In referring to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, what is the meaning of the word "extraordinary" in this context?

[Lepanto]

In referring to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, what is the meaning of the word “extraordinary” in this context??

I can think of four possibilities:

1. “Extraordinary” in the sense that they are only to be used in rare, exceptional, non-ordinary situations. i.e., outside of the norm.
2. “Extraordinary” in the sense that they are not ordained, i,e, outside of holy orders.
3. A combination of the above.
4. None of the above.

My guess is number 1 because of two reasons:

a) A close reading of Article 8 here:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

b) From Webster’s etymology:
Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem out of course, from extra + ordinem, accusative of ordin-, ordo order

 

[ProVobis]

Try this:

Extra = outside of, therefore extraordinary = outside of ordinary. It shouldn’t have good or bad or demeaning or superior connotations.

Question then: since we refer to most Sundays as Ordinary, are Sundays such as Sundays in Lent or Advent extraordinary?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In referring to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, what is the meaning of the word “extraordinary” in this context??

I can think of four possibilities:

1. “Extraordinary” in the sense that they are only to be used in rare, exceptional, non-ordinary situations. i.e., outside of the norm.
2. “Extraordinary” in the sense that they are not ordained, i,e, outside of holy orders.
3. A combination of the above.
4. None of the above.

My guess is number 1 because of two reasons:

a) A close reading of Article 8 here:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

b) From Webster’s etymology:
Middle English extraordinarie, from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem out of course, from extra + ordinem, accusative of ordin-, ordo order

They are NOT the Ordindary (primary) minister of Holy Communion, the priest and deacon are. They are Exrta-ordinary, used in addition to the ordinary ministers or when there are not enough Ordinary ministers.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Try this:

Extra = outside of, therefore extraordinary = outside of ordinary. It shouldn’t have good or bad or demeaning or superior connotations.

Question then: since we refer to most Sundays as Ordinary, are Sundays such as Sundays in Lent or Advent extraordinary?

That’s yet a different meaning of the word “ordinary.” It comes from “ordinal” meaning counted. Thus we have the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time.

My take on “extraordinary” in terms of ministers is that the person is not ordained. The ordinary minister of the Eucharist is a priest or deacon. An extraordinary minister is someone other than a priest or deacon.

 

[jmcrae]

I take it as meaning both not ordained, and only to be used when a priest or deacon is not available. Which unfortunately in our era, seems to be, most of the time. Gone are the days when every Rectory had ten or twelve priests hanging around looking for something to do.

 

[japhy]

Question then: since we refer to most Sundays as Ordinary, are Sundays such as Sundays in Lent or Advent extraordinary?

“Ordinary” is a bad translation of that liturgical time. It should be “Ordinal” because it is simply counted weeks (ordinal = related to numbers), not a particular season (Lent, Advent, etc.).

However, because Ordinal time is the largest season, the other seasons certainly are “extraordinary”. But most of the Ordinal weeks used to be designated as “Weeks after Pentecost” which I think was a far better name for them.

 

[japhy]

In referring to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, what is the meaning of the word “extraordinary” in this context??

“Extraordinary” in the sense that they are only to be used in rare, exceptional, non-ordinary situations. i.e., outside of the norm.

Yeah, that sounds about right. They are not the ordinary ministers; thus, they are extra-ordinary (outside the ordinary). When ordinary ministers are available, extraordinary ministers are not to be used. But even further, the habitual use of extraordinary ministers is a practice to be avoided because it can lead to public opinion (as it already has) that the extraordinary ministers are a permanent fixture, or even “necessary”!