Self intinction, what should I do?

[vince2paul]

I often attend mass where the priest is the only one distributing holy communion. In some cases, he will be holding the chalice and ciborium and let the faithful to take the host and dip it (just like oreo and milk!). I know that it’s not allowed, so what should I do? Should I just do it because everybody is doing it? Should I just “take” the host? or don’t receive it at all?
Thanks.

 

[dbacks5439]

I often attend mass where the priest is the only one distributing holy communion. In some cases, he will be holding the chalice and ciborium and let the faithful to take the host and dip it (just like oreo and milk!). I know that it’s not allowed, so what should I do? Should I just do it because everybody is doing it? Should I just “take” the host? or don’t receive it at all?
Thanks.

Nearly the same thing happens during the daily Mass at my university. I sent the priest an email yesterday concerning that and other abuses and I haven’t gotten a response yet.

Just politely bring it to his attention and maybe show some documents that prohibits that practice.

 

[vince2paul]

Just politely bring it to his attention and maybe show some documents that prohibits that practice.

I talked to a priest once about it, and actually, he knew it, but he just don’t bother. He told me that “he will be responsible if there’s sin committed.”

So what do you do if it happens? We can only talk to a priest after mass, right?

 

[John_Lilburne]

Some approaches to consider.

A letter to the priest with the rules:
I am concerned that the liturgical books are not being followed and so am drawing your attention to these rules.

According to the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum: “[104.] The communicant must not be permitted to intinct the host himself in the chalice, …”.
The document has at its conclusion:
“[186.] … This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned.”

For people to receive Communion by intinction the correct method is given in the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):
“287. If Communion from the chalice is carried out by intinction, each communicant, holding a communion-plate under the chin, approaches the priest, who holds a vessel with the sacred particles, a minister standing at his side and holding the chalice. The priest takes a host, dips it partly into the chalice and, showing it, says, Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). The communicant responds, Amen, receives the Sacrament in the mouth from the priest, and then withdraws.”

In the 1975 GIRM it is at 246(b):
“The communicants approach, make the proper reverence, stand in front of the priest, and hold the communion plate below their chin. The celebrant dips a particle into the chalice and, showing it, says: The body and blood of Christ. The communicants respond: Amen, receive communion from the priest, and return to their place.”

If you can get a response it will help establish if he is ignorant or deliberately disobedient.

Other approaches:
Talking with the priest
Teaching the parishioners
Discussing it with someone might persuade the priest.
Writing to the bishop.
Formula Tribunal approach for breach of Code of Canon Law, canon 846.
Publicising the problem.
Gathering evidence such as photographs and videos. (It can be useful to help the above approaches and can be used to indicate to the priest that you are serious about the issue).

 

[tcraig]

Others have provided good advice on how to notify the priest of this error. Until then, only take the host and don’t self-intinct.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I often attend mass where the priest is the only one distributing holy communion. In some cases, he will be holding the chalice and ciborium and let the faithful to take the host and dip it (just like oreo and milk!). I know that it’s not allowed, so what should I do? Should I just do it because everybody is doing it? Should I just “take” the host? or don’t receive it at all?
Thanks.

I would speak with the priest privately. Explaining that self-intinction by the laity is forbidden. You would like to receive under both forms. Would he please offer this in a correct manner?

See what he says. He may ignore you and say then receive only under one form. He may say good Let me train you as a EMHC and you can distribute the Blood of Christ.

 

[NMJenny]

We had a priest in our town who only gave communion by intinction, but he had a special plate, with a hole in the center that held a small cup for the Precious Blood. The hosts were piled on the plate around the little cup. So the priest just took a host, dipped it in the cup, and then put it on your tongue. (That’s the only way he would allow you to receive.)

Alas, after 18 years. we lost him several years ago to the cathedral in Northern New Mexico…

 

[davy39]

Why do some priests try to customize the Holy Mass to suit themselves? When abuses are reported to the Bishop, nothing is done. It seems that the laity know more about the rules and abuses than some of the priests do. Self intinction is strictly forbidden, at least in our diocese.

 

[Tietjen]

I talked to a priest once about it, and actually, he knew it, but he just don’t bother. He told me that “he will be responsible if there’s sin committed.”

So what do you do if it happens? We can only talk to a priest after mass, right?

First, you can still receive yourself (one or the other or both separately). Second, if you have already talked to the priest about this and he refuses to change his position, you should go to the Bishop. Failure to stop abuses such as this, make it that much harder for the laity to ever know their faith. It waters down the church dogma and eventually you’ll have some parishes introducing dance into the Mass, some allowing extraordinary ministers to distribute Holy Communion while the priest does not participate at all, some that allow a member of the laity to read the Gospel reading and/or give the homily… oops, too late! That stuff is already happening in many areas. Do your part to help ensure the faith and the Mass are protected in your area! Report abuse!

 

[Tietjen]

Self intinction is strictly forbidden, at least in our diocese.

In all diocese.

 

[Deacon2006]

Every catholic has the right to recieve communion on the tongue. Just stand their with your tongue out or with your hand extended he will have to put down the chalice. If enough do it he will get the message. PS never reach into the ciborium to get a host. Even deacons do not do this.

God Bless

 

[gvogt4]

If you can get a response it will help establish if he is ignorant or deliberately disobedient.

The letter was a real good piece of advice, and I agree that a response or lack of response will be very revealing.

Other approaches:
Talking with the priest
Teaching the parishioners
Discussing it with someone might persuade the priest.
Writing to the bishop.
Formula Tribunal approach for breach of Code of Canon Law, canon 846.
Publicising the problem.
Gathering evidence such as photographs and videos. (It can be useful to help the above approaches and can be used to indicate to the priest that you are serious about the issue).

The items in bold (and in that order) are also good approaches.
I am not saying the other approaches are necessarily wrong, but involing others before trying to resolve this problem directly with the priest, then the bishop may not be the best approach.

 

[gvogt4]

In some cases, he will be holding the chalice and ciborium and let the faithful to take the host

The priest is the only one allowed to self-communicate. Period. Taking the host is a no no no no no.

Should I just do it because everybody is doing it? .

Never a good reason to do anything, and certainly not a good reason to cooperate in this abuse.

I know that it’s not allowed, so what should I do?

The advice to just stand there with your tongue out was a great piece of advice.

 

[DBarchard]

I am a regular attender at the Interntional Catholic church in Ankara which is actually on Vatican Embassy territory. I would estimate that about half those going to communion here each Sunday do so by self-intinction. Remarks to priests and to Eucharistic Ministers on the subject get no response other than a polite hint that I am behind the times. Thank you for this thread which has at least given me chapter and verse if and when I raise the matter.

PS We have already had “dance” in our Mass – our Christmas vigil Mass had a group of African dancers performing.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

… It waters down the church dogma and eventually you’ll have some parishes introducing dance into the Mass, some allowing extraordinary ministers to distribute Holy Communion while the priest does not participate at all, some that allow a member of the laity to read the Gospel reading and/or give the homily… oops, too late! That stuff is already happening in many areas. Do your part to help ensure the faith and the Mass are protected in your area! Report abuse!

Do not confuse dogma with liturgical norms. And the flippant attitude will also detract from any credibility you may have after that error.

If you challenge your priest with a truckload of documents, it will probably do more harm than good. I doubt the priest is ignorant of the norms. And writing the Bishop is only a good idea if you intend to leave the parish.

It might be more beneficial to ask why he does whatever he does, and try to get into a comfortable discussion.

Lux

 

[Newbie2]

Do not confuse dogma with liturgical norms. And the flippant attitude will also detract from any credibility you may have after that error.

If you challenge your priest with a truckload of documents, it will probably do more harm than good. I doubt the priest is ignorant of the norms. And writing the Bishop is only a good idea if you intend to leave the parish.

It might be more beneficial to ask why he does whatever he does, and try to get into a comfortable discussion.

Lux

I agree. Waving documents in his face, methinks, is the wrong way to go about it. Best to ask about it. He will that you know by your asking about it why you’re asking.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I often attend mass where the priest is the only one distributing holy communion. In some cases, he will be holding the chalice and ciborium and let the faithful to take the host and dip it (just like oreo and milk!). I know that it’s not allowed, so what should I do? Should I just do it because everybody is doing it? Should I just “take” the host? or don’t receive it at all?
Thanks.

Well you could ask him if he would like you to help him by offering the Chalice as an EMHC. IT would seem that if any this would be a situation where an EMHC IS needed. Or offer to assist him by holding the Chalice so the he may intinct the host before placing it on their tongue. Then you can put an end to people intincting themselves.

 

[maryjk]

Too bad you don’t have a Celiac there. We can’t have wheat. So that means, if we receive the low gluten Host, they can’t sit with the other Hosts, we will get sick. It also means that when the low gluten Host isn’t available, we receive from the Chalice. And it can’t have wheat in it, that means no intinction.