Stepping Down

[turtleoompa]

I totally feel what you are going thriough. Right now my husband and I are EM captains at our church for one particular mass. At present we are still “purifying” the “crystal” chalices. And the flagon of consecrated wine is being “poured” into the vessels. An EM goes to the “tabernacle” and brings the consecrated hosts to the altar. We have addressed these issues to our priest and bishop with a “don’t worry about it” response. Since we know these issues exist, we are stepping down from our duties. We will miss being EM’s, but know the honor has to be done right. Hang in there, the Church needs more people as wonderful as you.

 

[Lion]

I totally feel what you are going thriough. Right now my husband and I are EM captains at our church for one particular mass. At present we are still “purifying” the “crystal” chalices. And the flagon of consecrated wine is being “poured” into the vessels. An EM goes to the “tabernacle” and brings the consecrated hosts to the altar. We have addressed these issues to our priest and bishop with a “don’t worry about it” response. Since we know these issues exist, we are stepping down from our duties. We will miss being EM’s, but know the honor has to be done right. Hang in there, the Church needs more people as wonderful as you.

Again, I would say to you as well,
Your love of the Eucharist seems pretty apparent to me and it would be a shame to lose an EMHC who obviously has a great respect for Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist… sure, take a break if you need to, but I truly hope you continue as an EMHC and continue to set a positive example for others
God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

 

[baltobetsy]

Again, I would say to you as well,
Your love of the Eucharist seems pretty apparent to me and it would be a shame to lose an EMHC who obviously has a great respect for Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist… sure, take a break if you need to, but I truly hope you continue as an EMHC and continue to set a **positive example **for others
God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

The most positive example would be to refuse to do the things that are forbidden. If the irregularities are corrected, then a return to duty would be indicated.

Good for you, turtleoompa!

Betsy

 

[turtleoompa]

Thanktou for your words of encouragement. Much appreciated.

 

[scylla]

Whooaaahh Nelly . . . . . Wait a minute here.

Why is your parish not following the guidelines so carefully laid out by the Holy See in the Document Redemptionis Sacramentum?

This document was issued about two years ago or so and it clearly states that no one (EMHC) is to approach the sanctuary to help in the distribution of Holy Communion until AFTER the celebrant has consumed both the Host and the Precious Blood. Only then are EHMC’s to enter the Sanctuary.

Take a look at this for reference:

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWRDSAC.HTM

Probably for the same reason that every parish I have been to in my diocese does not follow it.
For the same reason we are told to wait until after the consecration and then pour out the precious blood to separate chalices, as this is our custom and we are waiting for approval to do this.
(just ignore this is wrong as this is our custom)

They have been taught to not respect Jesus in the Eucharist and to respect feelings of others more.
If more priests believed in the Real Presence we would have an uproar in our diocese, but it seems this is lacking or else people don’t act like they believe it.
Maybe they just have no guts to stand up like real men, but that is common in modern parishes.

I know there are many who believe they are being charitable by allowing abuses so as to not offend, as priorities these days have gotten mixed up.
Instead of respect for God, respect for feelings have taken over.

I am trying to teach those who serve with me why we should what is more reverent and respectful, but with the whole thinking in the diocese pushing the other way it is difficult.
It must be done with tact as feelings are so sensitive these days.

This is why he shouldn’t step down, too often we are scared by pushy progressives who have taken over the thinking in many Catholic Churches.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[Chickamauga]

I too struggled with the EMHC thing. I only took on the role because…

a) I was asked
b) They needed them desperately at the 7AM Mass
c) They kept asking sigh

Yeah, I could resign, but I have to look upon it as an act of charity. But…after my three-year EMHC obligation (I’m a year 1/2 into it) I’m out and will be attending the Latin Mass at a church just a few more miles up the road where you receive while kneeling and always on the tounge… and from a priest.

 

[az_4_faith]

Probably for the same reason that every parish I have been to in my diocese does not follow it.
For the same reason we are told to wait until after the consecration and then pour out the precious blood to separate chalices, as this is our custom and we are waiting for approval to do this.
(just ignore this is wrong as this is our custom)

They have been taught to not respect Jesus in the Eucharist and to respect feelings of others more.
If more priests believed in the Real Presence we would have an uproar in our diocese, but it seems this is lacking or else people don’t act like they believe it.
Maybe they just have no guts to stand up like real men, but that is common in modern parishes.

I know there are many who believe they are being charitable by allowing abuses so as to not offend, as priorities these days have gotten mixed up.
Instead of respect for God, respect for feelings have taken over.

I am trying to teach those who serve with me why we should what is more reverent and respectful, but with the whole thinking in the diocese pushing the other way it is difficult.
It must be done with tact as feelings are so sensitive these days.

This is why he shouldn’t step down, too often we are scared by pushy progressives who have taken over the thinking in many Catholic Churches.

In Christ
Scylla

Good people like you shouldn’t be made to feel as if they must take on a whole diocese in order to be unified with the Holy See.

I’m so sorry that this is what you’re up against.

Please find the courage to pursue this matter somehow outside of your diocese. I’m not sure what the proper channels are, but I know there are ways to appeal to higher authorities.

This is why people leave the Church and hook up with congregations which are in schism but are my traditional and orthodox, which is no good either.

Please know you’re in my prayers.

 

[puzzleannie]

I appreciate the dilemma of OP, it is very hard when the very ministry you were called to perform has become a source of such grief. I hope you find another area where you can serve in good conscience, because if you are like most Catholics who serve in ministry of the liturgy that is an ingrained need.

I have never been an XM, having declined the invitation many many times simply because as a teenager when these changes came in me and most of my Catholic school friends took them to mean the true Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist was being de-emphasized or even denied, which sadly it was on the part of some persons responsible for catechising about these changes. (no communion rail, standing, no genuflectin, in the hand, banishing tabernacles etc.). My mother, a convert, especially had great difficulty in those years and said she felt as if what had drawn her to the faith, the Eucharist, was being denigrated.

Therefore I have always made a conscious effort to retain that belief and to teach my children properly, but having been raised the “old way” I simply have never been able to reconcile myself to XMs and the other practices. I am now able to receive on the tongue, when I go to the priest, because he knows how to administer. Most XMs do not, and for so many years it was denied or ministers were so inexperienced that it became a real possibility of irreverence. I always tried to put myself in empathy with those who are denied the Eucharist due to persecution or other reasons during the years when we had to endure what seemed to be irreverence and when reception on the tongue was not possible (yes, there are dioceses where this was so).

I usually use my arthritis as an excuse (as it really is, I could never administer the cup, for instance) but in reality it is a role I simply cannot perform in conscience, esp. in a parish with two deacons. I have always looked for other ways to serve the parish, one of them being teaching the children to know and appreciate the Mass and the Eucharist, and teaching their parents.