Should a Priest with a cold distribute communion?

[rpcgirl]

This Sunday my Priest who was quite sick with a cold did not distribute communion to the congregation, but three eucharitstic ministers distributed communion instead. He was coughing and seemed quite ill throughout mass. I am wondering if this is a liturgical abuse, or if in this case if his absense from distributing communion is permitted.

Thank you and God Bless

 

[LilyM]

Absolutely justified in the circumstances in my books.

 

[decn2b]

It was an extraordinary circumstance so extraordingary ministers of Holy Communion were used. Actually this is one of the few times I have actually heard of them being used as intended.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This Sunday my Priest who was quite sick with a cold did not distribute communion to the congregation, but three eucharitstic ministers distributed communion instead. He was coughing and seemed quite ill throughout mass. I am wondering if this is a liturgical abuse, or if in this case if his absense from distributing communion is permitted.

Thank you and God Bless

That would be fine. At a Local parish here there is a priest who cannot stand for very long, a few minutes at most. He does not distribute Holy Communion, the Deacon does.

 

[kleary]

That would be fine. At a Local parish here there is a priest who cannot stand for very long, a few minutes at most. He does not distribute Holy Communion, the Deacon does.

That is horrible. My pastor broke his foot and distributed Holy Communion from a wheelchair- by himself to a packed Church. He also has had colds and distributed Holy Communion as well, careful not to touch anything but the Hosts with his two fingers…no one caught his cold because he was careful.

This proves to me that EX Mins of Holy Communion are not needed whatsoever- as I was taught back when they came out with them- they “Are used to express the priesthood of the layity and to more involve the Lay people with the liturgy as mandated in Vatican II.” - What a lie.

Ken

 

[Rebecca_New]

I think the Priest was very considerate of his flock. If an epidemic of the flu ever strikes, it is consideration of this magnitude that will keep it from becoming pandemic.

 

[Catholic90]

He also has had colds and distributed Holy Communion as well, careful not to touch anything but the Hosts with his two fingers…no one caught his cold because he was careful.

Ken

How do you know?? Did you poll each and every person at mass to see if they got sick? That seems highly unlikely! All you can say is YOU did not get sick.

I think it was very wise and prudent of the priest NOT to distribute when ill.

 

[MusicMan]

You know, Ken, this is not an exercise in superlatives. I’m glad that your priest is capable of distributing Communion from a wheelchair. I’m glad that he feels that he can distribute when he is sick. It doesn’t make him a super-priest or a better priest.

This is a judgement call that the priest needs to make. If he fears infecting his flock, then he makes the right call by having an EMHC distribute Communion.

We all use this forum to vent and learn, but my advice on the topic is as follows: Trust your pastor’s judgement. If you feel he is acting improperly, take it up with the Bishop.

 

[kleary]

You know, Ken, this is not an exercise in superlatives. I’m glad that your priest is capable of distributing Communion from a wheelchair. I’m glad that he feels that he can distribute when he is sick. It doesn’t make him a super-priest or a better priest.
quote]

No - but it sure proves the laziness and liberalness of the others.

And as far as my Bishop is concerned- He didn’t even stop an invalid sponsor for Baptism a few months ago- so you think he would stop liturgical abuses of this thread’s nature from happening? I seriously doubt that.

Ken

 

[LilyM]

MusicMan;1677639:

You know, Ken, this is not an exercise in superlatives. I’m glad that your priest is capable of distributing Communion from a wheelchair. I’m glad that he feels that he can distribute when he is sick. It doesn’t make him a super-priest or a better priest.

No - but it sure proves the laziness and liberalness of the others.

And as far as my Bishop is concerned- He didn’t even stop an invalid sponsor for Baptism a few months ago- so you think he would stop liturgical abuses of this thread’s nature from happening? I seriously doubt that.

Ken

So a priest who says Mass while seriously ill but refrains from risking spreading his illness to the congregation by personally distributing communion is lazy or liberal now? Instead of being correct and thoughtful?

 

[kleary]

So a priest who says Mass while seriously ill but refrains from risking spreading his illness to the congregation by personally distributing communion is lazy or liberal now? Instead of being correct and thoughtful?

In this day and age where 90 percent of Catholics who attend Mass do not believe in Transubstantiation- YOU BET.
When there are people who want to deny the Catholic Priesthood and say we are all the same priests- YOU BET.

My pastor proved it and so do all the priests of the Traditional orders who still follow the rubrics of the 1962 Missal.

Come to a Latin Mass parish and see for yourself we need no Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion whatsoever! It is all a farce here in the US and elsewhere- Lay People DO NOT need to be doing that period.

Ken

 

[LilyM]

In this day and age where 90 percent of Catholics who attend Mass do not believe in Transubstantiation- YOU BET.
When there are people who want to deny the Catholic Priesthood and say we are all the same priests- YOU BET.

My pastor proved it and so do all the priests of the Traditional orders who still follow the rubrics of the 1962 Missal.

Come to a Latin Mass parish and see for yourself we need no Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion whatsoever! It is all a farce here in the US and elsewhere- Lay People DO NOT need to be doing that period.

Ken

Calm down.

I have never said or thought that there WAS a need for EMsHC at Mass - absent illness or incapacity of the priest or other Ordinary Ministers, as in the above example. In this case it was completely justified.

I’m 99% on your side, as you would see if you stopped getting hot under the collar.

 

[chicago]

I’m 99% on your side, as you would see if you stopped getting hot under the collar.

I see no justification for Ken, as a layman, to be wearing a collar!

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I see no justification for Ken, as a layman, to be wearing a collar!

Why? So many “traditionalists” have set themselves up as their own little magisteriums.

I say give them each a little papal tiara and pastoral staff that they can wave around while they denounce everyone else.

 

[PerkyCurlz]

No - but it sure proves the laziness and liberalness of the others.

And as far as my Bishop is concerned- He didn’t even stop an invalid sponsor for Baptism a few months ago- so you think he would stop liturgical abuses of this thread’s nature from happening? I seriously doubt that.

Ken

It’s sad that you would imply that this priest’s actions were lazy, liberal and/or liturgical abuse. It is up to the **priest **to decide if he is capable of distributing Communion at any particular mass, not you or anyone else.

 

[A2SciTeach]

Hi Kleary

Do you have data to prove 90% of Catholics do not believe in transubstantiation? Are you basing that statement on your false idea that only Catholics attending the TLM believe in the real presence? The original post is about priests with colds distributing communion…

 

[CatholicNick]

your false idea that only Catholics attending the TLM believe in the real presence?

You like to twist his words dont you? and make assumptions that have no basis…

I think thats called bearing false witness…

 

[Melanie01]

One of the priests at our church was very unwell last year but offered up the Mass. It was Low Mass and silent so the congregation followed with our Missals.The priest had communion but it is not a requirement that he MUST offer the congregation communion. He did not, we all had a spiritual communion just by being there.

After Mass I for one offered up my heartfelt thanks that Mass was offered that day and prayed for the priest’s speedy recovery.

He was quite recovered by Sunday…