacle.
 
There have been other threads on the Forum in a similar vein and a search should find them.

Being too lazy to go looking for the correct source but I’m almost completely certain that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) cannot take the sacred vessels containing the Body and Blood of Christ directly off the altar before Communion but must be handed them by a priest or deacon. This seems to me then that EMHCs should not approach the Tabernacle to take out additional Hosts.

However, there is provision for EMHCs to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament. For example, at the Catholic College where I work our full-time lay chaplain is also an EMHC and he exposes the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel for 30 minutes each day. But, I think this can only happen if there is no priest.

As there is a priest at Mass I think that it should be him who takes Hosts out of the Tabernacle.

I don’t regard it as quibbling or criticism to see that the rubrics are followed. I don’t believe the Church makes them lightly and that each one has a specific purpose. What is wrong is when individual ministers (sacred and lay) decide that they’ll improvise.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
There have been other threads on the Forum in a similar vein and a search should find them.

Being too lazy to go looking for the correct source but I’m almost completely certain that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) cannot take the sacred vessels containing the Body and Blood of Christ directly off the altar before Communion but must be handed them by a priest or deacon. This seems to me then that EMHCs should not approach the Tabernacle to take out additional Hosts.

However, there is provision for EMHCs to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament. For example, at the Catholic College where I work our full-time lay chaplain is also an EMHC and he exposes the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel for 30 minutes each day. But, I think this can only happen if there is no priest.

As there is a priest at Mass I think that it should be him who takes Hosts out of the Tabernacle.

I don’t regard it as quibbling or criticism to see that the rubrics are followed. I don’t believe the Church makes them lightly and that each one has a specific purpose. What is wrong is when individual ministers (sacred and lay) decide that they’ll improvise.
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Correct in all accounts! What you remember is the rubrics.
 
Phemie said:
I know that in our parish all the Hosts are distributed between the two ciboria from which Communion is distributed by the priest and the EMHC. If those are emptied there is nothing left. I’ve only seen that happen once in 13 years here. By the time it became obvious that they were running out there were really too few left to break and give to all.
The priest opted to finish giving what was left, then he used unconsecrated hosts to intinct (also a big no-no) and gave Communion that way to those who were left to receive.
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It would have been possible, I would presume, for him to consecrate the Hosts before distributing. As in, as soon as he picked them up.
 
otjm said:
It would have been possible, I would presume, for him to consecrate the Hosts before distributing. As in, as soon as he picked them up.
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No the time of consecration has passed.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Shouldn’t they start dividing the Hosts first?
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There is nothing from the Church to suggest hosts should be divided before additional hosts are used from the tabernacle.

There is also no express prohibition from a layperson accessing the tabernacle so long as they are authorized and trained. If the tabernacle is in the sanctuary however I’m not sue why anyone other than the priest would do so however.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
There have been other threads on the Forum in a similar vein and a search should find them.

Being too lazy to go looking for the correct source but I’m almost completely certain that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) cannot take the sacred vessels containing the Body and Blood of Christ directly off the altar before Communion but must be handed them by a priest or deacon. This seems to me then that EMHCs should not approach the Tabernacle to take out additional Hosts…
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You’re right about EMsHC not removing the Blessed Sacrament from the altar themselves for communion. No where in the rubrics does that extend to authorized laypersons not accessing the tabernacle.
 
Luger said:
There is nothing from the Church to suggest hosts should be divided before additional hosts are used from the tabernacle.

There is also no express prohibition from a layperson accessing the tabernacle so long as they are authorized and trained. If the tabernacle is in the sanctuary however I’m not sue why anyone other than the priest would do so however.
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I’m responding to Phemie’s story that they started using unconsecrated bread and intinct it on the Precious Blood, which is forbidden.
 
otjm said:
I have seen it before.
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It does happen unfortunately, but expressedly forbiddened. It would still make a valid sacrament though but the priest would have committed a grave sin.
 
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