May I offer the Eucharist by intinction with water?

[whosebob]

JMJ + OBT​

My friend Stephen has no salivary glands, due to radiation treatments and surgery he underwent because of cancer in his throat and jaw.

Stephen made a return to the Catholic Faith last year after an abscense from the Church that spanned most of his adult life – he is now a senior citizen.

He was a little nervous about speaking to the priest about his “special needs” as regards receiving Holy Communion, so I helped arrange and was present during that conversation.

Father worked with the EMHC coordinator such that whenever Stephen attends Sunday Mass, an EMHC brings one of the chalices filled with the Precious Blood and a small piece of a consecrated host over to Stephen’s pew (he is disabled); after intincting it in the Precious Blood, the EMCH then places the host fragment directly into Stephen’s mouth. The arrangement has worked well.

However, when speaking privately with the pastor, I mentioned that I had read somewhere (in the GIRM?) that intinction is to be performed only by a priest or deacon. He suggested that I should have no concern about an EMCH doing so for my friend. Can you comment on this?

Also, during the past three months, Stephen has been forced to stay home on many Sundays due to health complications. He has mentioned that while he is open to a home visit by an EMHC, he would prefers it to be someone he knows. The pastor has come to visit him on several occasions, but can’t make it every Sunday.

If I were to bring him Holy Communion, what rules and guidelines am I obliged to I follow in light of his special swallowing needs – I am a bit worried about receiving improper instruction at my parish from someone who doesn’t know better or is unconcerned with the Church’s regulations:

Obviously, I can’t bring the Precious Blood to his home. (Or can I?) Can intinction be performed by a lay person, given the circumstances, with blessed water?

Also, Stephen can’t swallow an entire host, it must be a small piece of a host that is intincted. When requesting a consecrated host to be placed in my pyx, should I ask for only a small fraction of one? If, for whatever reason, I receive a whole one instead, am I allowed to fraction it for Stephen? What would I do with the larger portion during our Communion Service for the Sick, receive it myself?

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear Whose,

I have brought the Precious Blood in a small bottle with a whisky jigger for a patient who could not consume solids. There is no reason why an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist could not do this also if it were necessary.

However, in your situation the person can consume solids. The Church allows the person to aid the reception of the host with a glass of water. It is not the practice to use intinction with water, however.

As for the part of the host that is not used, leave it in the tabernacle.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.