Extraordinary Ministers and the Blood of Christ

[mikeledes]

If an extraordinary minister distributes the Blood of Christ and there is Blood of Christ left, is he or she supposed to drink what’s left or is the priest supposed to drink it?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[cfdmpo]

At our church, the Extraordinary Ministers consume the leftover Blood of Christ.

 

[Phemie]

The EMHCs are to consume what remains then return their Chalice to the priest, deacon or acolyte to purify.

 

[FrDavid96]

If an extraordinary minister distributes the Blood of Christ and there is Blood of Christ left, is he or she supposed to drink what’s left or is the priest supposed to drink it?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

The deacon or priest should be the one to consume what remains, and this should be done at the altar, but the EMHC may do so if there’s a need–such as a large quantity of the Precious Blood remaining.

GIRM 284 b
Whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.

 

[mikeledes]

The EMHCs are to consume what remains then return their Chalice to the priest, deacon or acolyte to purify.

So even if there is more than one chalice, the EMHCs are supposed to return the chalice to the priest, deacon or acolyte. So the EMHC is not supposed to purify the chalice, correct?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[FrDavid96]

So even if there is more than one chalice, the EMHCs are supposed to return the chalice to the priest, deacon or acolyte. So the EMHC is not supposed to purify the chalice, correct?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

The chalice, including the remaining Precious Blood should be returned to the priest or deacon.

Correct: An EMHC is not permitted to purify the chalice.

 

[mikeledes]

The deacon or priest should be the one to consume what remains, and this should be done at the altar, but the EMHC may do so if there’s a need–such as a large quantity of the Precious Blood remaining.

GIRM 284 b
Whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.

So the EMHC can consume what remains and also has to purify it as well? The EMHC does not have to hand over the chalice to a priest to be purified? The GIRM seems to say that the duly institued acolyte - which I assume refers to the EMHC - is the one (i.e. the same…) that purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[Phemie]

So the EMHC can consume what remains and also has to purify it as well? The EMHC does not have to hand over the chalice to a priest to be purified? The GIRM seems to say that the duly institued acolyte - which I assume refers to the EMHC - is the one (i.e. the same…) that purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

No, an EMHC is not a duly instituted acolyte. I would think that in most parishes such a person is rarely present.

“Instituted Acolyte” is a step toward the diaconate. While a man may be instituted as a permanent acolyte, few dioceses do this. As a result, most instituted acolytes are seminarians studying to be priests or men studying to be permanent Deacons.

 

[mikeledes]

No, an EMHC is not a duly instituted acolyte. I would think that in most parishes such a person is rarely present.

“Instituted Acolyte” is a step toward the diaconate. While a man may be instituted as a permanent acolyte, few dioceses do this. As a result, most instituted acolytes are seminarians studying to be priests or men studying to be permanent Deacons.

So if a EMHC distributes the Blood of Christ, he or she is supposed to consume whatever remains and then hand it over to a duly instituted acolyte?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[FrDavid96]

So if a EMHC distributes the Blood of Christ, he or she is supposed to consume whatever remains and then hand it over to a duly instituted acolyte?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

No, the EMHC is not supposed to consume what remains–that is for the deacon and/or priest to do. When finished distributing the Precious Blood, the EMHC returns the chalice, including any remaining Precious Blood to the priest or deacon who takes same to the altar and consumes It there.

 

[Seatuck]

In the US, the EMOHC may consume what is left in their cup with the permission of their Bishop.

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/lit4.shtml

In those instances when there remains more consecrated wine than was necessary, if needs dictate, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their cup of distribution with the permission of the diocesan bishop. The sacred vessles are to be purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted acolyte.

 

[Pug]

Here is a quote from a document that was approved by Rome, but you will find it on the USCCB site:When there are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their chalice of distribution with permission of the diocesan bishop.

To the best of my knowledge, this **portion **of the document, called *Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America, *still obtains. Other portions, however, might not. There was a question asked and answered in, oh, maybe 2006 about the purification of vessels. EMHC may not do the purification of vessels.

Here is a page on the USCCB site to help you. You must get an answer that is no older than the end of 2006. An answer before that might not be right. I believe that page was posted after 2006. There is a pdf here that is from the right time period as well, with Q and A at the end.

Thus, it depends on your bishop. You need to find out for your bishop, I assume. Unless there has been more said since 2006 that I have forgotten about, or that I missed.

 

[FrDavid96]

In the US, the EMOHC may consume what is left in their cup with the permission of their Bishop.

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/lit4.shtml

The key phrase there is “if needs dictate” That’s very different from saying that it is the normative way of doing things.

That’s what I wrote back in post #4.

The priest/deacon should be the one to consume the remaining Precious Blood, but if “needs dictate” then the EMHC may assist the clergy here–the most obvious example would be if there is too much of the Blood remaining for the clergy to consume.

If there is no reason why the priest/deacon cannot consume the remaining Blood, then there is no provision for the EMHC to do so.

Remember that the USBBC explanations that have been referenced here were distributed to explain that the EMHC cannot perform the ablutions. So it makes perfect sense within that context to likewise explain that the EMHC may consume the remaining Blood (that’s an obvious follow-up question to the question about ablutions)–but again, this is not the normative way for this to be done.

The GIRM specifies that any remaining Precious Blood is to be consumed at the altar by the priest or deacon (or instituted acolyte if there happens to be one present, which is rather rare). That’s the norm.

 

[benedictgal]

Remember, too, that Pope Benedict XVI let the indult allowing the EMHCs to purify the vessels expire. This was one of the first liturgical decisions he made as Supreme Pontiff.