Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion approaching before the Priest receives

[buffalo]

kmktexas:

While most of the parishes in my area have not implemented the new GIRM or RS, one parish did make a significant change. This is a mega-church and uses 17 EMHC. They sit in the front and go to the foot of the steps leading to the sanctuary just before the Lamb of God. They kneel on the step for the Lamb of God and then go up nearer the altar after the priest receives. Nicely done and true to the GIRM.

Contrast with my parish where the EMHCs also sit in front, right behind the altar servers (level with the rest of the church. our sanctary is tiny). Immediately after the Our Father, they go and stand directly behind Father. This is one of the reasons I declined an invitation to serve as an EMHC.

That’s what happened when our Bishop was at our parish. The next week it went right back to being on the altar and co-communicating with the Priest. So they knew!

 

[EWD65]

Deacon Ed:

EWD65: The rule is about not having lay people (or even the deacon) appear to be a concelebrant. If they are not actually at the altar (please note the spelling) there is no way they can be confused as concelebrants. One can move into the sanctuary without approaching the altar since, in most cases, the altar is raised on a platform.

In any event, I have given you the interpretation that was given to me as being what the bishops intended.

Deacon Ed

Thank you for the response. If what you are saying is true than I think the action in my parish is absolutely portraying a concelebrating or at least can be easily confused. Our altar (thanks for the spelling tip) is not raised much if at all and I believe they are on the same level as the Priest just a few feet behind him. Can I ask where you received that interpretation?

 

[RichT]

EWD65:

Thank you for the response. If what you are saying is true than I think the action in my parish is absolutely portraying a concelebrating or at least can be easily confused. Our altar (thanks for the spelling tip) is not raised much if at all and I believe they are on the same level as the Priest just a few feet behind him. Can I ask where you received that interpretation?

I think you’re splitting hairs here. I have attended mass in three different parishes now and in none of them was the altar(notice the spelling, thanks Deacon Ed) raised. Clearly there is a sanctuary and in the sanctuary there is an altar. Clearly one can not enter the sanctuary without moving themselves physically closer to the altar, which doesn’t change just because the altar is elevated. I think the approach is in reference to the EMHC’s approaching to receive or to be handed their bowls or cups. So, can you enter the sanctuary without approaching the altar? I would say that in the physical sense, no. So, should we all interpret that as not following the GIRM? No. If we could, just think of it as a two part thing. Part one, we enter the sanctuary and stand as far away from the priest as possible so as to not confuse anyone by giving the appearance that we are concelebrating. Part two, we approach the altar to receive the Euacharist from the priest. Not all churches are built the same way, so hence all the confusion.

 

[Veronica_Anne]

At my parish, extraordinary ministers used to ALWAYS go up right when the Sign of Peace ended and the Agnus Dei began. They would all arrange themselves equidistant from each other in a perfect half-circle behind the altar… and one or two paces behind the priest… ready to (as it appeared) POUNCE upon the priest to grab onto the chalice or cup as soon as the priest handed it to them.

Lord help me (and I mean that sincerely), it always looked like a feeding frenzy to me.

Last month, our bishop put a stop to all that. Now, NO BODY is to come into the sanctuary until AFTER the priest says “happy are we who are called to His Supper.”

 

[Deacon_Ed]

EWD65:

Thank you for the response. If what you are saying is true than I think the action in my parish is absolutely portraying a concelebrating or at least can be easily confused. Our altar (thanks for the spelling tip) is not raised much if at all and I believe they are on the same level as the Priest just a few feet behind him. Can I ask where you received that interpretation?

You are welcome for the spelling tip. The information I provided came from my bishop by way of our Office of Worship.

Deacon Ed

 

[EWD65]

Veronica Anne:

At my parish, extraordinary ministers used to ALWAYS go up right when the Sign of Peace ended and the Agnus Dei began. They would all arrange themselves equidistant from each other in a perfect half-circle behind the altar… and one or two paces behind the priest… ready to (as it appeared) POUNCE upon the priest to grab onto the chalice or cup as soon as the priest handed it to them.

Lord help me (and I mean that sincerely), it always looked like a feeding frenzy to me.

Last month, our bishop put a stop to all that. Now, NO BODY is to come into the sanctuary until AFTER the priest says “happy are we who are called to His Supper.”

Thanks for your comments. This seems to mirror exactly what I’m experiencing at my parish. I’m sorry to those who disagree, but it seems to me that your bishop did the exact right thing. Also, I think that a few comments earlier proves my point. You cannot keep from apporaching the altar if you come into the sanctuary. I’m still more convinced that the right approach is to wait.

 

[PASCENDI]

Wherever the Catholic sun dith shine…

Comes from Belloc

 

[EWD65]

PASCENDI:

Wherever the Catholic sun dith shine…

Comes from Belloc

Opps. I don’t know where I got the idea that Chesterton had written that. Thanks.

 

[chrystl]

The only reason an acholyte would go to the tabernacle before the Priest receives communion is if they are instructed by the Priest to do so.

You must realize there are always exceptions to the rules when it comes to the “rules”. One that is not an exception is that the Priest must be the first to receive Communion before all others. Ministers may approach the altar, but may not consume the body and blood until after the Priest does so.

Special indults are usually published in supplaments for the GIRM. I’m not sure where you might find them, but you might try the USCCB website.

Wait til you see other changes made during the Presentation of the Gifts and the Preperation of the Table. That will be extremely fun, especially for the altar servers, coordinaters, MC’s and those involved in the Sacristy. We’re starting to do some pre-preperations and it’s starting to become a headache.

 

[Illini]

The practice at my parish is similar to that in many of these posts. Formerly, the EMHC’s came up to the altar and stood behind it while the priest said “Behold the Lamb of God” (whoops, not yet) “This is the Lamb of God.” The priest and deacon then gave them communion and they took the hosts and precious blood for distribution.

  In November 2002, the GIRM and its implementation by the USCCB (the norms on Communion under Both Kinds) were adopted here. Now the EMHC's approach the sanctuary during the *Agnus dei*, but stand off to the side. Only the priest and deacon are at the altar. One EMHC, however, retrieves additional hosts from the tabernacle, which is in a side chapel, and then returns to the side. Only after the Priest communicates do the EMHC's approach the altar itself, receive communion from the priest and deacon and then are GIVEN the hosts and Precious blood for distribution.

 I think standing off to the side is appropriate and reflects the distinction between priest and laity. The only things that annoy me are the EMHC retrieving the hosts (last week the designated EMHC either forgot or was not there and the deacon did it instead :)), and the pouring into separate (glass) chalices during the fraction rite. Considering this parish, I would guess the latter practice will eventually cease in light of *RS.*

I guess I would also wish our additional ordained persons would assist with communion, reducing the need for EMHC’s altogether. But maybe they have other things to do, like get ready for their own Mass.

-Illini