Priest posture to distribute Communion

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travellinmike

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Our Pastor recently had hip replacement surgery. Now after 2 months of recovery he has returned to us. He uses a cane to steady himself and sits on a stool during the consecration. He does not distribute Communion however, asking for any other Eucharistic Ministers (grrr) to come forward.

My question is this…

Is there a doctrine, teaching, rule, whatever that states that the Priest be standing to distribute the Eucharist? Couldn’t one of the alter boys (girls) carry his stool from behind the alter to the front of the aisle so he could still perform this duty? Am I being too hard on the old boy?

It just seems wrong for Communion to be distributed by only Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.

Mike
 
If the diocese has extra priests, deacons, or acolytes they should see that one or two are there to help him. If there aren’t any, then this is indeed an extraordinary situation, and he should find a few reverent members of the congregation to distribute communion until he is well. He should also mention his reasons for doing so- so as not to scandalize people and make it difficult for them to stay in the proper state to receive the Eucharist.
 
sounds like an extrodinary situation preventing the regular minister from performing hisduty, so by defintion EMHC’s are OK.
 
Thanks for the replies. I’m sure in a few more weeks he’ll be back to his old self and then we will have only three EM’s instead of 4

Mike
 
His unsteadiness could put the Eucharist at risk for being dropped . He is doing the right thing.
 
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