Opinion on EMHC/Men and Women

[FirstCalled]

I am a very traditional minded Catholic. I prefer the Tridentine Mass but go regularly to a NO parish.
For a couple months last year I was an EMHC, before I learned about the Latin Mass and came into that preference.
I would love it if EMHC were not necessary, and that we could all receive from the hands of the priest.
However, (and I do not wish to offend) the vast majority of EMHC at the parish are women. In an ideal situation I suppose I would prefer that if a priest could not give Communion then men should (please don’t flame me ). For you traditional minded people as well, do you think that I should go back to being and EMHC to encourage more men to step up and fulfill that role? Or should I not?

 

[kozlosap]

I am a very traditional minded Catholic. I prefer the Tridentine Mass but go regularly to a NO parish.
For a couple months last year I was an EMHC, before I learned about the Latin Mass and came into that preference.
I would love it if EMHC were not necessary, and that we could all receive from the hands of the priest.
However, (and I do not wish to offend) the vast majority of EMHC at the parish are women. In an ideal situation I suppose I would prefer that if a priest could not give Communion then men should (please don’t flame me ). For you traditional minded people as well, do you think that I should go back to being and EMHC to encourage more men to step up and fulfill that role? Or should I not?

If Mother Teresa were to be an EMHC, would you not want to receive from her? (I’m not flaming, just wondering…) I think you should participate in parish life to your fullest ability. At my huge parish we have equal numbers of women and men EMHC.

 

[PerfectTiming]

I don’t have any problem with women being EMHC. Your decision to be an EMHC shouldn’t be based on an opposition to women doing it, but it should be based on you as an individual and whether you want to/are able to. Why do you not approve of females as EMHC?

When I was in RCIA the priest mentioned how at one time people were apprehensive about receiving the Eucharist from any layperson, male or female. So for a while they had nuns doing it because people could deal with this much easier than they could with a layperson doing it. Later on, they did move on to laypeople but I think it’s just an interesting point considering you seem to be opposed to women as EMHC.

 

[puzzleannie]

yes things will be much better if we make up our own personal rules that are stricter than what the Church provides.

this is the traditional forum so I would assume EMHCs are not even an issue in the EF or TLM so what is the problem?

as a general rule, the more lay men step up to the plate, the fewer lay women would have to fill roles that seem to those of us from another generation to be more suited to men.

 

[waterbrook]

I thought one had to be invited to be an EMHC.

 

[Monica4316]

I am a very traditional minded Catholic. I prefer the Tridentine Mass but go regularly to a NO parish.
For a couple months last year I was an EMHC, before I learned about the Latin Mass and came into that preference.
I would love it if EMHC were not necessary, and that we could all receive from the hands of the priest.
However, (and I do not wish to offend) the vast majority of EMHC at the parish are women. In an ideal situation I suppose I would prefer that if a priest could not give Communion then men should (please don’t flame me ). For you traditional minded people as well, do you think that I should go back to being and EMHC to encourage more men to step up and fulfill that role? Or should I not?

I prefer to only receive Communion from the priest, but if it must be an EMHC, then I’d prefer for only men to serve in this role. I say this as a female I just don’t agree with it - and it’s not mandatory to agree with, as it’s not a rule of the Church anyway, but a special permission.

It’s your call… in my opinion, I think it’s better to not be an EMHC at all.

 

[Monica4316]

yes things will be much better if we make up our own personal rules that are stricter than what the Church provides.

the Church gave a special permission to have EMHCs… this does not mean that they are ideal, or encouraged, or best, or that we should all have EMHCs in our parishes or agree with them. Especially when the Vatican never meant for this to be the norm in parishes, which is has become.

 

[LeahInancsi]

At my parish, if women we not allow to be EMHCs, there wouldn’t be enough EMHCs. Most of the EMHCs are women. I was until a couple years ago. I hope to start again soon.

With regard to doing away with EMHCs altogether, how many of us can knell for the length of time it would take one priest to serve a church full of people the Eucharist? Just a small practical matter.

 

[wsxyz]

yes things will be much better if we make up our own personal rules that are stricter than what the Church provides.

Why not? No one follows the rules of the Church anyway.

The Rule of the Church:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

Redemptionis Sacramentum

[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when (1) the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when (2) the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or (3) when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

 

[wsxyz]

At my parish, if women we not allow to be EMHCs, there wouldn’t be enough EMHCs. Most of the EMHCs are women. I was until a couple years ago. I hope to start again soon.

The regular use of extraordinary ministers is illicit.
Still, everyone does it anyway.

Who’s being disobedient?

 

[LeahInancsi]

The regular use of extraordinary ministers is illicit.
Still, everyone does it anyway.

Who’s being disobedient?

Not having enough priests to serve the community is illicit, in my opinion. That has created the need for EMHCs.

BTW, are you Catholic? If so, why do you only call yourself “Christian”? Be proud of this great religion.

 

[CB_Catholic]

the Church gave a special permission to have EMHCs… this does not mean that they are ideal, or encouraged, or best, or that we should all have EMHCs in our parishes or agree with them. Especially when the Vatican never meant for this to be the norm in parishes, which is has become.

I appreciate that you do not prefer EMHC"s, but despite the fact that they are from an indult, that does not mean they are not legitimate, as some people seem to think. It is the Church who has the say here, and it says EMHC’s are fine in this country.

Don’t forget, indults can be of benefit for people, are often done for pastoral reasons that help people, and can become the norm if the Church so chooses. The TLM, or EF, was, until recently, said under indult after Vatican II. If the attitude had been that indults aren’t quite legitimate, or shouldn’t be encouraged, etc., you probably wouldn’t be having the privilege of attending one.

 

[Godfollower]

Why not? No one follows the rules of the Church anyway.

The Rule of the Church:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

Redemptionis Sacramentum

[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when (1) the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when (2) the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or (3) when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

The regular use of extraordinary ministers is illicit.
Still, everyone does it anyway.

Who’s being disobedient?

I’m afraid you’re mistaken. There is nothing that says that the regular use of extraordinary ministers is illicit. Your complaint here appears to be that “a brief prolongation” isn’t grounds for the use of extraordinary ministers. I don’t know where you are, but in my parish the failure to use extraordinary ministers would mean doubling the length of the Mass. That’s not a “brief prolongation;” that’s a scheduling disaster (we already have to have five Masses on Sundays, with only two priests assigned to our parish).

We need the extraordinary ministers, because the priests and deacons aren’t enough. There’s nothing illicit about it.

 

[wsxyz]

Not having enough priests to serve the community is illicit, in my opinion. That has created the need for EMHCs.

Need? Taking 15 minutes to distribute Holy Communion does not constitute a “Need”.
And that’s completely disregarding the many parishes that have 2 or 3 priests but only one (plus a gaggle of unnecessary EHMCs) is there to distribute at communion time.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I thought one had to be invited to be an EMHC.

That is how it is here also.The pastor invites and the person accepts (or not). Our pastor tends to invite couples and in some circumstances the wife accepts and the husband doesn’t.

 

[wsxyz]

I’m afraid you’re mistaken. There is nothing that says that the regular use of extraordinary ministers is illicit. Your complaint here appears to be that “a brief prolongation” isn’t grounds for the use of extraordinary ministers. I don’t know where you are, but in my parish the failure to use extraordinary ministers would mean doubling the length of the Mass. That’s not a “brief prolongation;” that’s a scheduling disaster (we already have to have five Masses on Sundays, with only two priests assigned to our parish).

We need the extraordinary ministers, because the priests and deacons aren’t enough. There’s nothing illicit about it.

It may not be illicit in your case. In most parishes it is.

In your parish: How many ordained ministers are distributing Holy Communion at each Mass and how many communicants are there, approximately?

 

[Cider]

For you traditional minded people as well, do you think that I should go back to being and EMHC to encourage more men to step up and fulfill that role? Or should I not?

I would not.

Even at the NO masses ( we have both NO and TLM at my parish) we receive kneeling at the altar rail by either the priest or deacon only. We have no EMHC at all.

 

[wsxyz]

The TLM, or EF, was, until recently, said under indult after Vatican II. If the attitude had been that indults aren’t quite legitimate, or shouldn’t be encouraged, etc., you probably wouldn’t be having the privilege of attending one.

Except, interestingly enough, the Pope has ruled as a matter of law, that the traditional Mass was never abrogated. Which means that it was illicit to forbid the Mass, and licit to celebrate it, no matter what the bishop said.

 

[wsxyz]

With regard to doing away with EMHCs altogether, how many of us can knell for the length of time it would take one priest to serve a church full of people the Eucharist? Just a small practical matter.

I missed this the first time through…

You don’t have to kneel the whole time. You process up as usual and receive from the priest (or deacon), whether kneeling or standing.

Holy Communion kneeling at the communion rail is very fast. And you only have to kneel from the time you approach the rail until you receive Holy Communion. If you have a priest and a deacon then you have two people to distribute Holy Communion and it goes twice as fast.

 

[Cider]

With regard to doing away with EMHCs altogether, how many of us can knell for the length of time it would take one priest to serve a church full of people the Eucharist? Just a small practical matter.

You don’t kneel the whole time, you get up and stand in line and when it’s your turn you kneel at the altar rail and after you receive you go back to your pew. I’m not sure why kneeling “the whole time” would be an issue ( except those with medical issues) anyway since you kneel before it’s time for your pew to get in line and when you get back already in parishes that use EMHC.