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dal11
Guest
Can the extraordinary ministers consume what’s left of the body and the blood at the end of Mass. Also can they clean the vessals in the back after Mass. I need documentation for someone. Thanks.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
They can assist the priest and deacon when necessary but this should be done at the altar or credence table. They should not “go in the back” to do this.
Tghis will be found in the GIRM - The Grneral Instruction on the Roman Missal and the Instruction on the Eucharist - Redemptionis Sacramentum.
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BOBKAT
Guest
May I ask another question about Extaordinary Ministers? Can those on hospital call give communion to someone who isn’t Catholic and states that they are Catholic, but they want Jesus.
I hope you don’t mind this question.
God Bless
Kathleen
I hope you don’t mind this question.
God Bless
Kathleen
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turtleoompa
Guest
I believe they can consume what is left in their own cup. But they cannot purify the vessels. They can wash the vessels after purification by the priest, deacon, or instituted acolyte. I am an EMHC but have stepped down due to abuses I know are not allowed. Our parish consecrates the precious blood in the flagon then pours it into glass cups. Two EMHC are on the altar during the priests taking of communtion. Our EMHC purify the vessels. These are all abuses. I didn’t know until I started researching the GIRM. There is a letter from Cardinal Arinze in the USCCB website that states the pope does not want EMHC cannot purify.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Generally speaking a person going to a hospital should be carrying only a certain number of Hosts, for the specific number of Catholic patients that they are going to see.
It is possible that a person visiting one of those patients is present when the EMHC arrives. They have one of several options. Say that they will return later and go and visit the others first. Stay and explain to the visitor what you are doing and that they may stay if they want or can leave and return in about 20 minutes. (which is how long a Communion service for the sick and homebound should take) If they state that they are not Catholic, the EMHC must explain that they cannot receive Communion. If they say that they are Catholic but act in a manner that indicates that they are not, such as not knowing the responses during the Communion service or how to receive. They should not be given Communion. a few quick questions can also help. What parish do you belong to? what diocese is that in? Who is your Bishop? Only a person who approaches in public must be given Communion. A hospital room or home visit is not a public reception of Communion, but a private one.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Individual EMHC may consume at the altar or table (not in the back) what remains in their chalice if there is to much left over for the priest and deacon to consume. Otherwise it is the priest and deacon who should consume what is left, at the altar or credence table.
This also allows the priest to see how much is left over and make adjustments so that there is not so much left in the future.
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decn2b
Guest
They should consume the blood I beleive the Remaining Consecrated Hosts may be put in the tabernacle by the priest.
The indult allowing EMHCs to clean the vessels ended quite awhile ago and this has been a topic of discussion. THE VESSELS are to be purified by a Priest, Deacon or Acolyte.
THis matter has recently been addressed by Cardinal Arize and he has demanded that the practice of EMHCs stop doing the purification ASAP.
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John_Lilburne
Guest
The general rule, from the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“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.”.
An instituted acolyte can, but not normally other Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Generally that should happen. But there could be exceptional circumstances, such as too much of the Blood of Christ remaining.
The issue is discussed in the USCCB Newsletter of March 2002 at usccb.org/liturgy/innews/03042002.shtml .
"In the process of confirmation, the CDWDS modified approximately one-half of one percent of the text, including an alteration of the title of the document. While the USCCB has twice modified the title, the Congregation definitively confirmed the document under the title approved as “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America.” The decree by which the Congregation confirmed the Norms as liturgical law for use in the dioceses of the United States of America may be found on the USCCB website.
“As a part of the practical norms, the Bishops of the United States requested indults by which extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion would be permitted to assist with the distribution of the Precious Blood to other chalices at the Lamb of God, the purification of sacred vessels and the consumption of what remains of the Precious Blood after the distribution of Holy Communion.
Two of the three requests were approved by the Congregation. First, the Congregation published a separate decree by which “the diocesan Bishop may grant to priest celebrants the faculty for extraordinary ministers to assist with the purification of sacred vessels after the distribution of Communion at Mass when this is necessary” i.e., for a serious pastoral reason (March 22, 2002, Prot. 1383/01/L). This indult extends for a period of three years, ad experimentum, and was made effective by a decree signed by Bishop Gregory, dated March 22, 2002. The complete text of this decree may be found on the USCCB website.
With respect to the second request, Cardinal Medina, Prefect of CDWDS, noted that neither an indult nor even the permission of the diocesan bishop is required for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to help the priest celebrant to consume what may remain of the Precious Blood after the distribution of Holy Communion. “Rather,” he wrote, “given the grave and overriding need to safeguard the Precious Blood, ministers of Holy Communion or other communicants may consume what remains of the Precious Blood in a dignified and reverent manner.”
The Congregation declined, however, to confirm the third request …”
But while saying this, he also approved Norms for the USA which included in n. 52 “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.” (See usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml ). So, in the USA, the permission for an extraordinary minister to regularly consume what remains in their chalice depends on the diocesan bishop having given permission for this.
Can the extraordinary ministers cleanse the vessels in the back?
During or immediately after Mass there is a ritual purification of the vessels. From the 2002 GIRM:
“279. The sacred vessels are purified by the priest, the deacon, or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, insofar as possible at the credence table.”
An instituted acolyte can be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at a Mass. He can then purify the vessels at the credence table. This is often at the back of the sanctuary. But there is no suggestion that this ritual purification be done in the sacristy.
When this ritual purification is done anyone could do a more complete cleaning in the sacristy, for example polishing the silver.
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Seatuck
Guest
The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion may not purify the vessels. We were allowed to do it with an indult which has not been renewed.
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0606058.htm
An acolyte is not the same as an EMOHC. Alcolytes are still considered to be a minor order , though it is now an institution and not an ordination .
catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0606058.htm
An acolyte is not the same as an EMOHC. Alcolytes are still considered to be a minor order , though it is now an institution and not an ordination .
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John_Lilburne
Guest
No, the ministry of instituted acolyte is no longer to be called a “minor order”. From the 1972 Motu Proprio Ministeria Quaedam:
“It is in accordance with the reality itself and with the contemporary outlook that the above-mentioned ministries should no longer be called minor orders;” and
“2. What up to now were called minor orders are henceforth to be called ministries.”
The full document is at romanrite.com/Churchdoc.html .
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Seatuck
Guest
Thanks John.
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Beno
Guest
At my former parish, the EMHC’s take what’s left of the Precious Blood to the sacristy and consume the remainder there and purify the vessels there. If I am understanding what I have read here in this thread, they should not be consuming the remainder in the sacristy, and they should not be purifying the vessels. They also continue to use the incorrect name “Eucharistic Ministers” for EMHC’s. I was also aghast when a former postulant referred to the Precious Blood as the wine. Not sure if I should write them to correct their actions. (I did however write them last year when they were using a Eucharistic bread recipe containing oil, honey, salt, and either baking soda or baking powder. They immediately corrected this when I provided proper documentation to them that proved what they were doing was illicit.)
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