Self Communion by EMHC to "finish" Precious Blood?

[DiMaggio]

I’m not sure who else to ask this question to so here goes. The woman in charge of training EMHCs at my parish said it is OK for them to self-communicate in order to finish the Precious Blood in their chalices. This seems wrong to me as they would be taking, rather than receiving Holy Communion which I believe is wrong.

Is there any Church document that allows them to self-communicate? If there one that specifically tells them not to? Thank you.

 

[lak611]

From the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

In those instances when there remains more consecrated wine than was necessary, if needs dictate, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from their cup of distribution with the permission of the diocesan bishop.

This is not self-communicating. It is licit.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

from their cup of distribution with the permission of the diocesan bishop

I’m not sure if the OP meant from their cup. I have seen where Precious Blood was left in the Chalice on the Altar after Communion and an EMHC would finish that. I have no idea if that is ok.

 

[az_4_faith]

From Redemptoris Sacramentum:

[195] Furthermore all will remember that once the distribution of Holy Communion during the celebration of Mass has been completed, the prescriptions of the Roman Missal are to be observed, and in particular, whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ must be entirely and immediately consumed by the Priest or by another minister, according to the norms, while the consecrated hosts that are left are to be consumed by the Priest at the altar or carried to the place for the reservation of the Eucharist.

The EMHC’s receive Holy Communion from the priest after he has consumed. That takes care of their “receiving”.

After Communion, EMHC’s are allowed to finish whatever is remaining of the Precious Blood, as instructed by the Priest.

This isn’t the same as self-communion because it’s takes place after the EMHC has already received communion from the priest.

 

[JimG]

from their cup of distribution with the permission of the diocesan bishop

I’m not sure if the OP meant from their cup. I have seen where Precious Blood was left in the Chalice on the Altar after Communion and an EMHC would finish that. I have no idea if that is ok.

Yes, it is OK. The EMHC’s initially received the cup from the priest and communicated, before presenting it to others.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

Yes, it is OK. The EMHC’s initially received the cup from the priest and communicated, before presenting it to others.

Well, in the times I have seen it, it was not the cup the EMHC presented to others, rather the Chalice the priest used during Consecration. EMHC’s here usually do not take the priest’s Chalice to distribute. If there is any Precious Blood in the Chalice the priest used during Consecration, the servers are instructed to leave the Chalice on the Altar during Communion. Once Communion is over and the EMHC’s have put their cups on the side table, I have seen where one will go up to the Altar, finish the Precious Blood from the Priest’s Chalice and put the Chalice with the other cups on the side. I guess this is better than leaving the Chalice on the Altar for the remainder and dismissal of Mass, that I have also seen.

Since I am hardly the authority on Liturgies, I don’t know what to make of those things, so I guess I just hope they are okay.

 

[MusicMan]

Finishing the Precious Blood in their own cup is part of being an emHC. It’s not like they’re rereceiving the Precious Blood, it’s more like an extention of their own Communion, and just a part of their liturgical function.

As for the priest’s chalice, I don’t know what the rules are regarding that. I would expect the priest or deacon to finish that themselves.

However, bear in mind that many priests are saying multiple Masses in a relatively short space of time, sometimes at multiple churches. The Precious Blood still contains the accidents wine, meaning it is still alcohol. In these circumstances, it is probably wisdom on the priest’s part to limit the amount of alcohol he is consuming.

 

[DiMaggio]

Finishing the Precious Blood in their own cup is part of being an emHC. It’s not like they’re re-receiving the Precious Blood, it’s more like an extention of their own Communion, and just a part of their liturgical function…

It most certainly is. It’s nice to see this practice is not an abuse. I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[John_Lilburne]

In most places the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal gives the impression that priest, deacon and concelebrants should drink what remains of the Precious Blood. For example, from the 2002 GIRM approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html:
“182. … If Communion is given under both kinds, the deacon himself administers the chalice to the communicants; and, when the distribution is completed, he immediately and reverently consumes at the altar all of the Blood of Christ that remains, assisted if necessary by other deacons and priests.”

But it has in n. 284:
“b. Whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ is consumed at the altar by the priest or the deacon or the duly instituted acolyte who ministered the chalice. The same then purifies, wipes, and arranges the sacred vessels in the usual way.”

The justification for the other EMHCs (besides an instituted acolyte) doing this is from this part of the USA GIRM:
“283. … In all that pertains to Communion under both kinds, the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America are to be followed (see nos. 27-54).”

This document gave the permission, for other EMHCs to do this, in the USA.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m not sure who else to ask this question to so here goes. The woman in charge of training EMHCs at my parish said it is OK for them to self-communicate in order to finish the Precious Blood in their chalices. This seems wrong to me as they would be taking, rather than receiving Holy Communion which I believe is wrong.

Is there any Church document that allows them to self-communicate? If there one that specifically tells them not to? Thank you.

this could be easily solved by one minister handing it to another minister who would then drink the contents of the cup. why make up a problem where none exists?