"Self Communication" while "doing the dishes?"

[DavidFilmer]

I participated in an earlier thread discussing the prohibitions against self-communication. Basically, nobody except a Bishop or Priest may pick up a Sacred vessel and administer communion to him/her self (not even a Deacon) - the one and only exception being someone who leads a Communion Service in lieu of a priest. For all others, the Host or the Cup must be handed to him/her by a duly appointed minister.

In that thread, I emphatically supported this position. But it occurred to me today that I might have been violating this rule myself – in a different way. And, I have a feeling that, if I did violate this rule, this practice is VERY widespread.

OK, I am a Eucharistic minister - I assist with the Cup at Mass. When Mass is over, the priest purifies his own vessels (including his Cup), and the excess Host is returned to the tabernacle, but the excess Consecrated Wine is placed in the sacristy. After Mass, the Eucharistic ministers go to the sacristy, consume any remaining Consecrated Bread (usually only crumbs) and Wine, and purify and clean the vessels.

Today, I happened to be the only Eucharistic minister doing these duties. A lady from the Altar Guild (who was there to tend to the linens; she is not a Eucharistic Minister) helped me with the clean-up. As is my usual custom, I picked up the Cup I had been using and consumed the remaining Consecrated Wine. As I finished this, it occurred to me that I may have just self-communicated. Oops.

But I could also make the case that I had NOT self-communicated. After all, the Cup HAD been presented to me (20 minutes ago) by the priest. I did my duties, and set the Cup down for a while. Can I pick it back up after a long while and receive from it?

But there was a second Cup (which happened to be empty) – there was a second Cup minister (who could not stay that morning). What if I picked up this Cup and consumed what remained? That particular Cup had NOT been presented to me.

This area seems a bit fuzzy. I suppose, to be on the safe side, it would be preferable for two Eucharistic ministers to do this, and always give the vessles to each other, but that wasn’t practical in the situation this morning. Does anyone know what the correct and approved procedures should be for Eucharistic ministers who are “doing the dishes?” Are we allowed to pick up whatever vessels are there and consume what remains?

Thanks!

 

[chicago]

Ideally, an ordinary minister of communion (priest or deacon) is supposed to do the purification. That solves the problem if they do.

 

[DavidFilmer]

chicago:

Ideally, an ordinary minister of communion (priest or deacon) is supposed to do the purification. That solves the problem if they do.

But a Deacon is not an “ordinary minster” of Communion, correct? Not even a Deacon can self-communicate. The only “ordinary minsters” of Communion are bishops and priests, right?

Of course, it would be ideal if a priest took care of this. But I’m pretty sure that, in most Parishes, the priest does not. So what is the correct protocol for Eucharist ministers, such as myself?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

DavidFilmer:

But a Deacon is not an “ordinary minster” of Communion, correct? Not even a Deacon can self-communicate. The only “ordinary minsters” of Communion are bishops and priests, right?

Of course, it would be ideal if a priest took care of this. But I’m pretty sure that, in most Parishes, the priest does not. So what is the correct protocol for Eucharist ministers, such as myself?

David,

A deacon is an ordinary minister of communion (as opposed to an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion). While it is true that a deacon cannot self-communicate, the reason for that is simple: he cannot consecrate (the technical term is “confect”) the Eucharist. However, by virtue of Holy Orders he is an ordinary minister.

As for purification, once you have been given communion, you no longer are self-communicating, even if you have to pick up the chalice to consume the remainder of the Precious Blood. This is, in a way, an extension of the thinking of St. Basil who addressed the question of “self-communication” in regard to receiving communion in the hand and then consuming it. communion has been given to you, and thus you are not self-communicating.

Deacon Ed

 

[DavidFilmer]

Thank you, Deacon Ed, for your clarifications.

I also asked a priest this same question, and he sent me this response:

First of all, a deacon is considered an ordinary minister of Communion, even though he does not self-communicate (unless conducting a Communion service). As a side note, a lay person should not act as a Eucharistic minister if a deacon is present. Because he is an ordinary minister, a deacon’s services should be used before that of an extra-ordinary minister.

A lay person who purifies a vessel is not considered to be self-communicating. I have not seen this topic specifically addressed, but rather my statement is based upon the fact that the rubrics and instructions recognize that this sort of thing is done.

For example, a rubrics of the Sacramentary states: “The vessels are cleansed by the priest or deacon or acolyte after the communion or after Mass, if possible at the side table.” This is also stated in #279 of the new GIRM.

The sacramentary doesn’t say much about extraordinary ministers one way or the other, so the absence of them in the above rubric does not mean that they are not to purify vessels. But the point here is that acolytes (i.e., members of the laity) are allowed to purify.

Furthermore, “Instruction ‘Inaestimabile Donum’ on Certain Norms Concerning Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery” states (#13): “…when Communion has been distributed, the sacred particles remaining are to be consumed or taken by the competent minister to the place where the Eucharist is reserved.” This was quoted in “The Minstry of Communion” booklet by Michael Kwatera (pg. 34). On this same page, Kwatera instructs extraordinary ministers to either consume dropped Hosts or dispose of them reverently after Mass.

Having extraordinary ministers assist with purification can be a practical necessity. Considering the fact that many parishes may utilize a number of patens and cups, properly purifying all of them may be too much for one person. I once had to do this at a former parish, and I felt as if I was going to burst from all the water I had to drink in the process.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

DavidFilmer:

OK, I am a Eucharistic minister - I assist with the Cup at Mass. When Mass is over, the priest purifies his own vessels (including his Cup), and the excess Host is returned to the tabernacle, but the excess Consecrated Wine is placed in the sacristy. After Mass, the Eucharistic ministers go to the sacristy, consume any remaining Consecrated Bread (usually only crumbs) and Wine, and purify and clean the vessels.

But I could also make the case that I had NOT self-communicated. After all, the Cup HAD been presented to me (20 minutes ago) by the priest. I did my duties, and set the Cup down for a while. Can I pick it back up after a long while and receive from it?

This area seems a bit fuzzy. I suppose, to be on the safe side, it would be preferable for two Eucharistic ministers to do this, and always give the vessles to each other, but that wasn’t practical in the situation this morning. Does anyone know what the correct and approved procedures should be for Eucharistic ministers who are “doing the dishes?” Are we allowed to pick up whatever vessels are there and consume what remains?

Thanks!

First there should NEVER be any Hosts or Precious Blood out of the possession of a Minister of Holy Communion unless they are secured in a tabernacle. The GIRM states that AFTER consumming the remaining elements the chalices and ciborium can be placed on a table to be purified at a later time. NEVER should a chalice with ANY remaining Precious Blood be left alone and unattended, anywhere!

It is the responsibility of the priest to consume the remaining elements at the altar. Assisted by other priests and if necessary a deacon and then only if necessary by an EMHC.

Prohibited “Self-Communion” means taking for the purpose of receiving yourself the elements from the altar during the Sacrifice of the Mass. It should not be applied outside the Mass and does not apply to EMHC during the exercise of their specific duties within the guidelines of the GIRM and RS.

 

[chicago]

The sacramentary doesn’t say much about extraordinary ministers one way or the other, so the absence of them in the above rubric does not mean that they are not to purify vessels. But the point here is that acolytes (i.e., members of the laity) are allowed to purify.

Actually, the way Roman law “thinks” would not necessarily suggest that it is alright for “extraordinary ministers” to purify. (An acolytye is an “auxiliary minister”). Basically, the expected norm is that one doesn’t go beyond what is written merely because it is not formally prohibited.

That said, I would agree with the assessment:

Having extraordinary ministers assist with purification can be a practical necessity. Considering the fact that many parishes may utilize a number of patens and cups, properly purifying all of them may be too much for one person. I once had to do this at a former parish, and I felt as if I was going to burst from all the water I had to drink in the process.

I think Br. Rich put it well in saying:

It is the responsibility of the priest to consume the remaining elements at the altar. Assisted by other priests and if necessary a deacon and then only if necessary by an EMHC.

I suppose that an argument could actually be made, then, that if this really is a problem, perhaps the parish or diocese should reconsider whether it is ideal to offer communion under both kinds frequently.

In any case, I agree that the matter of self communication is not of great concern here.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

The deacon is the minister of the cup. Before the new directive, in some parishes, the deacon self-communicated the precious blood. My pastor still remembers doing it this way and continues the practice. The bishop has said that we must not self-communicate any more. Hope my pastor catches up with this new directive soon. I will have to bring it to his attention.

Deacon Tony SFO

 

[MeaCulpa]

OK, I am a Eucharistic minister

Actually you are an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

Only priests and Bishops are Eucharistic Ministers (i.e. can confect the Eucharist).

The recently published document Redemptionis Sacramentum is very emphatic about using the correct nomenclature but I still hear priests referring to EMHC as Eucharistic Ministers as well - sigh -

**

1. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254] Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,[255] to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.

[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,[256] for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.[257]

156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

**