Religious and Self-communication: Is it allowed?

[mikeledes]

Are religious that are not priests allowed to self-communicate - give themselves the host and drink from the chalice - particularly if the mass is celebrated in their chapel? I know that the lay faithful are not permitted to do this.

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[Ferds_Guiang]

Hi Mike. This is what Sacramentali Communione says:

Among the ways of communicating prescribed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, receiving from the chalice itself ranks first. Even so, it is to be chosen only when everything can be carried out in fitting order and with no danger of irreverence toward the blood of Christ. When they are available, other priests or deacons or even acolytes should be chosen to present the chalice. The method of communicating in which the communicants pass the chalice to one another or go directly to the chalice to take Christ’s blood must be regarded as unacceptable.

Whenever none of the ministers already mentioned are available, if the communicants are few and are to receive communion under both kinds by drinking directly from the chalice, the priest himself distributes communion, first under the form of bread, then under the form of wine.

Otherwise the preference should be for the rite of communion under both kinds by intinction: it is more likely to obviate the practical difficulties and to ensure the reverence due the sacrament more effectively. Intinction makes access to communion under both kinds easier and safer for the faithful of all ages and conditions; at the same time it preserves the truth present in the more complete sign

 

[mikeledes]

So in a conventual mass, religious that are not priests… for example juniors… are not allowed to self-communicate, that is, take the host directly from a paten placed on the altar by the priest or take the chalice from the altar and drink from it? Do you know of any instructions specifically about conventual masses?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

 

[baltobetsy]

CAF member JReducation knows all this stuff. Maybe you could PM him.

Betsy

 

[benedictgal]

Here is what Redemptionis Sacramentum states:

[94.] It is not licit for the faithful “to take … by themselves … and, still less, to hand … from one to another” the sacred host or the sacred chalice.181 Moreover, in this regard, the abuse is to be set aside whereby spouses administer Holy Communion to each other at a Nuptial Mass.

…104.] The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand.

Thus, the document is quite clear that self-communication is not allowed.

 

[baltobetsy]

Here is what Redemptionis Sacramentum states:

Thus, the document is quite clear that self-communication is not allowed.

With all due respect, BG, the rules for religious houses are different.

Betsy

 

[benedictgal]

With all due respect, BG, the rules for religious houses are different.

Betsy

That may apply for readings and some rubrical matters, but, I do not think that it is completely carte blanche.

I will sometimes go to Mass at the chapel of the monastery of the Congregation of St. John. They brothers (non-priest) and the nuns do not self-communicate, neither do the Salesian sisters when I have gone to Mass at their chapel. Now, if two of the priests from St. John are concelebrating, they will sometimes have communion under both species. Now, interestingly enough, they will, on occasion, distribute Holy Communion via intinction, but, the brother (non-priest) who is serving as the instituted alcolyte will hold the chalice for the celebrant.

 

[benedictgal]

So in a conventual mass, religious that are not priests… for example juniors… are not allowed to self-communicate, that is, take the host directly from a paten placed on the altar by the priest or take the chalice from the altar and drink from it? Do you know of any instructions specifically about conventual masses?

Thanks and God Bless,
Michael

While this does not necessarily speak to conventual Masses, this section from the Norms for Distrbution of Holy Communion in the United States might be helpful:

Norms established by the diocesan bishop must be observed wherever the Eucharist is celebrated in the diocese, “even in the churches of religious orders and in celebrations with small groups.” (37)

I do not know if this means parishes run by religious orders or monasteries/convents.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Norms established by the diocesan bishop must be observed wherever the Eucharist is celebrated in the diocese, “even in the churches of religious orders and in celebrations with small groups.” (37)

This only applies is parishes or other public liturgies.

It also might apply to communities of diocesen right as they fall under the local bishop.

Orders/communities of pontifical right are free of the bishop with in their houses. The chapel of our (Carmelite) priory does not fall under any rules set by the bishop as these are our private community Masses. The only ones who may join us at these are our invited guests, it is not open to the public.