Who may open the tabernacle?

[SueG]

I may be hyper-sensitive to the sacredness of the Eucharist, but is it ok for extraordinary ministers to help themselves to the sacred hosts from the tabernacle to administer communion to the sick? I suppose if they cannot find the priest, they don’t have a choice. It just seems extremely careless to me to allow this when seminarians have to undergo training to safeguard even the smallest particle of the host.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Good question. I have seen a lot of those EMs helping them selves during mass when the priest is right there? For taking it out for starting Communion, placing it back, and refill.
Is this allowed?

 

[hsmom2four]

Not many replies on this one?

I was watching “The World Over” on EWTN the other night, and Cardinal Arinze implied that the laity were NOT supposed to open the tabernacle; however, he didn’t elaborate any further. Would love to see some documentation on this. My dh is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and would like to know as well. We do not have Sacristans at our parish, the EMHC act as Sacristans on a rotating basis and they open the tabernacle to retrieve and repose any additional consecrated Hosts. Additionally, lay ministers also retrieve (expose?) and repose the Host used for the Adoration chapel. I’m afraid if they didn’t our chapel would close. :crying:

 

[Timidity]

Our Tabernacle requires a key to open, and only certain people have one.

I thought this was a standard feature of Tabernacles. I guess I’m wrong.

 

[Meggie]

I think all tabernaclces have keys but usually the key is left in the santuary which can easily be accessed before/during/after any Mass…

 

[SueG]

Timidity:

Our Tabernacle requires a key to open, and only certain people have one.

I thought this was a standard feature of Tabernacles. I guess I’m wrong.

I saw the emhc use the key that was conveniently placed right next to the tabernacle. OY!

 

[Shiann]

SueG:

I may be hyper-sensitive to the sacredness of the Eucharist, but is it ok for extraordinary ministers to help themselves to the sacred hosts from the tabernacle to administer communion to the sick? I suppose if they cannot find the priest, they don’t have a choice. It just seems extremely careless to me to allow this when seminarians have to undergo training to safeguard even the smallest particle of the host.

I found this question/answer from EWTN and it might help answer some questions.

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur21.htm

It was answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum, one year ago.

Here are a few snippets:

**A further point mentioned in your question refers to the extraordinary minister of the Eucharist going to the tabernacle to retrieve and repose the hosts. This is not the normal practice during Mass.

The GIRM, in No. 162, states: “(If) … there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. … These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful.”

Likewise, after Communion is completed, No. 163 specifies: “[A]s for any consecrated hosts that are left, he (the priest himself) either consumes them at the altar or carries them to the place designated for the reservation of the Eucharist.” If a deacon or other priests are present they may also return the hosts to the tabernacle. ** …

I hope this helps.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

A key is required for every tabernacle. We have just one key and place it in a back cabinet for just those authorized to use. Most of the time, our EMS get the Hosts from the pastor or myself, but there are times when we are not available and it would not be fair to deny someone the Eucharist. Our diocese requires training and reporting to the bishop of anyone given the honor of being an EM. We have a small parish, I can see how things could get out of hand. In a large parish near us they have 6 or 8 EMS at Mass. Their deacon recently moved back east. Maybe it was nerve racking.

Deacon Tony