extraordinary ministers of holy communion

[sticknstring73]

Well this went the way I didn’t want it to but still kind of went where i expected it to. Personally I’m of the mind that despite long lines I would not mind waiting for the priest to give me the host but I don’t think I want to jump lines for it. I receive on the tongue (unless I’m sneezing or coughing) and I receive that way from EMHC.

PS anytime I’ve had any difficulty receiving on the tongue I think it was me, I always have to remember to open wide enough and stick my tongue out!

 

[Sirach2]

Okay but some will argue that because of the “demand” and crowd size, there was no other way to distribute, no? My argument of “what’s the hurry?” would probably not hold much water.

This is getting old.

 

[triumphguy]

As an EMHC who happens to often receive on the tongue I have no problem giving communion to folks who wish to receive on the tongue.

 

[InThePew]

Well this went the way I didn’t want it to but still kind of went where i expected it to. Personally I’m of the mind that despite long lines I would not mind waiting for the priest to give me the host but I don’t think I want to jump lines for it. I receive on the tongue (unless I’m sneezing or coughing) and I receive that way from EMHC.

Some people prefer to receive from a priest for reasons best known only to them. Should they? No, but at the same time I’m quite sure that the Church will survive. As an EMHC I really don’t mind - they’re getting Jesus all the same regardless of who gives it to them but if they feel more comfortable receiving from a priest (or presumably a deacon?) then that’s up to them.

 

[MissRose73]

I know of a few people that will only receive from the priest. They normally sit in the back of the church. As my parish priest stands in a different spot each Mass to distribute Holy Communion, it is hard for those who have a personal preference to receive from a member of clergy to know where to sit ahead of time (and I’ve been to parishes where you never know where the priest will be).

I have no issues receiving from a member of the laity, and in my parish I do assist with distribution of either the body or blood of Christ 1 or 2 times a month. The ministers all receive from the priest first then go to our stations to assist him with distribution to the faithful.

 

[thistle]

Sometimes I see people switching lines in mass for communion. What happens is that there will be two lines,left and right, for the host and if the lines are long the Eucharistic lay minister will come to help out the priest. At this point people jump to the priests line.

Is this frowned upon? Are there any eucharistic lay ministers here to comment and if so what do you think?

Not looking for a fight, just trying to learn.

Please note that the priest was not assisted by Eucharistic Ministers. The priest is the Eucharistic Minister. Lay people cannot be that. They are EMHC’s (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) which are not Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[Brendan]

There actually IS a theological difference in the minister.

The priest at Mass (and throughout the whole of the Mass) is in persona Christi.

So when one receives from the priest, one is receiving Christ from the hands of Christ Himself.

Does it impact the Grace of the Sacrament? No

But if some appreciate the additional Sign involved with receiving from the priest, I put it in the same category of those who appreciate the additional Sign of receiving both species.

Is that too required?, No, but some do prefer it.

 

[Gorgias]

There actually IS a theological difference in the minister.

The priest at Mass (and throughout the whole of the Mass) is in persona Christi.

So when one receives from the priest, one is receiving Christ from the hands of Christ Himself.

No… that goes a bit too far, and overreaches.

You could make the case that one who receives from a priest, receives Eucharist from hands that were consecrated to offer sacrifice. But, that wouldn’t mean that those hands had become “the hands of Christ Himself”…

 

[casslean]

Isn’t there an argument to be made that it is a little bit prideful to decide you have to receive communion from the priest rather than the EMHC when the church has clearly said that EMHCs are competent to distribute? You’re putting your own feelings and opinions above the direction of the church.

 

[BartholomewB]

Isn’t there an argument to be made that it is a little bit prideful to decide you have to receive communion from the priest rather than the EMHC when the church has clearly said that EMHCs are competent to distribute? You’re putting your own feelings and opinions above the direction of the church.

More than a little bit. And not just above the direction of the Church but above the direction of Christ himself. “This is my body … This is my blood …”

 

[Brendan]

No… that goes a bit too far, and overreaches.

You could make the case that one who receives from a priest, receives Eucharist from hands that were consecrated to offer sacrifice. But, that wouldn’t mean that those hands had become “the hands of Christ Himself”…

You misunderstand the meaning of the term. Ordination does not simply make on a funcationary, able to perform a function, but rather ontologically changes the man to be configured to Christ the Person.

The Sacrifice of Mass is one where the Son offers Himself to Father, the priest, as a man, cannot do this. He is not the Son, and therefore cannot offer what he, as a man, is not.

That is why the doctrine is so important, it is Christ, the High Priest, acting through the man via the Grace of Ordination.

That is why Pope St. John Paul II stated in Pastores Dabo Vobis

the priest finds the full truth of his identity in being a derivation, a specific participation in and continuation of Christ himself, the one High Priest of the new and eternal covenant. The priest is a living and transparent image of Christ the priest

 

[TimothyH]

There actually IS a theological difference in the minister.

The priest at Mass (and throughout the whole of the Mass) is in persona Christi.

So when one receives from the priest, one is receiving Christ from the hands of Christ Himself.

Does it impact the Grace of the Sacrament? No

But if some appreciate the additional Sign involved with receiving from the priest, I put it in the same category of those who appreciate the additional Sign of receiving both species.

Is that too required?, No, but some do prefer it.

You are not receiving Christ from the hands of Christ himself.

Just because the priest acts in the person of Christ does not mean that he is Christ.

Deacons’ are ordinary ministers of Holy Communion as well.

-Tim-

 

[dans0622]

… I don’t know of any Church teaching that says the faithful are required to receive from an EHMC. …

You are correct. There is no such teaching and there never will be.

As an instituted acolyte (who very rarely functions as an EMHC), I have no problem with people who wish to receive from an ordinary minister. As a canon lawyer, I have no problem with it, either. The faithful are always free to receive this Sacrament from whomever is duly approved. Why should I care which “line” people choose?

Dan

 

[Casilda]

You are correct. There is no such teaching and there never will be.

As an instituted acolyte (who very rarely functions as an EMHC), I have no problem with people who wish to receive from an ordinary minister. As a canon lawyer, I have no problem with it, either. The faithful are always free to receive this Sacrament from whomever is duly approved. Why should I care which “line” people choose?

Dan

Exactly!

More importantly, why are people watching what others are doing during communion? As soon as the communion hymn begins, my head is down in prayer, I just get in line behind my pew mate.

 

[maryjk]

Exactly!

More importantly, why are people watching what others are doing during communion? As soon as the communion hymn begins, my head is down in prayer, I just get in line behind my pew mate.

I am sure you look around a little, even if you don’t think about it. Otherwise how would you know that your pew mate is getting up?

Do you look up while you are in line? Most people do. That way they don’t crash into the priest or other people. That is when some people might see someone duck into another line.

You might also notice someone doing it, if it is the person in front of you.

Just because people notice things, doesn’t mean that they are all up in someone’s business.

 

[Casilda]

Just because people notice things, doesn’t mean that they are all up in someone’s business.

Well, I think so. Just reading the comments here, that surprised even the OP, on opinions others have as to why or why not somebody does something on the way up to communion, is kind of scandalous.

 

[Brendan]

Given that the EF Mass is generally said just a few times a week at a few parishes in a given diocese, I would claim that is already true

 

[Big_Feet]

bingo!!!

 

[otjm]

You are correct. There is no such teaching and there never will be.

As an instituted acolyte (who very rarely functions as an EMHC), I have no problem with people who wish to receive from an ordinary minister. As a canon lawyer, I have no problem with it, either. The faithful are always free to receive this Sacrament from whomever is duly approved. Why should I care which “line” people choose?

Dan

While you are correct, this is not the first thread on the matter; and I have heard issues of the subject outside any forum. In both - personal comments and in forum postings - people have actually been angry if they are not able to receive from the priest only. And their comments have gone to areas the Church itself does not go, concerning the “worthiness” of only the priest to distribute, and the unworthiness of laity (and in at least one circumstance, the deacon).

To a person, these are people who were taught -wither as children decades ago, or as someone who has been in significant contact with groups opposing Vatican 2 and changes since them, who are of the very firm belief that it is sacrilegious, or so borderline as to not be distinguishable.

Would that they could understand and accept the authority of the Church to change disciplinary rules, but that appears to be an impossible reach.

And that is not to say that everyone who prefers to receive from a priest so feels, but it certainly is true of those who have expressed such.

 

[InThePew]

You are not receiving Christ from the hands of Christ himself.

Just because the priest acts in the person of Christ does not mean that he is Christ.

Deacons’ are ordinary ministers of Holy Communion as well.

-Tim-

No, no and yes.

Besides standing in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) A priest is an alter Christus - another Christ - so, in a sense it is Christ distributing his own body. That’s not to say that deacons aren’t also ordinary minister of communion or that the eucharist which a priest distributes is any different. In fact the only time it really matters would be when a person is receiving communion for the first time - then the communicant should receive only from a priest not a deacon (and definitely not an EMHC). Again, it doesn’t make any difference to what’s received but it is more appropriate.