Should we even have EMHC's?

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

Should we even have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion? Other than showing that something extraordinary can be used ordinarily (Extraordinary Form - c’mon down ) - are they needed?

I for one think that they are not needed.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello,

Should we even have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion? Other than showing that something extraordinary can be used ordinarily (Extraordinary Form - c’mon down ) - are they needed?

I for one think that they are not needed.

They are not actually needed in many parishes. Maybe Christmas or Easter Vigil, but not every Sunday. Especially not every day at daily Mass. My opinion is that Communion should not be distributed under both forms at daily Mass, or at Sunday Masses with a very large number of people.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

I feel we should keep having EMs distribute the hosts and wine. This was one of the many changes with Vatican II to bring the Mass closer to the people. An active lay presence at mass encourages the parish. It keeps a divide forming between the clergy and the laity, which was one of the reasons Vatican II changed the mass formats from TLM to NO.

 

[Catholic90]

Yes, they are needed in ours. Our Sunday masses run between 1:10 and 1:20 WITH them. We average about 1000-1200 per mass.
Our daily mass does not use them, except for the school mass. That runs about 1:10 hours with a couple.

Good heavens, people. Worry about something important!

 

[Caesar]

No. Only the priest or a deacon should be giving Communion.

 

[Catholic90]

My opinion is that Communion should not be distributed under both forms at daily Mass, or at Sunday Masses with a very large number of people.

Well, that is YOUR opinion, not the opinion of the church.

YOUR opinion does not make it right.

 

[Catholic90]

No. Only the priest or a deacon should be giving Communion.

Not according to the Vatican, who has more authority that you do.

The arrogance and hautiness of some people is amazing.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Well, that is YOUR opinion, not the opinion of the church.

YOUR opinion does not make it right.

Yes, that is why I said that it was my opinion. Cardinal Arizne is also of this opinion. Not that he agrees with me, I agree with him.

 

[water]

Hello,

Should we even have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion? Other than showing that something extraordinary can be used ordinarily (Extraordinary Form - c’mon down ) - are they needed?

I for one think that they are not needed.

How do you deal with 5 masses on Sunday having around 1200 people per mass?

Without the help, the communion might take longer than the mass itself.

 

[Sir_Knight]

No. Only the priest or a deacon should be giving Communion.

I wonder if you will have the same opinion if you ever become ill or elderly and unable to go to church and would like to receive communion but a priest or deacon is available to visit only a few times a year while an EMHC can come weekly.

Will you be willing to give up the graces that come from receiving our Lord because you wouldn’t want an EMHC bringing Him to you?

 

[water]

I wonder if you will have the same opinion if you ever become ill or elderly and unable to go to church and would like to receive communion but a priest or deacon is available to visit only a few times a year while an EMHC can come weekly.

Will you be willing to give up the graces that come from receiving our Lord because you wouldn’t want an EMHC bringing Him to you?

I don’t think anyone will be so stubborn at his dying bed saying that he is not going to receive the Communion unless a priest shows up.

 

[Catholig]

I feel we should keep having EMs distribute the hosts and wine. This was one of the many changes with Vatican II to bring the Mass closer to the people. An active lay presence at mass encourages the parish. It keeps a divide forming between the clergy and the laity, which was one of the reasons Vatican II changed the mass formats from TLM to NO.

By hosts and wine you mean the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ right?

As for the purpose of EMHCs being to “participate” in the Mass - well I read some place, and sadly I cannot remember where but I’ve been looking that they SHOULD NOT be used to encourage participation but rather as a provision, when there aren’t enough ordained present (e.g. deacons).

Last but not least Vatican II didn’t change the Mass formats from the TLM to the NO. That happened AFTER the council.

Catholig

 

[Sir_Knight]

They are not actually needed in many parishes. Maybe Christmas or Easter Vigil, but not every Sunday. Especially not every day at daily Mass.

Then why do pastors keep recruiting us?

Our parish has two monsignors, two priests and three deacons. In addition, there are 6-8 EMHC at every Sunday Mass.

Our pastor approached ME and asked if I could help out. When I was hesitant, he went on to say that our parish had a great need for more EMHC and even quoted scripture (the part about anyone who gives someone even a cup of water for Christ’s sake will not go unrewarded – how much more important it is to bring the body & blood of Christ to others) to convince me.

Are we to say ‘no’ to our pastors? Or should we be obedient to our church leaders as scripture tells us to do especially when they are not contradicting any church teaching since the Vatican leaves it up to the individual churches to determine what is needed and how much?

 

[Catholig]

This was one of the many changes with Vatican II to bring the Mass closer to the people. An active lay presence at mass encourages the parish.

[151] Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the Liturgy. Such recourse is not intended for the sake of a fuller participation of the laity but rather, by its very nature, is supplementary and provisional - Redemptionis Sacramentum

Catholig

 

[scylla]

No, we should have instituted acolytes.

Go ahead and call your diocese and see if they offer this for your parishes. Most parishes could do with acolytes but the dioceses refuse to offer this out of fear of complaints.

Scylla

 

[Brendan]

Not according to the Vatican, who has more authority that you do.

The arrogance and hautiness of some people is amazing.

Actually, Cesar is quite correct. Only a priest or deacon SHOULD be giving out Commuion, but certain lay people are ALLOWED to do it.

Note the difference.

If you are going to try and correct people, please get your terminology correct first.

 

[mommyof4]

Hello,

Should we even have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion? Other than showing that something extraordinary can be used ordinarily (Extraordinary Form - c’mon down ) - are they needed?

I for one think that they are not needed.

Yes they are. In our large parish, it would take forever to get everone through the communion line w/out EMEs. We have only one preist for a 900 some parish. And who would take communion to the homebound, nursing homes, and hospitals? It would be too much for one person to do.

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Yes, that is why I said that it was my opinion. Cardinal Arizne is also of this opinion. Not that he agrees with me, I agree with him.

An alcholic priest cannot consume wine, so it is better to use only grape juice than have an EMHC to distribute the precious blood at daily mass?

Lux

 

[Brendan]

An alcholic priest cannot consume wine, so it is better to use only grape juice than have an EMHC to distribute the precious blood at daily mass?

Lux

Grape Juice is prohibited, as it cannot be consecrated. A very low alcohol type of wine called mustum may be used in that case.

The Mass cannot be celebrated without the priest consuming at least a taste of what used to be wine.

And the priest and deacon are the only ones required to consume both species ( and the deacon is not required to as a matter of Form, but rather due to the rubrics)

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

There has been much dispute over this. Many alcholic priests will not consume any alchohol, and this is why they have Emhc at every Mass.

I certainly will not judge this situation. I’m sure the Bishop is aware.

Lux