The constant griping about EMsHC use by some

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FrJohn said:
Dear Duesenberg:

I like your posts very much. I finally figured out that OF means Ordinary From and EF, of course, means Extraordinary From. I’m an ordinary kind of guy myself, and have never been the priest at an EF; which may explain why I didn’t understand the acronyms at first.

However that may be: what’s an EMsHC? I get that EMs are Eucharistic Ministers, but what does HC mean? Wait, I think I just got it: Holy Communion. Am I right?

FrJohn
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Thank you for your comments, Father. Yes, you are absolutely right.
 
Lol, it’s late and I misread the acronyms. Nevermind.

Wait, no I didn’t.

My original comment was that I don’t wanna take Communion from auntie.
 
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First of all, at certain times like Easter, people were standing along either wall by the stained glass windows. We had Communion Rails, which are returning by the way. We got through it. We didn’t take Communion from just anyone. When the priest said, “Body of Christ” that was exactly what you were getting. That wafer was all I knew at the time. Later, we stood in two lines. And it took as long as it took.
 
edwest211 said:
First of all, at certain times like Easter, people were standing along either wall by the stained glass windows.
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Standing room only is not uncommon around here at Christmas and Easter. In a number of Catholic parishes here in California, SRO is not uncommon at the main Mass on Sunday morning.
edwest211 said:
We had Communion Rails, which are returning by the way.
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So?
edwest211 said:
We got through it.
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Again, so? There’s no nobility in taking 30-35 minutes to distribute communion.
edwest211 said:
Communion from just anyone.
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Once more, so? Holy Communion is in no “better” if it is received from a cleric vs. a layperson.
edwest211 said:
When the priest said, “Body of Christ” that was exactly what you were getting.
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It’s still the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ whether you receive from an EMHC or a cleric. It makes no difference.
edwest211 said:
That wafer was all I knew at the time.
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You mean host?
edwest211 said:
Later, we stood in two lines. And it took as long as it took.
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Oki-doki.
 
Duesenberg said:
Once more, so? Holy Communion is in no “better” if it is received from a cleric vs. a layperson.
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Exactly. It is still the Body of Christ regardless of who gives it. It does not turn into wafer again (stops being Body of Christ) when a layperson gives it. To believe it is so is heresy.

A priest consecrates the bread and the wine. Giving them to the communicants can be done by either OM or EMHC.
 
Reuben_J said:
Exactly. It is still the Body of Christ regardless of who gives it. It does not turn into wafer again (stops being Body of Christ) when a layperson gives it. To believe it is so is heresy.
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Absolutely correct. Do some actually believe that it’s better or more respectful to receive from a cleric?
Reuben_J said:
A priest consecrates the bread and the wine. Giving them to the communicants can be done by either OM or EMHC.
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True again.

Two thing I will add (again.) The more I think about it, the more I believe that EMsHC need a lot more training than most seem to receive – both technical on how to do carry out the ministry, and spiritual – what the ministry is all about, the Real Presence, etc.

There is also a need for a dress code, if not a simple/modest uniform. I still like the idea of a white top, black slacks/skirt and black shoes. It would be a good litmus test in a way. If anyone took issue with dressing modestly in order to help distribute communion, they are most surely a poor fit for the ministry.
 
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So agree with a dress code of some sort. Common sense should dictate that, but common sense is in short supply now days.
 
edwest211 said:
First of all, at certain times like Easter, people were standing along either wall by the stained glass windows. We had Communion Rails, which are returning by the way. We got through it. We didn’t take Communion from just anyone. When the priest said, “Body of Christ” that was exactly what you were getting. That wafer was all I knew at the time. Later, we stood in two lines. And it took as long as it took.
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I would like to add, when I attend a few of the large Extraordinary Form Masses at our Cathedral, there are approx 1000 people there. Holy Communion takes approx 7-10 minutes

They use 3-4 priests distributing communion. The Deacon & Subdeacon with the celebrant, plus servers with the additional priests who are distributing.

A parish is not limited to one priest distributing Holy Communion when using the Altar Rail, even in the EF.

Thanks & God Bless
 
Duesenberg said:
There is also a need for a dress code, if not a simple/modest uniform. I still like the idea of a white top, black slacks/skirt and black shoes. It would be a good litmus test in a way. If anyone took issue with dressing modestly in order to help distribute communion, they are most surely a poor fit for the ministry.
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Goes to the communicants as well. Getting dressed correctly to the royal wedding banquet takes cognizance to its literal meaning too.
 
phil19034 said:
I would like to add, when I attend a few of the large Extraordinary Form Masses at our Cathedral, there are approx 1000 people there. Holy Communion takes approx 7-10 minutes

They use 3-4 priests distributing communion. The Deacon & Subdeacon with the celebrant, plus servers with the additional priests who are distributing.

A parish is not limited to one priest distributing Holy Communion when using the Altar Rail, even in the EF.

Thanks & God Bless
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Well and good for your parish.
 
Reuben_J said:
Goes to the communicants as well. Getting dressed correctly to the royal wedding banquet takes cognizance to its literal meaning too.
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I tend to agree, but the need is amplified for those taking a visible position of liturgical ministry.
 
Duesenberg said:
The real problems I see are

Parishes that use a far higher number of EMsHC yet, under the guise of “active participation.” My parish does that. We use about two dozen total.
Clergy not helping out when they could be.
Poorly trained EMsHC.
Inappropriately attired EMsHC.
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I agree with this list. The issues you list here are the issues that most have with EMHC.

Most please do not have an issue with the EMHC itself (other than those who feel that only Ordinary Ministers should be used at Mass)

My personal issues is when parishes:
  1. use way too many than is needed
  2. when Priests or deacons are sitting (unless for health reasons) while EMHCs are giving out communion
  3. when EMHCs show up before the priest has received communion and start sanitizing their hands at the altar while the priest is receiving communion
  4. when EMHCs do a job post communion that really should be done by the Altar Servers while the Alter Servers are sitting
  5. when EMHCs start downing the remaining Precious Blood while still in the communion line or while walking to the altar
  6. being dressed like they just rolled out of bed
  7. when they have no idea how to place the Host on my tongue without touching my tongue or roof of my mouth with their fingers.
#7 is the worst!

God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
I would like to add, when I attend a few of the large Extraordinary Form Masses at our Cathedral, there are approx 1000 people there. Holy Communion takes approx 7-10 minutes
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Is it 7 or 10? That’s a huge difference. 1000 communicants/3 priests = 333.3/priest. == (7x60)/(333) = 1.26 seconds/communion. I seriously doubt you are averaging that – altar rail or not. Even at 10 minutes, it’s 1.8 seconds/communion using 3 priests. It takes a while to say “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternum. Amen.” and index one’s body with each communion!
 
phil19034 said:
  1. when they have no idea how to place the Host on my tongue without touching my tongue or roof of my mouth with their fingers.
#7 is the worst!

God Bless
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The word is training, training and training. It look so matter of factly that people often take this for granted. If giving Communion is a serious role, then doing it right would surely take utmost precedent.

Also, communicants are not totally out of blame sometimes. You will meet all kind of people but perhaps get the EHMC to polish their act first.
 
Duesenberg said:
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phil19034:
I would like to add, when I attend a few of the large Extraordinary Form Masses at our Cathedral, there are approx 1000 people there. Holy Communion takes approx 7-10 minutes
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Is it 7 or 10? That’s a huge difference. 1000 communicants/3 priests = 333.3/priest. == (7x60)/(333) = 1.26 seconds/communion. I seriously doubt you are averaging that – altar rail or not. Even at 10 minutes, it’s 1.8 seconds/communion using 3 priests. It takes a while to say “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternum. Amen.” and index one’s body with each communion!
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Granted it, not every one receives Commuinion. And most of the Masses use 4 priests to distribute.

And Father starts saying “Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternum. Amen” before he left the previous communicant, places the Host on the tounge with “Amen,” plus he’s saying it ridiculously fast.

2 seconds per communicant sounds about right… except for one newer priest who simply couldn’t do it that fast - he takes about 4-5 seconds each

God Bless
 
Reuben_J said:
The word is training, training and training. It look so matter of factly that people often take this for granted. If giving Communion is a serious role, then doing it right would surely take utmost precedent.

Also, communicants are not totally out of blame sometimes. You will meet all kind of people but perhaps get the EHMC to polish their act first.
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I agree. One time I was in a mandatory EMHC training session. One of my fellow trainees asked if we could stop distributing communion on the tongue altogether? Several agree with him. The “coordinator” said she would “look into it with the pastor.” I laughed out loud on purpose and said that COT isn’t going anywhere. It’s the normative manner in which to receive the host in the Latin Rite. We have the option to receive in hand in the US only through indult!" Our pastor is going to say the exact same thing. There is nothing to “look into.”
 
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