Was this Sacrilege?

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MarieVeronica

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Dear CAF. I posted the below, as a reply in another thread (a bit of editing, here). But now… I’m very concerned and in need of your wisdom/help. So… I am putting it out here as a separate thread. Thanks in advance.

“[132.] No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.225”

Shortly after our return to the practice of the faith (about 4 years ago). My mother wasn’t able to attend Mass with me, one Sunday… and I had asked one of the EMHC’s if she (or another EMHC) could come back with me, to give Holy Communion to my mother. She declined… (I don’t remember her reason); then, she proceeded to get a Pyx and a Host… and gave them to ME to take to my mother. Was this ok? This was a person, who I now believe should have known, whatever the answer is. She and her husband appear to be active, respected members of our parish. Husband ordained as a deacon, recently… etc.

I was a bit flustered by the ease with which the EMHC entrusted me with the Blessed Sacrament. She really didn’t know me, we were fairly new to the parish. But, after having just come back from a 10 year absence… I had no idea if this was or was not “ok”.

Apparently, it was not. Did I commit a sin?

(Just for the record… I was extremely careful and reverent with the Precious Body of Our Lord. I placed the Pyx on the front seat of my car, in a towel… so that it wouldn’t get bumped off the seat as I was driving. When I got home, I lit 2 candles, set the Pyx on a table and we prayed… then I gave the Host to my mother).
 
MarieVeronica said:
Dear CAF. I posted the below, as a reply in another thread (a bit of editing, here). But now… I’m very concerned and in need of your wisdom/help. So… I am putting it out here as a separate thread. Thanks in advance.

“[132.] No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.225”

Shortly after our return to the practice of the faith (about 4 years ago). My mother wasn’t able to attend Mass with me, one Sunday… and I had asked one of the EMHC’s if she (or another EMHC) could come back with me, to give Holy Communion to my mother. She declined… (I don’t remember her reason); then, she proceeded to get a Pyx and a Host… and gave them to ME to take to my mother. Was this ok? This was a person, who I now believe should have known, whatever the answer is. She and her husband appear to be active, respected members of our parish. Husband ordained as a deacon, recently… etc.

I was a bit flustered by the ease with which the EMHC entrusted me with the Blessed Sacrament. She really didn’t know me, we were fairly new to the parish. But, after having just come back from a 10 year absence… I had no idea if this was or was not “ok”.

Apparently, it was not. Did I commit a sin?

(Just for the record… I was extremely careful and reverent with the Precious Body of Our Lord. I placed the Pyx on the front seat of my car, in a towel… so that it wouldn’t get bumped off the seat as I was driving. When I got home, I lit 2 candles, set the Pyx on a table and we prayed… then I gave the Host to my mother).
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You are not to blame. The one who is to blame is the person who told you that this could be done.

Redemptionis Sacramentum notes the following:
[159.] It is never allowed for the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to delegate anyone else to administer the Eucharist, as for example a parent or spouse or child of the sick person who is the communicant.
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I would advise you to address this matter directly with your pastor, as the person who told you this had no right to make that kind of decision.
 
I already answered your question in the other thread. But will answer it here to, an EMHC does not have the authority to make anyone else an EMHC. Their only role is to take the Eucharist to a sick person or persons (and if doing hospital or nursing home ministries other Catholics present.) Only a priest/pastor can make a person an EMHC on the spot.

No it isn’t a sin because in order for a sin to be a mortal sin, you must know that it is wrong.
 
Ouch !! My pastor once allowed me to take some consecrated hosts in a Pyx offshore with me as I would not be in to attend mass.
 
PBP said:
Ouch !! My pastor once allowed me to take some consecrated hosts in a Pyx offshore with me as I would not be in to attend mass.
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Were you the only Catholic that would be consuming these hosts? If so, there are two issues, first taking the hosts with you and second, you cannot self communicate.
 
Marsha_Adams said:
Were you the only Catholic that would be consuming these hosts? If so, there are two issues, first taking the hosts with you and second, you cannot self communicate.
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I was the only person (Catholic) consuming. What is self Communicate ?
 
benedictgal said:
This means that you are administering Holy Communion to yourself.
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This explains why he said to tell no one. I thought he was just trying to avoid the masses asking for the same. Also explains why one of our deacons seemed puzzled when I did mention that I had done so. It was as if no one wanted to make an issue and it was just dropped. Now I know.
 
MarieVeronica said:
Dear CAF. I posted the below, as a reply in another thread (a bit of editing, here). But now… I’m very concerned and in need of your wisdom/help. So… I am putting it out here as a separate thread. Thanks in advance.

“[132.] No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.225”

Shortly after our return to the practice of the faith (about 4 years ago). My mother wasn’t able to attend Mass with me, one Sunday… and I had asked one of the EMHC’s if she (or another EMHC) could come back with me, to give Holy Communion to my mother. She declined… (I don’t remember her reason); then, she proceeded to get a Pyx and a Host… and gave them to ME to take to my mother. Was this ok? This was a person, who I now believe should have known, whatever the answer is. She and her husband appear to be active, respected members of our parish. Husband ordained as a deacon, recently… etc.

I was a bit flustered by the ease with which the EMHC entrusted me with the Blessed Sacrament. She really didn’t know me, we were fairly new to the parish. But, after having just come back from a 10 year absence… I had no idea if this was or was not “ok”.

Apparently, it was not. Did I commit a sin?

(Just for the record… I was extremely careful and reverent with the Precious Body of Our Lord. I placed the Pyx on the front seat of my car, in a towel… so that it wouldn’t get bumped off the seat as I was driving. When I got home, I lit 2 candles, set the Pyx on a table and we prayed… then I gave the Host to my mother).
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No, not a sin, and if you handled the Sacred Host with reverence it was not a sacriledge. However, this practice is strongly frowned upon. The person who gave you permission had a greater responsibility in this than you did.

(I am being very charitable here).

You may want to discuss it with your Pastor so he can end this abuse.

God bless,

PJM m.c.

BVM please lead us to your Son Jesus!
 
PBP said:
This explains why he said to tell no one. I thought he was just trying to avoid the masses asking for the same. Also explains why one of our deacons seemed puzzled when I did mention that I had done so. It was as if no one wanted to make an issue and it was just dropped. Now I know.
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Unfortunately, this was a grave abuse on his part. Please note what it says in Redemptionis Sacramentum:
[132.] No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.225
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i am not saying that you are at fault. Unfortunately, priests can do things with the best of intentions, but, that doesn’t make the actions correct.
 
Wow… :eek: I can’t believe all of this.

Thank you, all for your replies to my situation. And I hope that this will serve as one of those TEACHING threads. Apparently, and shockingly so… there is a great deal of Eucharistic abuses going on out there. Makes me so sad. I want to cry.

May the Good Lord have mercy on us, who are so ignorant.
 
I find it hard to see how you can be guilty of sacrilege since (1) you didn’t know, and (2) you did your best to give the Holy Eucharist due reverence. Clearly, given what you didn’t know, you treated the Eucharist with love, which is far from sacrilege.
 
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