Rehashing Eucharistic Liturgical Abuses

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centurionguard

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I do my out-most to give credence to the benefit of the doubt when making critique on certain liturgical abuses that occur from time to time. And sometimes I wonder if it’s best to just shut-up a pray for those who break liturgical tradition and laws. For the last two Sundays at Mass during the distribution of Holy Communion our parish priest has strayed away from being the official responsibility of giving Holy Communion to the laity during Mass at communion time.

At first I thought perhaps our parish priest wasn’t feeling well and decided to sit in the presidential chair and let the lay Eucharistic Ministers take on this privileged responsibility.

Perhaps my critique might seem redundant to some but this is not the first two times I have observed my parish priest sitting out from distributing Holy Communion.

I would think that it takes quite an amount of polite etiquette and tactfulness to confront a priest and query his responsibilities in this matter.

Worst of all my Archbishop has a common well know reputation of being liberal. So any complaints by the laity made to him are quite often received in a nonchalant manner and even disregarded; though I must admit our french Monseigneur has gotten better in a traditional attitude at handling certain liturgical abuses which I credit to fervent prayer.

Perhaps it easy to go off on a tangent when it comes to Liturgical Abuses in many Catholic Churches in numerous dioceses without giving credence to praying first for our respected priests, and bishops.
 
You are correct to pray for Bishops and Priests,they too can have a change of heart.But even if it does not change them,it will give you peace of mind.Once you are calm,there is not a reason in the world why you should not voice your concerns.You could least finding out from your priest, the reason for not distributing Communion himself.For all you know he could be dying of cancer but does not want his parishioners to know-extreme example I know! If you felt that the abuse was deliberate and the Bishop would not do anything about it.You could take photographs and send the details to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome.You could even by pass your Apostolic Nuncio in some cases, if you know he might not want to “rock the boat”.
This is what some catholic laity did in Australia-The Holy Father tore the shreads of some of these Bishops–He told them that they must stop Liturgical Abuses.Some Bishops came back with their noses out of joint and gave press release coverage that"It was a very un Australian thing to do–to go behind their backs".One Bishop recently had to dismiss a priest who administered invalid baptisms–He said that he did not know the extent of this priests activities(a haunt for Gays)–This had been going on for years, as lay people complained often, but to no avail-Cardinal Pell publically supported the lay people who gave the information to the Roman Authorities.Sorry for getting carried away!!
Lord,santify your Priests and Sacred Ministers.Amen.
 
You can’t know his intentions without asking, I suppose. But last week I overheard a conversation where a deacon said that he didn’t want to distribute Holy Communion – he wanted a couple of EMHCs to do it because it “is a privilege” for them. In other words, everyone should be called upon to do the maximum role that Canon Law allows, kind of like the Peter Principle. Needless to say, that philosophy is way off base – EMHCs are to be used only when all ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are exhausted and there’s still a significant crowd.
 
As an EMHC at our Church we are used at every service. Have been in Churchs from here Calif. to Ohio and everyone of them use EMHC’s at every service, not just when necessary.
 
tweetymom said:
As an EMHC at our Church we are used at every service. Have been in Churchs from here Calif. to Ohio and everyone of them use EMHC’s at every service, not just when necessary.
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That doesn’t make it right.
 
It’s not our place to make that call – it’s the pastor’s. (My parish does it all the time, too.) Nobody’s perfect. If you wish to show the document to your pastor, you may do so. But the practice is indeed ingrained in American parishes. Hopefully, as younger priests move up, they will bring the practice in line with the Church’s wishes, because they are more in tune with these documents in seminary training.
 
surritter said:
It’s not our place to make that call – it’s the pastor’s. (My parish does it all the time, too.) Nobody’s perfect. If you wish to show the document to your pastor, you may do so. But the practice is indeed ingrained in American parishes. Hopefully, as younger priests move up, they will bring the practice in line with the Church’s wishes, because they are more in tune with these documents in seminary training.
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We have had 2 younger Priests at our Parish that have indeed gone on to Pastor their own Churches and EMHC’s are still used at their new Parishes, so much for that thought.
 
I don’t think this has anything at all to do with being “liberal.” I think it has to do with being heterodox. My bishop is extremely liberal, particularly in social justice matters but he is also extremely orthodox. Misusing terms can be a real turn-off to some.
 
tweetymom said:
If it isn’t right why is it done?
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Shows that power still remains with the numbers. Once you start a “ministry” and it catches on, how do you stop it? Many want to do something for the Church besides give money so how can you deny them?
 
tweetymom said:
Well maybe not the norms, but I have never been in a CC that does not use EMHC’s at all Masses. From small to large.
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Come to our parish. At our Masses, all the priests come out ( pastor, associate pastor, and a 82 year old senior priest in residence) to help distribute Holy Communion.

On the Sunday masses, they are assisted by one of the two Deacons.

We do use an EMHC on the occasions that one of the ordinary ministers cannot make it. That EMHC is an ordained Chaldean Catholic Sub-Deacon who attends our parish.
 
SenorTheo said:
I don’t think this has anything at all to do with being “liberal.” I think it has to do with being heterodox. My bishop is extremely liberal, particularly in social justice matters but he is also extremely orthodox. Misusing terms can be a real turn-off to some.
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It’s true that labels can be a problem, but I think it’s pretty well established that in Catholic circles when someone is given the label “liberal” it means that they are often quite liberal with the interpretation of Church teaching and in following prescribed rules. That’s wider than social justice issues which, it is true, are often espoused by “liberal” Catholics. Social justice is fine, but “liberal” in following clearly spelled-out norms is not.
 
Brendan said:
Come to our parish. At our Masses, all the priests come out ( pastor, associate pastor, and a 82 year old senior priest in residence) to help distribute Holy Communion.

On the Sunday masses, they are assisted by one of the two Deacons.

We do use an EMHC on the occasions that one of the ordinary ministers cannot make it. That EMHC is an ordained Chaldean Catholic Sub-Deacon who attends our parish.
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We have the same here. Unless a priest is out of town, all our priests (and any in-residence or visiting priests) distribute communion at all Sunday Masses. Since this is the biggetst parish in the diocese, we also have EMHCs at every Sunday Mass. Our Pastor is recovering from cancer and there was a time when he was well enough to offer Mass, but not well enough to stand through distributing communion though, but the other priests were there.

To the OP, I would suggest you ask your priest how he is feeling. It is perfectly proper to say “Father, I noticed that you sat during communion. I hope you are not sick. I will be praying for you!” He may then say that he isn’t feeling well and you can redouble your prayers for him. He may say that enough EMHCs were there or whatever nonsense and then you can redouble your prayers also, but that his heart will be turned more to God.
 
surritter said:
It’s true that labels can be a problem, but I think it’s pretty well established that in Catholic circles when someone is given the label “liberal” it means that they are often quite liberal with the interpretation of Church teaching and in following prescribed rules. That’s wider than social justice issues which, it is true, are often espoused by “liberal” Catholics. Social justice is fine, but “liberal” in following clearly spelled-out norms is not.
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It hasn’t been well established in my Catholic world. I think the misuse just tends to turn people off. When people use the term “liberal” to describe heterodoxy to me, they come across as particularly naive. Except in those rare instances of course where they are intentionally trying to be offensive. There was a recent article posted from the WSJ. I was happy to see it talked largely of dissidence and not of liberalism. It made the article more accurate and credible.
 
SenorTheo said:
It hasn’t been well established in my Catholic world. I think the misuse just tends to turn people off. When people use the term “liberal” to describe heterodoxy to me, they come across as particularly naive. Except in those rare instances of course where they are intentionally trying to be offensive. There was a recent article posted from the WSJ. I was happy to see it talked largely of dissidence and not of liberalism. It made the article more accurate and credible.
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Overall, I agree. 🙂

“Heterodox” or “dissident” is better than trying to overlay a political term into religious circles.
 
Here is what Redemptionis Sacramentum has to say relevent to the issue posed by the OP:
[157.] If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons.258
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[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.259 This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.
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Now, we also should be using the term prescribed by the Church for us to use: Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, not Eucharistic Minister, as that is reserved to the priest/bishop.
 
benedictgal said:
Now, we also should be using the term prescribed by the Church for us to use: Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, not Eucharistic Minister, as that is reserved to the priest/bishop.
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Extra, like in “outside of”? Or extra, like in “special”? 🙂
 
tweetymom said:
If it isn’t right why is it done?
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tweetymom said:
We have had 2 younger Priests at our Parish that have indeed gone on to Pastor their own Churches and EMHC’s are still used at their new Parishes, so much for that thought.
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A lot of things which aren’t right are done; that doesn’t make them right. Wrong things are done for many reasons. One is ignorance that the thing isn’t wrong. Another is willful disobedience. I would tend to side with ignorance. Maybe these priests weren’t taught it was wrong… it can happen, you know… some seminaries are looser than others with their instruction.

It has been explicitly stated, back in 1980, and again in 2004, that it is reprehensible for priests who can distribute Communion (especially the celebrant!) to stay back and let EMHCs do it instead. Just because some people are ignorant of that, or choose not to listen to it, does not make them or the act right.
 
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