Should the priest distribute communion in the center aisle?

[Schmitmom]

Our priest has gotten in the habit of distributing communion on a side aisle with the extraordinary ministers taking the center aisles. Is this correct?

 

[Gorgias]

Welcome, @Schmitmom!

Yes, it’s ok! There’s nothing that prohibits the priest from distributing communion at a side aisle, or requiring that he distributes from a center aisle.

 

[twf]

At our cathedral the faithful always have the option to receive standing alone the centre aisle or by kneeling along the altar rail at either side. At the Easter Vigil last week, the Archbishop distributed communion along the left half of the altar rail, while other clergy took the centre aisle… so yeah it’s fine.

 

[midori]

I know I’ve sometimes seen the priest distribute communion to elderly people who aren’t very mobile. The extraordinary ministers will go ahead and take the main aisles, so he doesn’t delay everyone else, and then when he’s finished with those who can’t come up themselves, he’ll take a side aisle that has fewer people, so that everything finishes up about the same time.

If you want to receive Communion from a particular person, you can sit in a place that he’s most likely to serve, if you know he’s gotten into this habit.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yeah, it’s fine. There could be any number of reasons why he goes over there, from wanting to personally minister to elderly, to the sun being uncomfortably in his eyes in the middle, to wanting a line that’s shorter or longer, to just happenstance in the way he decided to assign people to aisles. If you want to receive from him, sit in the section where he normally gives communion, or sit in a place where you could easily step over into his line.

 

[LisaB]

Our priest has gotten in the habit of distributing communion on a side aisle with the extraordinary ministers taking the center aisles. Is this correct?

I can’t imagine that it would matter. Personally I just wish that if extraordinary ministers are used, the priest would distribute from the same spot each time, so people who want to receive from a priest know where to sit. There is a church in my diocese where the priest rotates his spot each time, and I find it annoying.

 

[Schmitmom]

We only have one priest and one deacon in our parish with 200 people. I guess it is just my “desire” that he stand in front as In Persona Christi and our pastor. Thank you for your answers.

 

[FOG]

I guess it is just my “desire” that he stand in front as In Persona Christi and our pastor.

Be at peace. Remember, when it comes to the Blessed Sacrament, which the priest is in the Persona Christi, once he has consecrated the bread and wine, and it becomes the Body and Precious Blood, you are in the True Presence of Christ, regardless of who you receive it from!