Questions about distribution of Communion

[SeekNFind]

I have a question: I went to a different parish and noticed that after the sign of peace and after the agnus dei, the priest hands out the host to all the lay ministers/deacons/cantors on the altar and they hold it in their hands. Then he says “behold the Lamb of God. . .” and we respond “Lord I am not worthy. . .” THEN the people who received the host consume it. They probably had it in their hands for about a minute but it seems like a long time to hold the host in your hand. Or is it not that big of a deal? I know it’s acceptable to receive in the hand or on the tongue (I choose the former because I’m afraid of dropping the host). But are there any rules about the length of time it can be sitting in your hand? Thanks for answering my questions.

 

[Phemie]

I have a question: I went to a different parish and noticed that after the sign of peace and after the agnus dei, the priest hands out the host to all the lay ministers/deacons/cantors on the altar and they hold it in their hands. Then he says “behold the Lamb of God. . .” and we respond “Lord I am not worthy. . .” THEN the people who received the host consume it. They probably had it in their hands for about a minute but it seems like a long time to hold the host in your hand. Or is it not that big of a deal? I know it’s acceptable to receive in the hand or on the tongue (I choose the former because I’m afraid of dropping the host). But are there any rules about the length of time it can be sitting in your hand? Thanks for answering my questions.

Gee, I didn’t notice you at Mass this morning. You must have been sitting behind me.

Seriously, that’s the way the priest who is our administrator always does it and it drives me crazy. After the EMHCs were told not to come into the sanctuary until after he’d received, he ordered them to come up at the Our Father and he does exactly what you described. The only thing he’s changed since last year is that he no longer passes the ciborium around like a candy dish for the altar servers and EMHCs to help themselves.

It’s wrong, he is supposed to receive before anyone else and no one should be handed a Host and expected to hold on to it for any length of time. They are to consume immediately.

GIRM 160. The Priest then takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants, who usually come up in procession.

(…) When receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, they reverently join their hands; when receiving Holy Communion in the hand, they reverently open their hands placing one beneath the other,** and they consume the host immediately upon receiving it.**

 

[SeekNFind]

Gee, I didn’t notice you at Mass this morning. You must have been sitting behind me.

Seriously, that’s the way the priest who is our administrator always does it and it drives me crazy. After the EMHCs were told not to come into the sanctuary until after he’d received, he ordered them to come up at the Our Father and he does exactly what you described. The only thing he’s changed since last year is that he no longer passes the ciborium around like a candy dish for the altar servers and EMHCs to help themselves.

**It’s wrong, he is supposed to receive before anyone else and no one should be handed a Host and expected to hold on to it for any length of time. **They are to consume immediately.

No, I returned to my own parish this week. I don’t think I’ll go back there for Mass.

Thanks for confirming. I was uncomfortable with it but I didn’t know if it was actually wrong. After all, I’m a newbie so what do I know?