Extraordinary Minister not Eucharistic Minister

[WhatIf]

Where can I find an official document stating that it is not appropriate or not permitted to call the laity who distribute communion “Eucharistic Ministers”.

I’ve read this before, but can’t find it now that I need it. My son is preparing for First Holy Communion and he has a study sheet that was prepared by hand (perhaps by his teacher) and it has the term Eucharistic Minister. I do not want my son (or others) to learn the wrong term, so I would like to find something official to show his teacher, so this can be corrected.

Anyone know where this statement can be found?

There is a link on this website to an article called The Ten Most Common Liturgical Abuses (This Rock:Jan 1999), but in section 6 it also refers to Eucharist Ministers, so I do not want to show this as evidence of the error. I know someone out there will have the perfect remedy. I’m hoping for something very authoritative such as from the St. Louis Archdiocese or the Pope himself.

 

[katherine2]

WhatIf:

Where can I find an official document stating that it is not appropriate or not permitted to call the laity who distribute communion “Eucharistic Ministers”.

You can’t. “Eucharistic Minister” is not the formal name of the ministry. You can find documents stating such. The Catholic Church is not a fanatical organization. If other, reasonable terms are used in common speech or informal writing, no one is “prohibited” from such. Just as you are permitted to say “Bishop Burke” or “Archbishop Burke” instead of “Metropolitan Archbishop Burke”. The first to are not techincally or fully correct, but letters from Rome are not required to stop people from using such in conversation.

 

[a_pilgrim]

Hi, WhatIf!

I believe this may be what you’re looking for…

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20VII

Note especially these quotes from the document…

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254] Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone…

[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,[256] for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion…

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

Hope this helps!

 

[jaz1976]

Katherine,

I would most respectfully disagree with you. There is a document that states such. It is called Redemptionis Sacramentum. It can be found on this website. The chapter of the document that this question is answered is ChapterVII paragraphs 155-156

155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,[256] for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.[257]

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

This is not an optional, or fanatical document. It is long overdue.

God Bless you

 

[mtr01]

As as might be expected to throw things in to utter confusion, the USCCB says that we are no longer to use the term “extra-ordinary ministers”:

Ministers of Communion: Those who assist in the distribution of communion.

NOTE: The term “EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS” is no longer used. It was changed to “SPECIAL MINISTERS”

usccb.org/comm/glossary.htm#ministers

 

[kmktexas]

That document was last revised in 1999. Redemptionis Sacramentum came out just last year so it is the current instruction.

 

[WhatIf]

Thank you so much for the information. I knew I could get help from ya’ll! :tiphat:

As to the poster that mentioned being fanatical and no restriction on conversation. I want to point out that I am referring to instruction. My son is just learning about Holy Communion and this info. is coming from his school. Teaching and conversation are different. I want my son to learn correcty, although, I wouldn’t want him rudely interrupting any adult that may be using another term for it.

Now, I need to read the documents to see which is correct without a doubt, but I do think we should be careful in how we speak about the Eucharist. We need to be reverant and differentiate between Catholic belief and those who think the Eucharist is JUST A SYMBOL.

 

[StJeanneDArc]

WhatIf:

Thank you so much for the information. I knew I could get help from ya’ll! :tiphat:

As to the poster that mentioned being fanatical and no restriction on conversation. I want to point out that I am referring to instruction. My son is just learning about Holy Communion and this info. is coming from his school. Teaching and conversation are different. I want my son to learn correcty, although, I wouldn’t want him rudely interrupting any adult that may be using another term for it.

Now, I need to read the documents to see which is correct without a doubt, but I do think we should be careful in how we speak about the Eucharist. We need to be reverant and differentiate between Catholic belief and those who think the Eucharist is JUST A SYMBOL.

You are right in that we do need to be careful. I think the confusion of terms has led many parishes (mine included) to “forget” that these are “extraordinary” ministers, which implies that they are to be used in extraordinary situations. In my parish I can’t recall a time when there wasn’t a parade of lay people going up to help out at communion, be it Sunday Mass or a daily Mass with only a few people attending. In fact, at a funeral Mass a few months ago there were maybe 300 people attending with 3 priests and 2 deacons officiating, and there was still a parade of EMHC’s going up to help out.

 

[Fast_ed75]

Would not be surprised either if one of the priests/deacons sat down
so that more EMHC’s could actively participate in the funeral.

 

[katherine2]

jaz1976:

Katherine,

I would most respectfully disagree with you. There is a document that states such. It is called Redemptionis Sacramentum. It can be found on this website. The chapter of the document that this question is answered is ChapterVII paragraphs 155-156

155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution …[257]

God Bless you

I would point out the same Chapter indicates that the term “acolyte” only properly applies to the very few men formally institutd in this ministry. I would suggest correcting everyone who refers to an altar server as an acolyte needs the same degree of correction.

 

[Mysty101]

Fast_ed75:

Would not be surprised either if one of the priests/deacons sat down so that more EMHC’s could actively participate in the funeral.

This is an abuse, but I remember one time I was asked if I wanted to distribute a cup, even though there were visiting clergy. It was the funeral of a dear friend whom I had brought Communion every week for over a year. I did refuse, but sometimes I really wish I hadn’t—Would the abuse have been that serious?

 

[awalt]

Wahoo! My parish got it right! From their web site:

**Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
**Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are men and women who distribute communion at Mass. They have a firm belief in and reverence for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Their ministry facilitates reverent reception of communion, and a sense of community and hospitality among the assembly. Eucharistic ministers are active members of the parish community, as evidenced by their participation in some other area of parish life, such as Religious Education, Social Justice, etc.
Training and spiritual enhancement programs are provided for Eucharistic ministers on a regular basis.

 

[WhatIf]

awalt:

Wahoo! My parish got it right! From their web site:

**Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist **
Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are men and women who distribute communion at Mass. They have a firm belief in and reverence for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Their ministry facilitates reverent reception of communion, and a sense of community and hospitality among the assembly. Eucharistic ministers are active members of the parish community, as evidenced by their participation in some other area of parish life, such as Religious Education, Social Justice, etc.
Training and spiritual enhancement programs are provided for Eucharistic ministers on a regular basis.

Do you mean because both terms were used?

 

[Kielbasi]

. I do not want my son (or others) to learn the wrong term,

“Eucharistic Minister” may well be a technically incorrect term, but its used enough that the boy and his classmates still need to know what folks are referring to so they aren’t in the dark.

Who knows, perhaps when he gets older , he’ll may have a calling to become aspire to become an EMHC himself.

 

[Mysty101]

awalt:

Wahoo! My parish got it right! From their web site:

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist …Training and spiritual enhancement programs are provided for Eucharistic ministers on a regular basis.
Close, but no cigar
It is Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

1. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

1. As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest.”254 Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone

. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,255 to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial Office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.

1. In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,256 for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.257

 

[Brendan]

A Minister of the Eucharist, or Eucharistic Minister (which is how one would directly translate the Latin term) is a person who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

That would mean a validily Ordained Priest or Bishop. Even a Deacon is not a Eucharistic Minister.

That is a seperate office from a Minister of Holy Communion. A Priest, Bishop or Deacon is a Minister of Holy Communion, by their Office.

The laity may be permitted to operate as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

But by definition, the laity or deacons can never be Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[Brendan]

Katherine2:

I would point out the same Chapter indicates that the term “acolyte” only properly applies to the very few men formally institutd in this ministry. I would suggest correcting everyone who refers to an altar server as an acolyte needs the same degree of correction.

Katherine, you are correct, the term should not be used by an altar server.

The term was used corrected to describe a man in sub orders who assisted at the altar, but since the sub orders have been suppressed, that service is now done by altar servers.

The name has incorrectly stuck.

Our parish uses the terms #1, #2 and #3 to denote the positions and responsibilities of each altar server.

 

[Nota_Bene]

katherine2:

I would point out the same Chapter indicates that the term “acolyte” only properly applies to the very few men formally institutd in this ministry. I would suggest correcting everyone who refers to an altar server as an acolyte needs the same degree of correction.

The same goes for readers who are incorrectly referred to as lectors.