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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
This past weekend I noticed EMHC’s approach and enter the sanctuary after the Our Father, during the Fraction Rite. Is this permitted in the GIRM?
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japhy
Guest
No. GIRM 162 identifies when EMHCs may approach the altar:
162. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. [Cf. http://adoremus.org/InaestimabileDonum.html”]Inaestimabile donum, 10; Ecclesiae de mysterio, art. 8] In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.
These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.
The Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America mention this as well:
PART II - Norms for the Distribution of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds
At the Breaking of the Bread
- If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by pastoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.
What is perhaps ambiguous is whether to “approach the altar” and “enter the Sanctuary” are synonymous.
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iamrefreshed
Guest
Wow. We do it totally differently.
We enter the sanctuary during the sign of peace. As we all stand behind the altar we are given communion by the concelebrant (or second priest who shows up now) to hold until the celebrant consumes his.
Once he consumes his host and precious blood, he offers the cup to the first EMHC then takes his vessel of hosts to the congregation.
At this point each EMHC offer the chalice to the next EMHC, then goes to the altar to pick up their vessel and head out to the congregation.
Sounds like we may be doing things wrong.
We enter the sanctuary during the sign of peace. As we all stand behind the altar we are given communion by the concelebrant (or second priest who shows up now) to hold until the celebrant consumes his.
Once he consumes his host and precious blood, he offers the cup to the first EMHC then takes his vessel of hosts to the congregation.
At this point each EMHC offer the chalice to the next EMHC, then goes to the altar to pick up their vessel and head out to the congregation.
Sounds like we may be doing things wrong.
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japhy
Guest
Thus this thread, to educate and enlighten, and (hopefully) initiate corrective measures in parishes that are operating outside the rubrics of the Mass.
Those three parts I’ve bolded are in opposition to the norms set forth by the USCCB in NDRHC 38-39:
38. If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by pastoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.
- All receive Holy Communion in the manner described by the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, whether priest concelebrants (cf. GIRM, nos. 159, 242, 243, 246), deacons (cf. GIRM, nos. 182, 244, 246), or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (cf. GIRM, no. 284). Neither deacons nor lay ministers may ever receive Holy Communion in the manner of a concelebrating priest. The practice of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law.
The EMHCs in the situation you have presented are “receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants”, a practice “to be avoided and eliminated” according to Ecclesia de mysterio, art. 8, § 2.
NDRHC 38 refers to assistance by a deacon, but I think an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion may assist in this function when there is no deacon or other priest. Once the priest has concluded his own communion, he distributes the Host to the EMHCs. If they are to partake of the Chalice as well, and there is no other priest or deacon, then I think an EMHC may present the Chalice to the other EMHCs.
At my parish, when the “lead EMHC” has consumed the Host, the priest then offers him the Chalice and the purificator. The EMHC drinks from the Chalice, wipes where he drank from it, and then follows the priest to the other EMHCs; the priest distributes the Host to them, and the “lead EMHC” offers them the Chalice after they have consumed the Host. Only after the priest and all the EMHCs have received communion do they leave the Sanctuary to begin distribution to the congregation.
NDRHC 38 creates a timeline: communion of the priest, communion of the extraordinary ministers, communion of the congregation. Each must be completed before the next begins.
I don’t particularly agree with the practice of passing the Chalice from person to person (as the first bolded statement explains), but I do not think it is against the rules. No EMHC is permitted to take a sacred vessel himself, though; NDRHC 38 says the priest “hands the sacred vessels to them”.
That appears to be the case. Please consider informing your pastor of this information.Sounds like we may be doing things wrong.
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Joan_M
Guest
Clearly, none of the EMHCs receive on the tongue! This is totally wrong and should be stopped immediately.
Why, oh why can’t our priests just be obedient!
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LRThunder
Guest
EMHC’s at my parish approach the altar during the Lamb of God.
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Cristiano
Guest
I agree that the whole process is filled with errors; however the “only” point that I do not see as being totally wrong is receiving in the hands.
I would like to know why this is your primary concern? Is it because you consider it a symptom of overall lack of reverence? I am not criticizing you, I am just surprised that you are pointing that out over other issues.
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japhy
Guest
NDRHC 38:
38. If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by pastoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.
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quiet52
Guest
In my parish, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion proceeds to the tabernacle immediately after the Sign of peace, to bring the previously-consecrated hosts to the altar. Another EMHC brings an empty ciborium, from the credence table, to the altar. I don’t think this would be prematurely approaching the altar, because they don’t stay. They, and the other EMHCs, proceed to the sacristy to wash their hands, and they stay there during the Breaking of the Bread, Lamb of God, and until after the priest receives Holy Communion. They then proceed to behind the altar, and are joined by the altar server.
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theweeper
Guest
if only!
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japhy
Guest
I was surprised to learn that the GIRM does not actually make prescriptions for the use of previously-consecrated hosts. It does not forbid it (nor does the Sacramentary, to the best of my knowledge), but it prefers to avoid it and does not describe the process of using previously-consecrated hosts. The NDRHC says:
PART II - Norms for the Distribution of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds
Planning
- When Holy Communion is to be distributed under both species, careful planning should be undertaken so that:
- enough bread and wine are made ready for the communication of the faithful at each Mass. [cf. GIRM 85] As a general rule, Holy Communion is given from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and not from those reserved in the tabernacle. Precious Blood may not be reserved at one Mass for use at another
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- As the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God is begun, the Bishop or priest alone, or with the assistance of the deacon, and if necessary of concelebrating priests, breaks the eucharistic bread. Other empty ciboria or patens are then brought to the altar is this is necessary. The deacon or priest places the consecrated bread in several ciboria or patens, if necessary, as required for the distribution of Holy Communion. If it is not possible to accomplish this distribution in a reasonable time, the celebrant may call upon the assistance of other deacons or concelebrating priests.
And the GIRM says:
Chapter II - The Structure of the Mass, Its Elements and Its Parts
III. The Individual Parts of the Mass
C. THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Communion - It is most desirable that the faithful, just as the priest himself is bound to do, receive the Lord’s Body from hosts consecrated at the same Mass and that, in the instances when it is permitted, they partake of the chalice (cf. below, no. 283), so that even by means of the signs Communion will stand out more clearly as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated. [cf. *Eucharisticum Mysterium, 31-32; Immensae Caritatis, 2]
I don’t know of any instruction or norm on the whos and hows of using previously-consecrated hosts, but it appears your parish has a fine approach. At my parish, it is the priest celebrant who gets the previously-consecrated hosts from the tabernacle.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Except that the EMHC is not permitted to retreve the Hosts from the Tabernacle, only the Priest or Deacon.
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japhy
Guest
I’ve been looking for a source for that, Br. Rich. Do you know where it is spelled out?
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Jakub
Guest
“Except that the EMHC is not permitted to retreve the Hosts from the Tabernacle, only the Priest or Deacon.”
Really ? I have never seen a Priest or Deacon retrieve or return the Hosts to the Tabernacle when they were present, it has always been a EMHC, and the location of the Tabernacle did not matter, behind the Altar or in a chapel, this happened at 2 different parishes, however, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles…
Really ? I have never seen a Priest or Deacon retrieve or return the Hosts to the Tabernacle when they were present, it has always been a EMHC, and the location of the Tabernacle did not matter, behind the Altar or in a chapel, this happened at 2 different parishes, however, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles…
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Cristiano
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For the capability of retrieving the Host from the tabernacle it is better to refer to the links on **“Who is allowed into the Tabernacle?” **
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Sure
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maherite1977
Guest
At my Parish, we use a very simple way to let the EMHC’s know when they may approach. They remain in their pews until the altar server rings the bells when our priest consumes the Blood of Christ. They know then that it is their time to approach and receive Communion before distributing it to the rest of the congregation.
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japhy
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Brendan
Guest
Ours is even simpler. We don’t use EMHC’s. We have three priests in residence. Our pastor, a new associate pastor, and a 92 year old ‘retired’ priest in residence.
If one is celebrating Mass, the other two will come out to assist with Communion. On Sundays, the Deacon will also be there and will assist.
So we have 4 Ordinary Ministers. And since we offer both species via Intinction, they can Communicate the whole congregation in a reasonable amount of time.
We still have the same bell rung when the priest Communicates, but that signals the altar boys to come up and for the ushers to direct the faithful up.
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iamrefreshed
Guest
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