Holy Communion in the home

[sskodje]

Is there a formal way a person should prepare to recieve the Blessed Sacrament in the home (i.e. white table cloth, blessed candle and crusifix) if they are sick and the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister brings them Communion?

Also if the person to receive Holy Communion is sleeping when the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister arrives - can they leave the Blessed Sacrament in a cupboard, unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Is there a formal way a person should prepare to recieve the Blessed Sacrament in the home (i.e. white table cloth, blessed candle and crusifix) if they are sick and the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister brings them Communion?

Other than the preparation any communicant must undertake, there is no other preparation needed. The Eucharist will go from the pyx to the minister’s hand to the communicant.

Also if the person to receive Holy Communion is sleeping when the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister arrives - can they leave the Blessed Sacrament in a cupboard, unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes?

This is absolutely forbidden. Either the person receives it or not. If they cannot be bothered then the minister leaves with the Eucharist and probably return it to the tabernacle in the Parish.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Is there a formal way a person should prepare to recieve the Blessed Sacrament in the home (i.e. white table cloth, blessed candle and crusifix) if they are sick and the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister brings them Communion?

Also if the person to receive Holy Communion is sleeping when the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister arrives - can they leave the Blessed Sacrament in a cupboard, unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes?

There is a formal ceremony for receiving Communion this way. It is in the liturgical book “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass”, Chapter 2. It envisages that there be a table: “56. … Then he places the sacrament on the table, and all adore it.”

More detail on this table is given at the start of this book: “19. … When communion is given in other places, a suitable table is to be prepared and covered with a cloth; candles are also to be provided.”

Regarding someone sleeping, from the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:

“[159.] It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.”

“[133.] A Priest or Deacon, or an extraordinary minister who takes the Most Holy Eucharist when an ordained minister is absent or impeded in order to administer it as Communion for a sick person, should go insofar as possible directly from the place where the Sacrament is reserved to the sick person’s home, leaving aside any profane business so that any danger of profanation may be avoided and the greatest reverence for the Body of Christ may be ensured. Furthermore the Rite for the administration of Communion to the sick, as prescribed in the Roman Ritual, is always to be used.”

 

[Vince1022]

Is there a formal way a person should prepare to recieve the Blessed Sacrament in the home (i.e. white table cloth, blessed candle and crusifix) if they are sick and the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister brings them Communion?

Also if the person to receive Holy Communion is sleeping when the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister arrives - can they leave the Blessed Sacrament in a cupboard, unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes?

no and no

 

[Matthew_Holford]

The OP seems to be receiving some contradictory advice. As to the OP’s second question I think there is common agreement: the priest/deacon/EMHC cannot leave the Sacred Body behind. However, unless there is a good medical reason for not doing so I see no reason why the person cannot be woken. Many people may sleep more than normal when ill.

The contradictions arise with regards to the advice on what preparations should be made. I have checked the requirement of the Rite which says that a table should be prepared with a clean cloth on it, a crucifix and 2 candles (these not advised if the patient is on oxygen), a corporal, holy water and a sprinkler, and tumbler of water and a towel. The sick person, or some one acting for them, can make these preparations or the priest/deacon/EMHC may bring some of the required items with him/her.

 

[Mark1970]

I’m an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and, although I’ve not often been asked to visit the sick, the answer to both questions is “No”, as pointed out by Matthew.

The Blessed Sacrament is not to be left behind in the sick person’s home. Although there may be “occasional” exceptions to the rule (which I can’t think of or imagine, but I’m sure someone will post a reply to this) the Blessed Sacrament is not to be reserved in anybody’s house.

Ideally, there should be at least one candle, crucifix, and cloth when someone recives Holy Communion at home - I think the rules on this have been covered in previous posts. I’ve even taken with me a set that belonged to my grandmother, just to make sure. But if this isn’t possible - the person I’m visiting doesn’t have a set and I forget to take mine - this isn’t a problem. I’m not sure anybody would refuse to give someone Holy Communion because they didn’t have a sick call set available.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

As Mark says I think you would give Communion even if the table was not set us as prescribed; it wouldn’t be invalid or illicit. I have personally witnessed a person receive Communion in the home from an EMHC. It was a very quick visit in which the EMHC merely gave the communicant the Sacred Host and then was off. IMHO this is a case of liturgical minimalism. As well as the setting up of the table as previously prescribed the Rite envisages a small liturgical rite: Sign of the Cross, Greeting, Sprinkling with Holy Water*, Penitential Rite, Scriptural Reading, Lord’s Prayer, Communion, Prayers* (silent or led), and Invocation of Blessing (*may be omitted but not needlessly). It seems to me that if someone is unable to attend Mass due to ill-health that they should not merely just be given Communion in a rushed manner. Don’t they deserve a little more? (To add another personal opinion - I think all the sick should be visited in rotation by the priest and not always be ministered to by an EMHC.)

 

[Chatter163]

Several posters here are commenting that it would be illicit to leave the Blessed Sacrament behind, which is true statement, of course. But the OP never said anything about leaving the Most Holy “behind.”

Is there a formal way a person should prepare to recieve the Blessed Sacrament in the home (i.e. white table cloth, blessed candle and crusifix) if they are sick and the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister brings them Communion?

Also if the person to receive Holy Communion is sleeping when the Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister arrives - can they leave the Blessed Sacrament in a cupboard, unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes?

To me, leaving the Sacrament in the cupboard “unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes” means that the EM would still be there when the person awakens and receives the Sacrament. In such a scenario, I think that the intent was to have the EM not converse with the family members while carrying the Eucharist. Of course, leaving It in a cupboard is not allowed, but my point is that since the family members would be unaware that the Sacrament was placed there, it seems that the EM was going to still be there to retrieve It. I doubt that the OP meant that the next day one of the family members would stumble upon the Blessed Sacrament and say, “Oh, how kind of the EM to leave This here for Grandma. Let’s give her Communion now!” :bigyikes:

 

[Mark1970]

It seems to me that if someone is unable to attend Mass due to ill-health that they should not merely just be given Communion in a rushed manner. Don’t they deserve a little more? (To add another personal opinion - I think all the sick should be visited in rotation by the priest and not always be ministered to by an EMHC.)

I agree with both statements. Personally, I’ve always tried to follow the rite of penitential rite, scripture reading (Mass readings if it was Sunday), Lord’s prayer, Communion and blessing (or the equivalent of the blessing for those who are not ordained ministers). I’ve never used the rite of sprinkling with holy water as I wasn’t trained to do this and wasn’t sure if it was restricted to ordained ministers. The only times I’ve heard of visiting the sick being “rushed” was when a *priest *was on his First Friday rounds and had 30 or 40 people to visit.

I’m also very much in favour of rotation - I can give Holy Communion but obviously I can’t hear confessions, and a priest represents the Church in a way that even the most well-intentioned EMHC doesn’t.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I agree with both statements. Personally, I’ve always tried to follow the rite of penitential rite, scripture reading (Mass readings if it was Sunday), Lord’s prayer, Communion and blessing (or the equivalent of the blessing for those who are not ordained ministers). I’ve never used the rite of sprinkling with holy water as I wasn’t trained to do this and wasn’t sure if it was restricted to ordained ministers. The only times I’ve heard of visiting the sick being “rushed” was when a *priest *was on his First Friday rounds and had 30 or 40 people to visit.

I’m also very much in favour of rotation - I can give Holy Communion but obviously I can’t hear confessions, and a priest represents the Church in a way that even the most well-intentioned EMHC doesn’t.

After I posted I realised that I didn’t mention a visit from the priest is essential from time to time so that the person has access to confession.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Several posters here are commenting that it would be illicit to leave the Blessed Sacrament behind, which is true statement, of course. But the OP never said anything about leaving the Most Holy “behind.”

To me, leaving the Sacrament in the cupboard “unknown to others in the home, until the person wakes” means that the EM would still be there when the person awakens and receives the Sacrament. In such a scenario, I think that the intent was to have the EM not converse with the family members while carrying the Eucharist. Of course, leaving It in a cupboard is not allowed, but my point is that since the family members would be unaware that the Sacrament was placed there, it seems that the EM was going to still be there to retrieve It. I doubt that the OP meant that the next day one of the family members would stumble upon the Blessed Sacrament and say, “Oh, how kind of the EM to leave This here for Grandma. Let’s give her Communion now!” :bigyikes:

I think we need the OP to resolve this one with us. I did read the OP’s second paragraph that the sacred species would be left in the cupboard and the EMHC would leave. I see two other options available. Wake the person up. Or, take away the sacred host and return at a more opportune time. How would the host be stored in the cupboard?