To be extraordinary ministers of communion or not to be?

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Brendan said:
I think you missed St. Monica’s first post. It was the pastor that called, not God. It’s not good to confuse the two.
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No - sorry - you seem to have mixed the posts – this is what I was responding to:

Originally Posted by arkenbergcn
My whole “Gold Ore” comment was only meant to show how even the smallest particles of the host should be treated with reverence and not just ignored like so many people do. Again, yes, the pieces are small, but if you were to put them all together they would be more significant than one might think. When I posted this question I simply wanted some constructive feedback. Maybe from someone who is a EMHC or maybe even someone who has tackled this same decision. Being more of a “traditional” Catholic I like to see things done reverently during mass, which is why I am having such a hard time with this. I also think that if God is calling me to be a EMHC I definitely do not want to ignore his call. I just wish these things could be more standard so that Masses everywhere would be the same. Only if I could attend a Latin Mass every Sunday…
 
Just_1_hr_a_wk said:
No - sorry - you seem to have mixed the posts – this is what I was responding to:

Originally Posted by arkenbergcn
. I also think that if God is calling me to be a EMHC I definitely do not want to ignore his call. I just wish these things could be more standard so that Masses everywhere would be the same. Only if I could attend a Latin Mass every Sunday…
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What the OP stated was they they THINK God is calling them. No actual call has been determined, has it?

Thoughts or feeling do not detrmine the validity of a Divine Call. You statement took the Call to be a foregone conclusion, which is the precise opposite of the post.

A true calling does not act against the teachings of the Church, but the OP is being asked to perform tasks that are not sactioned by the Church. That, of course, is a very large sign that God is NOT in fact issuing a call to this person, to this ministry, under that particular pastor.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
Your skin flakes all day long. No matter how small that skin flake it, it is still you.
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That’s ludicrous. I’m not present in a flake of my skin, or a finger or a severed leg. It’s not at all the same thing.

Christ is present in a small piece of the Host, but priests have instructed us that if you can’t tell that it’s a piece of the Host, Jesus is not present.
 
Does your priest want you to help during Mass, or is he looking for someone to help take communion to the homebound? Perhaps you can offer to volunteer just for the latter job.
 
Brendan said:
What the OP stated was they they THINK God is calling them. No actual call has been determined, has it?

Thoughts or feeling do not detrmine the validity of a Divine Call. You statement took the Call to be a foregone conclusion, which is the precise opposite of the post.

A true calling does not act against the teachings of the Church, but the OP is being asked to perform tasks that are not sactioned by the Church. That, of course, is a very large sign that God is NOT in fact issuing a call to this person, to this ministry, under that particular pastor.
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Why are you reading into my words?

I have admitted this very well could be a call from God - perhaps as the poster said to be a model of more reverence. I would not discount this too quickly.
 
I am an EMHC, and consider myself to be pretty traditional/orthodox. They asked for volunteers for this several times in our bulletin.

After a lot of thinking, I thought it important to become one. Better me than some ‘anything goes’ unorthodox person up there. If this gets me more involved, the better.

When I am receiving as an EHMC, I receive in the hand. Otherwise, I receive on the tongue. Additionally, I have started to genuflect prior to coming before Father or the EHMC distributing the Body.

While I may not agree with the usage of the EHMCs, I will still obey my bishop’s (and priest’s) wishes in how they be used. The other choice is to not be involved… who knows, my being there may make someone more likely to ask me a question, and my faithful answer may help someone. So I look at it as an opportunity.
 
Sheeniac said:
I am an EMHC, and consider myself to be pretty traditional/orthodox. They asked for volunteers for this several times in our bulletin.

After a lot of thinking, I thought it important to become one. Better me than some ‘anything goes’ unorthodox person up there. If this gets me more involved, the better.

When I am receiving as an EHMC, I receive in the hand. Otherwise, I receive on the tongue. Additionally, I have started to genuflect prior to coming before Father or the EHMC distributing the Body.

While I may not agree with the usage of the EHMCs, I will still obey my bishop’s (and priest’s) wishes in how they be used. The other choice is to not be involved… who knows, my being there may make someone more likely to ask me a question, and my faithful answer may help someone. So I look at it as an opportunity.
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I did just the opposite. I first became an EMHC in the 80s and was in that ministry in three different parishes (military family, moved a lot). The more I learned about the ministry, the more abuse I saw in their use. When I’d seen enough I gave it up.

I’m still very much involved in my parish as a member of the baptismal preparation team and as a reader.
 
I have a similar question on whether to be an EMHC. I have been “trained” (if you want to call it that, considering it lasted about 10 minutes and consisted of our Director of Liturgy telling us where to stand and giving us her opinoin that it didn’t matter if Protestants came up to receive, God doesn’t care).

My concern is that I know of two individuals who are Protestant spouses of Catholics (all friends of mine), and both of whom go up to receive Holy Communion even though they know they are not supposed to do so. I am concerned that I may be the EMHC distributing, they will be in my line, and I will then be in a position where I am expected to give them the Eucharist, since we as laity are not to deny anyone. So for now I have decided not to be an EMHC.
 
KatieD said:
I have a similar question on whether to be an EMHC. I have been “trained” (if you want to call it that, considering it lasted about 10 minutes and consisted of our Director of Liturgy telling us where to stand and giving us her opinoin that it didn’t matter if Protestants came up to receive, God doesn’t care).

My concern is that I know of two individuals who are Protestant spouses of Catholics (all friends of mine), and both of whom go up to receive Holy Communion even though they know they are not supposed to do so. I am concerned that I may be the EMHC distributing, they will be in my line, and I will then be in a position where I am expected to give them the Eucharist, since we as laity are not to deny anyone. So for now I have decided not to be an EMHC.
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Why not ask your priest about this kind of situation?
 
Sr_Sally said:
Does your priest want you to help during Mass, or is he looking for someone to help take communion to the homebound? Perhaps you can offer to volunteer just for the latter job.
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This is what I do when I felt uncomfortable with giving blessings that the pastor expected of EMHC and help out at mass on VERY rare occasions.
 
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