Receiving Holy Communion

[GKCT]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

 

[DavidKays]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

I know what you mean. But try not to think only of yourself. The reception of Our Lord is what really counts. It does not matter how the means is. Jesus loves these people too and they are trying to participate to the best they can. Remember we are all human and try not to see imperfection in others or how Holy Communion is given as incorrect. What is correct is that they love Jesus too just like you. No one is perfect. Not even the priest. The only Perfect One is the One you are receiving so it does not really matter who gives Him to you. Remember Jesus more often and I am sure you will find this easier. Jesus wants you and everyone to be more perfected so try to see it in this way and you will see that everyone including you and the priest are all in the same boat. God uses imperfection that is us so that we can receive the Perfect One to help us all grow into His Perfection. God Bless!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

Really? We have one priest…for 3 Masses on Sunday. No Deacon…nothing…just one priest…he can’t do everything!

 

[diggerdomer]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

As you’re in the U.S., you should follow the teaching of the Bishops for the U.S., as approved by the Vatican. As they teach, there is no objective difference regarding who distributes communion. You are of course free to approach whichever minister you prefer.

Similarly, it’s up to the Bishops to decide appropriate ministerial roles at Liturgy. As long as the Church’s liturgical rules are followed there’s really no essential problem. Regarding accents, we have many foreign priests who serve in our diocese who are very hard to understand; at those Masses, the readings proclaimed by laity are much more intelligible.

 

[LilyM]

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

Odd - I’ve met many priests who are from foreign parts, whose English isn’t the best and who also have heavy accents of various kinds. For that matter some priests who are quite elderly and have various problems speaking and reading.

They certainly don’t pronounce some words as I or most people would. So should we get rid of these priests as well? What then? Have no-one to say Mass for us?

 

[Melchior_1]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated.

A quick question; a Deacon’s hands are not consecrated. Would you receive from a Deacon?

 

[Timothysis]

In the Gospels it tells us that Jesus sent His disciples out to heal the sick and forgive their sins. I wonder if any of those who were cured/forgiven ever said, "you know, I’d rather Jesus do it instead of you."

Christ gave us His Church and the sacraments to sanctify our souls. Is that not good enough?

 

[Timothysis]

A quick question; a Deacon’s hands are not consecrated. Would you receive from a Deacon?

:doh2:

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

You seem to be confusing different roles and which is the prescribed way of doing things.

When distributing communion, the priest and deacon are the ordinary ministers. When needed, lay people can also help.

But the readings should not normally be done by the priest. In this case, the priest is the “extraordinary minister” involved. See the GIRM:

1. By tradition, the function of proclaiming the readings is ministerial, not presidential. The readings, therefore, should be proclaimed by a lector, and the Gospel by a deacon or, in his absence, a priest other than the celebrant. If, however, a deacon or another priest is not present, the priest celebrant himself should read the Gospel. Further, if another suitable lector is also not present, then the priest celebrant should also proclaim the other readings.

 

[GKCT]

Thank you everyone. I think I need an attitude adjustment. Sometimes just get a bit? carried away. I know the “rules and regs”, but I would still prefer to receive from a priest. But I’ll get with the program!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Thank you everyone. I think I need an attitude adjustment. Sometimes just get a bit? carried away. I know the “rules and regs”, but I would still prefer to receive from a priest. But I’ll get with the program!

Just concentrate on WHO you are receiving. I used to prefer a priest but didn’t move or not recieve communion if it wasn’t, but I was sad. But I’ve worked a lot on it…especially reading Father Vincent Serpa’s response about it in ask an apologist. Now I concentrate on WHO I am receiving, and if it happens that day to be from a priest…well I consider that to be an extra blessing.

 

[Phemie]

Problem, for me anyway. When I receive Communion, I prefer to receive it from a priest, that is, from hands that have been cleansed and consecrated. I do not like to receive from a lay person (and I don’t care what their “title” is). Their hands have neither been consecrated or cleansed.

Also, there seems to be too many lay persons attending to things in the Mass that a priest used to do. It’s nice that lay are involved, just think it is too much. We have people doing readings who can’t read, can’t pronounce the words correctly, have a heavy accent so it’s hard to understand. We have enough priests in our parish to handle all these things. Just my thoughts.

While who you prefer to receive from is up to you, you should know that the priest’s hand are neither ‘consecrated’ nor ‘cleansed’. His hands were anointed, not consecrated and the lavabo rite is a symbolic rather than an actual cleansing - a bit of water poured over his hands cleans nothing, at least as far as hygiene is concerned.

 

[CradleCath]

Really? ** We have one priest**…for 3 Masses on Sunday. No Deacon…nothing…just one priest…he can’t do everything!

That is a shame. What do you think is contributing to the priest shortage in your area?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

That is a shame. What do you think is contributing to the priest shortage in your area?

Probably the same kinds of issues that affect the number of priests in the rest of the world.

There was an article (or English) yesterday that said that the number of new seminarians in Germany – the whole country – is down to 150, a record low. The chairman of the German bishops’ conference blames it on the abuse scandal.

Very, very sad.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

That is a shame. What do you think is contributing to the priest shortage in your area?

Well in Oregon…only 12% of us are Catholic. There is a larger Church in our town that also only has one priest. Why this is I don’t know…I’m just returning…since Ash Wed. this year.

I do know that I can email my priest and he will respond…sometimes at 11pm. I don’t know he is able to do all that he does. So…obviously we have to have lay people to help.

 

[Newbie2]

Just concentrate on WHO you are receiving. I used to prefer a priest but didn’t move or not recieve communion if it wasn’t, but I was sad. But I’ve worked a lot on it…especially reading Father Vincent Serpa’s response about it in ask an apologist. Now I concentrate on WHO I am receiving, and if it happens that day to be from a priest…well I consider that to be an extra blessing.

That is a shame. What do you think is contributing to the priest shortage in your area?

Lack of priests.

We are in the Detroit Metro area…over 2000 families…one priest, one deacon.

 

[CradleCath]

Probably the same kinds of issues that affect the number of priests in the rest of the world.

There was an article (or English) yesterday that said that the number of new seminarians in Germany – the whole country – is down to 150, a record low. The chairman of the German bishops’ conference blames it on the abuse scandal.

Very, very sad.

Before we address the problems in Western Europe, let’s look at what’s going on in our own neighborhood:

Lincoln, Neb., Oct 26, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- While the ominous subject of priest shortages in many parts of the world took center stage at the recent Synod of Catholic Bishops in Rome, the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska is reporting that their numbers for men committing to a life of priestly service and celibacy, are thriving.

The Daily Nebraskan newspaper reported today that the Diocese currently boasts the highest ratio of priests to faithful in the U.S.

According to the Official Catholic Directory of 2005, there are currently 121 active diocesan priests and 89,236 Catholics in the Diocese of Lincoln.

This results in one priest for every 737 Catholics in Lincoln, compared to a national average of one priest for every 4,723 Catholics.
catholicnewsagency.com/news/priestly_shortage_not_in_lincoln/

In my own diocese we have 136,000 registered Catholics & 177 priests. That equals one priest for every for 768 people. In my own small parish (about 400 people) we have two young priests just ordained this summer & two more in Seminary.

The “priest shortage” that the media loves to discuss appears to me…to be regional. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that the more traditionally oriented diocese seem to be doing just fine re vocations.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

That’s good news for Lincoln.

I did some Googling to look for a chart showing the number of priests by diocese, but couldn’t find one. CARA has numbers for the whole country but not (that I could find) by diocese.

For 2010:

Total priests: 39,993
Diocesan: 27,182
Religious: 12,811

Ordinations: 459

Graduate-level seminarians: 3,483

Permanent deacons: 16,649

Parishes: 17,958
Without a resident priest pastor: 3,400+
Where a bishop has entrusted the pastoral care of the parrish to a deacon, religious sister or brother, or other lay person (Canon 517.2): 517+

Catholic population: 65.6m

The 3,400 parishes without a resident pastor are scary. I keep hearing about cases where two or three parishes share a priest, but I’d hate to belong to one of them. Still, if there are all those parishes who have 1/2 a priest or 1/3 of a priest, the ones who have even one priest should be thankful. And also thankful for the permanent deacons who can take on care of parishioners.

It sounds to me like we need to pray for vocations and also be willing to help our priests in whatever ways we can.

 

[ljubim]

The idea that many people have is that to get the lay people more involved, is the solution to the priest shortage. Not to help boost vocations, not to help seminarians, but to just give up and allow lay people more “power.” This exact same argument can also be used to support women “priestesses” and married priests, so one should be careful which argument one chooses to support. Radicals who want to change the Church love to have precedents to work with.

Really? We have one priest…for 3 Masses on Sunday. No Deacon…nothing…just one priest…he can’t do everything!

Yes he can… I’ve seen it done a thousand times! There are altar boys too which helps but Father is perfectly able to do these things by himself (read, distribute the Eucharist, etc.)

 

[tbtcom1213]

Ordinary Form Masses in the Roman Rite

Priest may read or chant the Epistle but can delegate this to a lay man;

Priest reads or chants the Gospel unless a deacon or priest acting as deacon is present.

Priest distributes Communion; He may delegate other priests and if needed lay people to also distribute the Sacred Mysteries if necessary.

I believe the “Lector” is a stepping stone to the priesthood and permanent diaconate in the Ordinary Form and Extraordinary Form; The term I would prefer to use is lay reader of the Word

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Extraordinary Form Masses in the Roman Rite

Priest reads or chants the Epistle at Low Mass (Low Mass includes Sung Mass as well);

The essence of a Solemn Mass are the roles of deacon and subdeacon

He may delegate a layman to read the Epistle in the vernacular or the priest can read the translation thereof at the pulpit after the Gospel but before the homily or sermon

In a Sung or Solemn Mass a subdeacon or tonsured cleric or lector chants the Epistle while the priest reads it guided by the MC or deacon.

Priest reads or chants the Gospel; In a Solemn Mass the priest acting as deacon chants the Gospel;

Priest distributes the Sacred Mysteries; if a large number of people are present he may delegate another priest or even an instituted acolyte if necessary; Instituted acolytes are the actual extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion; No lay people are permitted to handle the Sacred Mysteries in the Extraordinary Form;

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In conclusion whether you receive Our Lord from the priest, the pope or the extraordinary minister, you received Jesus and should be thankful for the Sweet Sacrament; Receive Our Lord with piety and reverence; Saint Paul writes of this in his First Letter to the Corinthians. Jesus also speaks about recieving communion on his discourse on the bread of life in Saint John’s Gospel.