Technical question about self-communicating

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If one is not sure, and doing what the priest/pastor (who should know ) have told you to do, there is no sin.

Letting a priest self-commune because that is what the diocese says to do is not the same committing evil acts under the guise of “I was just following orders”.

We really need to start using a little common sense.
 
If the priest is concelebrating, he should self-communicate. If the principal celebrant or assisting deacon passes the host or chalice to a concelebrating priest, he should say nothing. It is not the principal celebrant of deacon who is administering Holy Communion to the concelebrating priest but the priest himself.

If the priest is not concelebrating, but takes Holy Communion, the priest or other minister should say “the Body of Christ” when giving him the host and “the Blood of Christ” when giving him the chalice - if Holy Communion is given under both kinds.

From your description, it sounds as though the deacon is not saying the words when giving Holy Communion to a non-concelbrating priest. That is incorrect. If you are an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, you should say the words whether the deacon is right or wrong. If the deacon tells you otherwise, refer him to GIRM.
 
tafan2 said:
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CilladeRoma:
If one is following the direction of the one who makes the rules, then there is no “material cooperation” involved.
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With all due respect, assuming it is a sin of blasphemy, I do not think the plea of “I was just following orders” suffices. I am just a little confused that is all.
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How did you come to understand it as blasphemy? It’s an abuse, but I’ve never heard it qualified as blasphemy.
 
We were always taught the self-communicating is a serious sin, a form of blasphemy. I am not saying that this scenario is self-communicating, but I certainly believe self communicating is horribly wrong.
 
I will give you it should not be done in ordinary circumstances.

However, it is allowed in certain cases, such as a person who is leading a Word & Communion service at a nursing/care home.
I do this once a month, and if it is just me, I self-commune. My Pastor and my Bishop both know and have given me permission to do so if needed.

We need to remember that the law was made for man, not man for the law.
 
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Self-communion is part of the rubrics for someone who leads a Communion Service when no priest is available. You take Communion before you give it to anyone else.
 
Thank you all so much for the many replies to this post. I’m grateful for everyone’s (name removed by moderator)ut and insights.
In the end, it appears that this is the bottom line…

Anyone, (Catholic in good standing, of course) who comes forward in the Communion line during Mass is to receive the Eucharist through a minister who says “the Body/Blood of Christ” and GIVES them the host/cup.

As for me, what I am going to do (I’m in charge of the overall training and formation of the liturgical ministries) is inform the ministers that this is the correct practice. As for the Deacon, I have already told him about it. Now, it’s up to him to decide whether he is going to follow it.

Just today, a wise priest told me…“If there is something wrong, say something about it and then give people the freedom to choose.” After he left, I realized that’s what God does for all of us.
 
I understand there are cases where it is allowed and even necessary.
 
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