Question for Ministers of the Holy Eucharist

[stbruno]

Our parish frequently offers the Eucharist under both species.
Recently, I have had the experience of people attempting to self-intinct when offered the Blood of Christ. My response is to cover the cup…

We were taught the guidelines that the communicant including the extraordinary minister is never allowed to self communicate, even by means of intinction.

And that Holy Communion may be distributed by intinction only when offered by a priest who holds the vessel with the hosts at whose side stands the minister holding the chalice. The communicant also needs to be holding or have someone hold a paten under their chin when approaching the priest. The priest then takes the host, intincts or dips the particle into the chalice and showing it says: The Body and Blood of Christ. and the communicant only can receive it on the tongue.

Our parish does not have provision for this manner of reception, so intinction is not even a consideration. My question is how do you get people to respond positively when they attempt to intinct themselves?

 

[Marauder]

Whether a EMHC should attempt to deny a person that is attempting to self-intinct has been debated on here several times.

Without going into the debate, the proper procedure for dealing with this is to notify the priest/pastor. Let them know that you are having problems and if he does not know that it is not allowed provide him with the documentation.

Ask for the pastors guidance in dealing with this. Depending on the pastor, he may use this as an opportunity for instruction, or he may tell you to pull the person aside after Mass and inform them or some other procedure, or he may tell you to point out the person to him.

It has been debated whether the communion rail is or is not a proper place for this instuction. Officially the Ordinary Minister of Communion (priest/deacon) are the only people that are allowed to determine whether or not someone is allowed to receive communion (baring obvious sacrilege situations of which self-intinction isn’t outright sacrilege) and he can instruct EMHCs on the who should or should not receive.

 

[JimG]

A brief instruction from the priest during the homily, that self-intinction is not allowed, would be helpful.

Perhaps the parish should consider buying an intinction chalice, so that communion by intinction can be properly done. Again, the parish would need to be instructed that communion by intinction must be on the tongue.

 

[marty1818]

In response to the issue of whether it is the EMHC’s responsibility to keep a person from self intincting, I believe it is their responsibility. They are distributing the Holy Eucharist, so they are responsible for what happens to the Eucharist and they must know what to do in situations such as people trying to self intinct. Self intinction is not permitted so I believe you did the right thing to cover the chalice.
Redemptionis Sacramentum states the following::

[104.] The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand. As for the host to be used for the intinction, it should be made of valid matter, also consecrated; it is altogether forbidden to use non-consecrated bread or other matter.

Redemptionis Sacramentum was to written to be followed. With that said we should follow it’s instruction.

God Bless,
matt

 

[Marauder]

marty1818:

In response to the issue of whether it is the EMHC’s responsibility to keep a person from self intincting, I believe it is their responsibility. They are distributing the Holy Eucharist, so they are responsible for what happens to the Eucharist and they must know what to do in situations such as people trying to self intinct.

As I said before this has come under debate on this forum several times. It is not up to the EMHC to decide the method for dealing with the self-intinction. It is up to the Pastor or other Ordinary Minster of the Eucharist to decide how it is to be handled in an appropriate manner. If the Pastor decides it is best to allow the person to self-intinct at the communion rail and then get informed afterward that is his choice, if he decides it is better to confront the person at the communion rail that is his choice. If the Pastor does not address the issue at all it should be brought up with Bishop.

It is not the position of the EMHC to make policy, to interpret the GIRM how they think it should be interpretted, or to think they know more then the Pastor.

In the majority of cases of self-intinction the problem is that the communicant doesn’t know the proper procedure. Instruction is the proper method for dealing with it, not confrontation. Whether that instruction comes from the pulpit in the form of a homily, instruction from the EMHC or priest after Mass, or at the communion rail is up to the Pastor and/or Bishop not the EMHC.

 

[marty1818]

Marauder:

As I said before this has come under debate on this forum several times. It is not up to the EMHC to decide the method for dealing with the self-intinction. It is up to the Pastor or other Ordinary Minster of the Eucharist to decide how it is to be handled in an appropriate manner. If the Pastor decides it is best to allow the person to self-intinct at the communion rail and then get informed afterward that is his choice, if he decides it is better to confront the person at the communion rail that is his choice. If the Pastor does not address the issue at all it should be brought up with Bishop.

It is not the position of the EMHC to make policy, to interpret the GIRM how they think it should be interpretted, or to think they know more then the Pastor.

In the majority of cases of self-intinction the problem is that the communicant doesn’t know the proper procedure. Instruction is the proper method for dealing with it, not confrontation. Whether that instruction comes from the pulpit in the form of a homily, instruction from the EMHC or priest after Mass, or at the communion rail is up to the Pastor and/or Bishop not the EMHC.

It is surely not the position of the EMHC to make the policy. They should follow the instruction of the priest who should follow the instructions given by the bishop who receives his instruction from Rome. We should not support confrontations, but a simple action of covering the chalice and simply saying" I’m sorry we do not allow that here. Please consume the host first" is something which is not confrontational. After mass the priest can then go explain it to the person trying to intinct. I don’t see why people should be allowed to intinct, when an action so simple can be done to prevent it.

matt

 

[Marauder]

marty1818:

We should not support confrontations, but a simple action of covering the chalice and simply saying" I’m sorry we do not allow that here. Please consume the host first" is something which is not confrontational. After mass the priest can then go explain it to the person trying to intinct. I don’t see why people should be allowed to intinct, when an action so simple can be done to prevent it.

As I said before it is up to the priest/pastor to determine what method is used to inform the person receiving that self-intinction is not permitted.

What you see as a simple action, some people see as a confrontation. A person that normally goes to a church that wrongfully “allows” self-intinction that then goes to one that doesn’t sees it as a confrontation. No matter how nice the EMHC is. We see it all the time at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. People that come from around the country wondering why the National Shrine doesnt do this or that illicit procedure and are shocked when they are denied something.

If the priest in conjunction with the Bishop interpretts the GIRM and other documents to mean that the EMHC should stop the person from self-intinction at the communion rail, that is what should be done. If the same group of people determines that it should be done in another way, that is also their right. It is not up to the EMHC (except in cases of outright sacrilege) to set policy on their own. If an EMHC sees an abuse their duty is to bring it up to the priest and if that doesnt work up to the Bishop. The role of EMHC as it the discretion of the Bishop and adminsterred by the Pastor of the church. If the EMHC doesn’t approve of the way the Pastor in conjuction with the Bishop say to handle things their only option is to step down from the position.

 

[marty1818]

I believe that if people think that is a confrontation, they should get over it. People often think that they have some right to do what they want and when they are told they can’t they get offended. People should start realizing that it is not personal, and that we are just following the guidelines.

matt