Pyx

[majahnke]

My fiance’s family recently had a conversation about distributing the Eucharist with a pyx (or pix?). She and I had received communion at one parish and distributed the Eucharist to her grandmother in the manner instructed. Her parents had done the same at a different parish. Some members of her family then mentioned that they believed the Eucharist can only be received in the pyx at the same parish from which the pyx was loaned out. I thought this to be an odd stipulation and no one really provided any solid reasoning to back up this claim. Can anyone help me and let me know if there is such a rule and why it exists? Thank you and God Bless.

Mark

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Sure. I can help you out.

When Mom was sick in the hospital, fighting cancer, I got a quick (like 15 minute) training as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for the Sick from a sister at our parish. She also gave to me a little pamphlet to bring with me to follow for how to do it step by step (like a little missalette) while I was sitting next to my Mom.

When I asked Sister where I would get a pyx, she told me the address of the local Catholic bookstore. So, there I went… picked one up for about 25 bucks.

The next morning’s daily Mass, before I received Communion, myself, I lifted my hand with 3 fingers up and my pyx open. The priest picked up 3 hosts from the bowl, one by one, and put them into my open pyx. I closed my pyx, and opened my mouth, and received communion for myself.

After Mass, I beat feet to the hospital… and gave to Mom her FIRST communion that she’d had in about 15 years when she stopped going to Mass.



And yes, she’d already been to Confession a few days before from asking the hospital to send in a priest for her so that she could go to Confession and then have Communion.

I tell ya… I don’t know who was MORE moved when I said “Peace be with you, Mom!” … or her reply “And also with YOU, honey!”

:bounce:
I was blessed to be able to bring her Communion often during her last weeks… what a BLESSING!! My FAVORITE memory of Mom!!

Please pray for her… may she rest in peace. and Sister Ann Virginia, too, who has also since passed.

Now, you can get pyxes from the Web!

aquinasandmore.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/store.BrowseCategory/Category/333/sp/0/index.htm

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Sure. I can help you out.

When Mom was sick in the hospital, fighting cancer, I got a quick (like 15 minute) training as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for the Sick from a sister at our parish. She also gave to me a little pamphlet to bring with me to follow for how to do it step by step (like a little missalette) while I was sitting next to my Mom.

When I asked Sister where I would get a pyx, she told me the address of the local Catholic bookstore. So, there I went… picked one up for about 25 bucks.

The next morning’s daily Mass, before I received Communion, myself, I lifted my hand with 3 fingers up and my pyx open. The priest picked up 3 hosts from the bowl, one by one, and put them into my open pyx. I closed my pyx, and opened my mouth, and received communion for myself.

After Mass, I beat feet to the hospital… and gave to Mom her FIRST communion that she’d had in about 15 years when she stopped going to Mass.

And yes, she’d already been to Confession a few days before from asking the hospital to send in a priest for her so that she could go to Confession and then have Communion.

I tell ya… I don’t know who was MORE moved when I said “Peace be with you, Mom!” … or her reply “And also with YOU, honey!”

I was blessed to be able to bring her Communion often during her last weeks… what a BLESSING!! My FAVORITE memory of Mom!!

Please pray for her… may she rest in peace.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

One thing to note, all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be approved by the local bishop for the particular ministry, (i.e. serving in a particular parish, and/or taking the Eucharist to the sick). The parishes usually coordinate this permission. Those who take to the sick are generally approved diocese-wide for this function.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

There is a great concern when people present a pyx and the pastor does not know who they are. Some people wish to obtain the Blessed Sacrament for evil purposes. Pastors have a grave obligation to protect the Blessed Sacrament. I can see where a Pastor might institute a rule that only a pyx from his parish will receive a Host at Communion. I of course have my own personal pyx that I use when carrying the Blessed Sacrament to a sick or homebound person. So I would need to speak with the pastor and celebrating priest prior to Mass if I’m in a parish that I’m not known in.

You mention something I think is very interesting. I would like to see the Church encourage more family members to become the person who brings the Blessed Sacrament to a sick or homebound person. Rather than a group of people who do this on a regular basis.

A family member could be taught very quickly and be accompanied the first few times by a more experienced EMHC.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

Br. Rich SFO:

I would like to see the Church encourage more family members to become the person who brings the Blessed Sacrament to a sick or homebound person. Rather than a group of people who do this on a regular basis.

A family member could be taught very quickly and be accompanied the first few times by a more experienced EMHC.

I agree.

As a shut-in myself, I am very blessed to have daily mass (via EWNN) and the Eucharist almost every day with my wife bringing it home from the mass she attends.