Why are “extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion” called “extraordinary”?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimG
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Yes, of course. The ordinary ministers of holy communion are bishops, priests, and deacons, and they are ordained.
 
The question in my mind is: why are EMHCs used at all? No matter what you call them? Sometimes we’ll have our associate pastor sitting there in the sanctuary, while five laypeople distribute communion. It seems wrong to me.
Stuff like this is why I go to EF when I am able to.
 
While the term “extraordinary” does indeed have to do with the role itself, the fact of the matter is that they may still only be used in extraordinary circumstances.
 
Jen95 said:
Sometimes we’ll have our associate pastor sitting there in the sanctuary, while five laypeople distribute communion. It seems wrong to me.
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It’s clearly stated in official documents that if a priest is able to distribute, he is obliged to do so: “If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons” .(Redemptionis Sacramentum, n. 157).

Dan
 
Jen95 said:
Sometimes we’ll have our associate pastor sitting there in the sanctuary, while five laypeople distribute communion. It seems wrong to me.
Click to expand...
It is wrong unless he has a medical condition that prevents him from doing so. Sacred ministers are supposed to administer Holy Communion. EMHCs are only supposed to be used if (i) all the sacred ministers are distributing Holy Communion and (ii) it would take a long time to do unless there were EMHCs distributing as well. To the best of my knowledge there has been no definition of what would be too great a length of time.
 
Deacons are also ordinary ministers of Holy Communion (Of course, its distribution, but not its consecration).
 
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