I have not been trained as a Eucharistic minister. I actually only receive Jesus from a priest, unless I didn’t see, correctly, who the line was going to, because his hands are consecrated. Since nursing homes are plenteous in big cities, I think it would be most appropriate for lay ministers to wear a glove (cloth or medical) to administer Jesus, so the last hands touched were the priest’s (I’m not talking about Communion on the hand or tongue here, but whether we dress up nice for Mass or we hold hands at The Our Father, certain gestures do carry a meaning, and on the tongue, and better while kneeling, is a human act of humility, which can affect one’s demeanor if one cares).
Anyway, I was allowed to put Jesus in the sink meant for fallen hosts. I didn’t want the church lady doing it (I wanted to put him in the right place ASAP after getting your responses) and the reason why was illustrated as she actually poked him as the water was pouring over him. What? Is there an oath not to give it to non-Catholics because, if they’re not going to mind doing that, maybe they really are not even minimally discerning who they’re receiving, because Protestants don’t believe in the Real Presence that is the consecrated host and, even if they did, they wouldn’t understand all our children or converting adults will know before they can receive. Just because I’m scrupulous, I actually got my faith questioned by a 78 year old Catholic woman who talked like Jesus is an entitled handout for any Christian! I think this ecumenical stuff has gotten too far. Recent popes can write all this pretty kumbayah stuff, wishfully thinking it will make us all better Catholics and presuming we all care, but it seems most ones will just do what they want, despite what even the Pope says, in dread fear of offending our separated brethren. We’re ashamed of our faith these days; they’re not (and I respect them for that) and they’ll be just fine if we don’t have them in every single Catholic gathering, as I’ll be fine if I’m not invited to something of theirs, like the Mormon Temple. We need to regather, as some of us have reached out to non-Catholics so far, we’ve lost our footing and fallen off the ledge.
We can’t respect other faiths if we don’t respect our differences (ours being in the church that guards all truth God has given mankind about what He knows) and we can’t respect the differences if we don’t respect what we have, as unpopular as they may be–all that’s unpopular.
If eucharistic ministers can’t appreciate that, they’re more injurious to Christ and themselves as one receiving him in mortal sin, as they’re giving him to the undiscerning.
[edited]
