Question on being a LEM

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Ok, so my dh and I signed up to participate more both for ourselves and our children (to see mommy and daddy taking an active role). Talking to my mother about it, she got “clouded” (best way I can think to describe it) and said “oh, I could never do that, b/c I just can’t reason out our touching the Host with our hands” – I’ve always received on the tongue, for the same reasons…but now that she mentioned it, she brought up the point that if the priest himself has to consecrate his hands to touch it, why not the LEMs? My thinking is that if the Pope is ok with it, then it’s ok with me, but she did raise a good point…if the priest has to consecrate his hands first…what about little old you and I? Any thoughts? (of course now I feel totally conflicted, knowing I’m doing something my mother is in disagreement with is one thing, but doing something AT CHURCH she’s in disagreement with is a whole other level of “irish catholic guilt” ) :o
 
In 1973, Paul VI approved Lay people to serve in assisting priests to distribute communion in Immensae Caritatis. Since then it has continued to be alright with other Popes, however, they stress that it should only be done when there is a shortage of priests, deacons, or acolytes, if a priest has a disability, or if there is a large number of communicants. Lastly, priests have their hands consecrated because they consecrate the Eucharist. Deacons do not have their hands consecrated, but they still have the priveledge of distributing communion. If you feel uneasy about serving in the role, you can always find other ways of helping your parish.

As a side note, we should all try to ween ourselves off the use of the term Eucharistic Minister. The only Eucharistic Minister is the priest. As Pope John Paul II said in *Redemptionis Sacramentum *those who assist in distributing communion should be called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

God Bless,
Matt
 
I think you’re mixing acronyms. An LEM is a ‘lay ecclesial minister’ - the new term, Iour American Bishops want to give people who are ‘officially’ trained to serve in various ministries in the church…anyone know if this has been approved yet? I saw some of the USCCB conference where this was ‘discussed’, for lack of a better word. Last I heard they were going ahead with this, without asking for Rome’s guidance or directions since it wasn’t ‘necessarry’. But, that’s another thread…

It sounds like you’re talking about being an EMHC.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
A LEM is a Lunar Excursion Module?
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I would definately wash a LEM before touching it. You never know where it’s been… 😉
 
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OhioBob:
I would definately wash a LEM before touching it. You never know where it’s been… 😉
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I always laugh when we recycle labels. Seriously when I read LEM the first thing that entered my mind was the Apollo space program lunar module.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I always laugh when we recycle labels. Seriously when I read LEM the first thing that entered my mind was the Apollo space program lunar module.
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I had the same thought. I had never heard the term “lay ecclesial minister”. :hmmm:
 
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OhioBob:
I’m afraid that you are probably right. 😦
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Sorry guys – that’s all I’ve ever heard them called, and the “lay” part is new to me – it was always just EM…(which incidently were my maiden initials!) – so anyway, now I know the correct term, thanks to the first reply to my post… 🙂
 
I agree with mary1818…

And I’ve always grown up using the term LEM… Lay Eucharistic Minister. It was odd to hear it called EMHC… I used to be an EMHC but seeing how I’m allergic to alcohol… I can’t drink the rest after everyone else has received. Quite frustrating when I want to participate because so many people don’t want to volunteer. O’well…
 
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tamccrackine:
I agree with mary1818…

And I’ve always grown up using the term LEM… Lay Eucharistic Minister. It was odd to hear it called EMHC… I used to be an EMHC but seeing how I’m allergic to alcohol… I can’t drink the rest after everyone else has received. Quite frustrating when I want to participate because so many people don’t want to volunteer. O’well…
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The term Elzee referred to in post #4 was Lay “Ecclesial” Minister, not “Eucharistic”. It was the first I had heard that particular term.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I always laugh when we recycle labels. Seriously when I read LEM the first thing that entered my mind was the Apollo space program lunar module.
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crackle…buzz… Roger, Rome, Tranquility Base here. The Eucharist has landed…
:nope: Doesn’t quite work. :rotfl:

tee
 
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OhioBob:
The term Elzee referred to in post #4 was Lay “Ecclesial” Minister, not “Eucharistic”. It was the first I had heard that particular term.
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I know what was posted… I just posted to show what I had grown up with. I also think the term Eucharistic in LEM was what made some upset as the priest is the only “Eucharistic” minister. 😃
 
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