Lady in the Pulpit?

[Mintaka]

Yes, the priest’s chair represents his teaching authority as received from the bishop. No lay person, man or woman, has that kind of teaching authority. (Except maybe those lay brothers who have preaching authority.)

 

[Benedict108]

Technically in my opinion there should not be a Communion Service on a weekday. Weekday Mass is not an obligation, a lay lead Liturgy of Morning Prayer would be more appropriate.

I think everything ties back to your comment here. There is really no necessity that I can see to have to provide EMHC for this circumstance, as it is not a Sunday or Holy Day that a priest cannot come, and even if that were the case every effort would have to be made to provide an ordained person to preside. Though Mass attendance is recommended daily for Catholics, it was not a Mass it was a service and Sunday would be the day that is obligatory, but I guess it ties down to the careful approval of the local bishop. Assuming that the bishop was contacted.

 

[CentralFLJames]

I think everything ties back to your comment here. There is really no necessity that I can see to have to provide EMHC for this circumstance, as it is not a Sunday or Holy Day that a priest cannot come, and even if that were the case every effort would have to be made to provide an ordained person to preside. Though Mass attendance is recommended daily for Catholics, it was not a Mass it was a service and Sunday would be the day that is obligatory, but I guess it ties down to the careful approval of the local bishop. Assuming that the bishop was contacted.

Agree. There is much concern that with declining numbers of priests that the trend if not held in check will be for daily mass to be replaced with communion service administered by laity. This is seen to be very undesirable since for one thing the tabernacle was not ever intended to be used a “spiritual bank” so to speak where those who don’t have the time for worship can essentially just do a drive up, not offer up any sacrifice to God and just take God’s contribution of the sacramental gift. It defeats the whole entire notion of “community worship and communion”. The tabernacle was supposed to be just a repository for a relatively few extra consecrated hosts for the sick, viaticum for last rites, surplus from mass and for adoration.

Communion services essentially “takes” from God and from somone else’s worship without giving. That is intrinsically not fair to the sacrifice of prior mass worshipers (that resulted in the consecration) nor to God. It can be done occasionally but to make it routinely available it would be in my opinion a serious breech of the covenant relationship and might even become sacrilegious to presume upon God and other worshipers. It’s an abuse of charity since its all one way.

We don’t want to see the church turned into a fast drive up salvation service!

I am very bothered by hearing all of this.

James

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So as long as she did not recite a Homily, and the capacity in which she acted was within necessity, not an abuse by the priest, she did nothing wrong.

A layperson conducting a necessary Communion Service does read the Gospel, but should have another person read the other readings. They can also offer a simple reflection on the readings or can read a pre-written reflection from a priest or deacon.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I agree. But for her to sit in the Priest’s chair was a direct conveyance of implicit authority. She should have sat conspicuously to the attendant chairs.

James

In the Communion services I have conducted, I have never sat in the Priests chair but one of the others.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Agree. There is much concern that with declining numbers of priests that the trend if not held in check will be for daily mass to be replaced with communion service administered by laity. This is seen to be very undesirable since for one thing the tabernacle was not ever intended to be used a “spiritual bank” so to speak where those who don’t have the time for worship can essentially just do a drive up, not offer up any sacrifice to God and just take God’s contribution of the sacramental gift. It defeats the whole entire notion of “community worship and communion”. The tabernacle was supposed to be just a repository for a relatively few extra consecrated hosts for the sick, viaticum for last rites, surplus from mass and for adoration.

Communion services essentially “takes” from God and from somone else’s worship without giving. That is intrinsically not fair to the sacrifice of prior mass worshipers (that resulted in the consecration) nor to God. It can be done occasionally but to make it routinely available it would be in my opinion a serious breech of the covenant relationship and might even become sacrilegious to presume upon God and other worshipers. It’s an abuse of charity since its all one way.

We don’t want to see the church turned into a fast drive up salvation service!

I am very bothered by hearing all of this.

James

I could see a parish where there is no resident priest. A priest could come and celebrate Mass twice a month with a Communion service on the other Sunday. Either with the Blessed Sacrament from the prior week or someone could go and receive Hosts from a Mass celebrated up to an hour or two away on Saturday evening. Bring them back for use on Sunday by the parish without a priest. This may have been the model in the early Church.