Receiving Holy Communion

[SimonDodd]

Why would there be a difference on who distributes Holy Communion?

Respectfully, I think this is the wrong question. It’s backwards, approaching the question as if we faced an empty chalkboard on which to reason out the question de novo. That isn’t the case. We are trying to understand what the Church teaches, not grade its homework.

Thus, as I said, I think that “why would there be a difference” is the wrong question to ask. The right question, and the one I’d like you and DD to speak to is this: If there is not a difference, why has the Church repeatedly underscored that the ordained ministers who confect the sacrament are also the ordinary ministers of its administration, and that distribution by lay ministers is to be seen as extraordinary, to be done only in particular circumstances and never as a matter of routine? If there is no difference, why do you suppose that the proliferation and normalization of extraordinary ministers was regarded as so urgent and important an abuse that it required an exceedingly rare interdicasterial instruction approved in forma specifica by the pontiff?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Respectfully, I think this is the wrong question. It’s backwards, approaching the question as if we faced an empty chalkboard on which to reason out the question de novo. That isn’t the case. We are trying to understand what the Church teaches, not grade its homework.

Thus, as I said, I think that “why would there be a difference” is the wrong question to ask. The right question, and the one I’d like you and DD to speak to is this: If there is not a difference, why has the Church repeatedly underscored that the ordained ministers who confect the sacrament are also the ordinary ministers of its administration, and that distribution by lay ministers is to be seen as extraordinary, to be done only in particular circumstances and never as a matter of routine? If there is no difference, why do you suppose that the proliferation and normalization of extraordinary ministers was regarded as so urgent and important an abuse that it required an exceedingly rare interdicasterial instruction approved in forma specifica by the pontiff?

The terms speak for themselves. Its like a policeman normally catches criminals, but you extraordinarily can perform a citizen’s arrest if you see someone commit a crime. Its not the ordinary duty of lay people to distribute communion but if needed, they can be. Extraordinary does not denote anything negative or a lower level. The bread and wine are consecrated only by a priest, what the lay people do merely is to help distribute. There have been instances where the priest doesn’t distribute at all (older priest, priest has a cold and have no substitute for Mass, etc.). By saying ordinary it simply infers its normally part of their duty, and extraordinary refers to those who are deputized to perform.