Only an Extraordinary Minister distributing communion; no priest

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Thrstypirate said:
I was just curious if anyone had experienced this, as I hadn’t. I wasn’t “questioning” him or challenging him in any way.
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Thank you for asking this question. As a relatively new Catholic I am always learning and have not seen this before.
 
I did see this not too long ago on a Sunday. I too was visiting a different parish and didn’t know the priest but just assumed it was difficult for him to stand and give the Eucharist. I have wondered about him off and on since and I am glad to hear he is not the only one but that elderly priests are still willing to say Mass for us.
 
This is specifically the kind of instance for which EMHCs are called for, when the priest is too frail do give communion himself, or when there are too many communicants for one priest to handle expeditiously.

I’ve never seen it happen myself, where I attend Mass there are about 20 priests, and when it’s really busy there are up to 5 of them giving communion and at weekday Masses, usually 2.
 
I was just reading the relevant section the other day, and of course now, I can’t recall where…Canon Law or GIRM. Anyhow, in some cases, a priest may be permitted to remain seated throughout the entirety of Mass, even while doing the normal parts where the instruction is to stand. If the priest can read the Gospel and consecrate the Eucharist while seated, surely he can depute distribution and have one less thing to do…
 
Yes, we’ve had a priest sit on a high stool to consecrate Mass because he was in so much discomfort from bowel cancer surgery.

We (the parish) were just grateful he came to say Mass.
 
I’ve also seen this. At first I was a bit surprised to see a priest sitting during Communion, but when I also saw him sitting while greeting people after Mass it helped confirm my suspicion he probably couldn’t stand for long. I’m just glad he celebrated Mass.
 
Yes. I’ve seen this happen with an older priest and with a priest who had an accident and couldn’t stand for very long. I’m not a fan of the over abundance of EMHCs but this is when they are needed.
 
I am imagining that the priest still said mass, and consecrated the host the way he is supposed to. If he is sick extraordinary ministers of the eucharist are acceptable, someone else who is not a priest playing priest would be a different story.
 
Nichole said:
I am imagining that the priest still said mass, and consecrated the host the way he is supposed to. If he is sick extraordinary ministers of the eucharist are acceptable, someone else who is not a priest playing priest would be a different story.
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There was no suggestion of that happening. Are you thinking of a Communion service with pre-consecrated Hosts and confusing it with Mass, by any chance?
 
They are in the wrong for questioning him? It’s just a question…
 
Yes, I’ve seen it when the priest is very old and infirm, or otherwise very ill, so that he can’t hand out Holy Communion. Believe me, that priest wishes he was able to distribute Communion. Receive from the EMHC and pray for the poor priest.
 
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You need to work on your reading comprehension. OP said nothing close to that. Relax.
 
Yes, I have seen a visible ill and shaky priest who refused to go on disability leave because he would have to stop saying Mass. I have seen another priest who is on a walker and can barely stand long enough to do the Consecration but still says Mass every day. I have seen a third priest who is so old he needs grab bars to get up and down a step of about 4 inches in the sanctuary and still says Mass and does a nursing home ministry. I know a fourth priest who just broke a hip and I’m sure the minute he’s allowed to be up and around he will be on a crutch or a walker or whatever he can use and be saying the Mass.
They don’t want to stop celebrating Mass. They do it in all kinds of physical states.
 
We have an infirm/elderly but clear of mind priest in a heavy wheelchair who one of the emhc:s helps wheel down the aisle. He does most things except handling the Blood.

There’s grace in accepting humility and service, that God loves us regardless.
 
Yes, I do pray for those priests regularly (and I started prayer threads for them all in the Prayer Intentions forum on here).

I also pray for all priests who have given me the Sacraments at any time in my life.
 
yes, but the priest is not only very old, but has a real hard time standing. he’ll even take sit breaks during the liturgy. he distributes when he can, but some days he’s just in too much pain and wouldn’t be able to stand up long enough. I admire him for his perseverance of saying Mass in his condition and am very thankful he still does!
 
I have seen situations where the priest was too ill to give communion to the people.
 
I merely stated, unless lay people are pretending to be priests, it doesn’t sound like a problem.

As in lay people or women pretending to consecrate the host. Im not talking communion services, I know what they are but liturgical abuses.
 
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