Self Communication

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My question is a short one. Is it possible for an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to self communicate? Here’s an example, the EMoHC is visiting somebody who is sick and wants to recieve along with the person. But there is no other EMoHC present. I’m almost positive that its forbidden but I’m not sure where the regulations would be. Can anybody point me to the reference?

Thanks
 
I just finished training last night in my new parish. I served in my old parish for two years before moving and am only be trained due to the new parish. Anyway, we were told last night that we are to receive the Eucharist not take it. The question came up about leftover Precious Blood and how to partake of it? We were told to find another EM and ask them to serve us. I’m not sure if this is in the GIRM, but it seems to make sense to me. One other thing, I have always looked at ministering for the home bound as a ministry for them, not the one serving them.
 
Where do you think the EMHC got the host from to bring to the sick to begin with? Ideally, communion brought to the sick is an extension of the mass, which is where the EMHC both received communion and the extra hosts to bring to the sick. It is therefore inappropriate to receieve a second time.

In an extreme situation where communion for the sick cannot wait until the next mass and the host must be taken from the tabernacle, it should be done so by the priest and accompanied by annointing of the sick.

Josh
 
I suppose this question is a little more complex than first expected.

This is a real situation that happened to me today. The EMHC asked me to come along with her to visit the people who she regularly visits. I don’t do this kind of ministry often, but I’d like to be involved with it. However, I suspect she was late for (or missed) Mass, and did not receive communion then. Neither did she get the Sacrament from the Priest as an extension of that Mass. After the Mass had ended, the church was empty she took the number of Hosts she’d need from the tabernacle (presumably with the Priests permission) and we took off. I felt a little funny about her just taking the Blessed Sacrament like that. But anyway, along the way she said something like “I didn’t receive today, so next stop I’ll take communion too”. Here I mentioned that I didn’t think she could do that. She said that she didn’t know that, and then didn’t try to later. She is the sweetest and kindest old woman in the church, not somebody who would consciously try to undermine the Church’s authority on such matters. But I wanted to find out where it was mentioned, so I could show her. I can’t seem to find it in the GIRM, but I suppose it’s got to be there somewhere.

Maybe that’s a clearer explanation. It should have been in connection with the Mass but wasn’t for whatever reason. I just wanted a reference. Anyone else know off hand?
 
Can. 918 It is highly recommended that the faithful receive holy communion during the eucharistic celebration itself. It is to be administered outside the Mass, however, to those who request it for a just cause, with the liturgical rites being observed.

Attending and receiving communion at mass is an integral part of giving communion to the sick, and the latter should not be performed without the former.

Should through legitemate reason a person not be able to attend mass, one who did attend should be found to administer the sacrament to the sick.

In the situation that neither can be performed… and the priest himself is not available… I’m not really sure. Perhaps if the minister has express permission from the pastor this situation would be permitted. Otherwise it would be just like at mass someone who had not been attending the mass suddenly walk in at the moment of communion and try to act as a EMHC. It would be inappropriate.

I read briefly through canon law, but I’m on break at work, so I can’t devote any more time to finding actual documents to back this up, sorry. Post here if you find any.
 
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threej_lc:
Where do you think the EMHC got the host from to bring to the sick to begin with? Ideally, communion brought to the sick is an extension of the mass, which is where the EMHC both received communion and the extra hosts to bring to the sick. It is therefore inappropriate to receieve a second time.

In an extreme situation where communion for the sick cannot wait until the next mass and the host must be taken from the tabernacle, it should be done so by the priest and accompanied by annointing of the sick.

Josh
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I don’t think this is a question of receiving a second time. Not all parishes pass out the hosts for the ministers of care at a mass. At our parish, ministers of care go out into the community at different times and sometimes require a large amount of hosts in order to serve the large numbers of people they serve. They often serve in nursing homes, and some also go to the prisons. They will go to the chapel where the Tabernacle is kept and take what they need on the day they are going out to serve. The question is should the EM be receiving communion while out performing their duty as a minister of care to the homebound? I don’t think so, since there is no one properly trained to serve the EM in this situation, unless the homebound person just happens to be a trained EM. A priest is the only one who should serve himself as far as I know. If the EM did not receive while at mass then they would still not receive while at someone’s home.
 
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threej_lc:
Otherwise it would be just like at mass someone who had not been attending the mass suddenly walk in at the moment of communion and try to act as a EMHC. It would be inappropriate.
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Yeah. I suppose you’re probably right.
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RichT:
A priest is the only one who should serve himself as far as I know.
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Yes. That was pretty much what I had thought as well. I wasn’t sure where that was specifically cited, although I did find it.

Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America. usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.htm

“50. The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate…”

Thanks for the help 🙂
 
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RichT:
A priest is the only one who should serve himself as far as I know.
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Yes. That was pretty much what I had thought as well, although I wasn’t sure where that was specifically cited. (See above post)
 
Of course under certain circumstances a EMHC could “self-communicate”. I do every time I conduct a Communion service.
An EMHC should never simply go up open a tabernacle and take Communion for themselves. Nor should they if another EMHC is available. Another situation is in rural areas if a EMHC is visiting several sick and because one of the persons cannot receive for whatever reason and the EMHC cannot return the Host to the tabernacle because of time or distance the Host may need to be consumed by the EMHC. A person can receive Holy Communion once a day outside of Mass.
 
Thanks Brother. Could you give me a reference for the rules about this? Or are they scattered in various documents?

Thanks
 
This topic is addressed in the instruction “Inaestimabile Donum”, issued by the Holy Father on April 17, 1980. The instruction says:

“9. Eucharistic Communion. Communion is a gift of the Lord, given to the faithful through the minister appointed for this purpose. It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another.”

Hope that helps.
 
They are scattered in documents. However the paragraph noted above #9 is a good reference. We must remember that there is a difference between “the Faithful” and specific instituted and commissioned lay ministers. Another example would be taking the Blessed Sacrament to the sick or home bound. The GIRM states that only a Deacon, Priest or Bishop can read the Gospel or give a homily. However an EMHC when visiting the sick or conducting a Communion service can read the Gospel and make comments on the reading. In fact the norm requires that where the sick person can participate. A EMHC should not just stop by for a visit distribute Communion and go on to the next person. They must when they can conduct a full Communion service at the bed side of the sick person. Too many EMHC do not minister to the sick properly. This can be found in the Pastoral Care of the Sick. The GIRM is refering to the liturgy of the word within the Mass only.
 
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