E.m.h.c. Fail !

[PaladinSoG]

[quote name='Semper Catholic' date='08 April 2010 - 12:32 PM' timestamp='1270744376' post='2089239']
Oh goodness the horror!

Are you guys serious?

You really think Jesus would care about this? I think he would be much happier that a young man was trying to understand and learn about his girlfriends religion. You guys are way to up tight.
[/quote]

I think one of the main problems, which also seems apparent even more from this, is that people either:

1) Don't fully understand what is going on during Communion.
or
2) Don't believe that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Part of this I believe, comes from being taught in Catechism as well as the parents. Even the opinions of others in the Church can do this cause you know its always best to think the same way as everyone else thinks. I'm so very happy that the places I have gone to celebrate Mass, the priest has taken his time to emphasize how true the fact is that the Eucharist is the Body of Jesus, something I wish would be said more often by priests in other places.
*Sigh* A sign of the times I suppose...

[Slappo]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' date='08 April 2010 - 09:18 AM' timestamp='1270743515' post='2089233']
In Episcopal churches, it has become the custom to offer communion to anyone who wants to partake, and I admit that I don't feel comfortable with that. [b]When I was growing up, in Episcopal churches, the practice was that you did not take communion until after you were confirmed--usually at age 12 or 13.[/b] I feel as if a person should understand all the meanings and implications of taking communion in the church they are attending, and if not, should not partake. I wonder if some people think that it would be rude NOT to take communion, and don't understand that it is perfectly acceptable (and correct, in a Catholic church) to remain quietly in the pew during Communion.
[/quote]

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches chrismate (sp?) their children instead of baptize, confirm, and give first communion at separate stages. During the chrismation the child receives all three sacraments of initiation. This is done as an infant.


[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='08 April 2010 - 09:24 AM' timestamp='1270743870' post='2089236']
The reason we're so horrified about what I described is that self-intinction like this is more or less foreign to the Roman Rite, and has actually specifically been condemned as grave abuse by... John Paul II, I believe. Actually, self-intinction is foreign to every rite, but [b]some of the Eastern Churches do intinct[/b].

Anyway, the point is that a Catholic really should be aware of what our beliefs and practices are, especially for the Eucharist.
[/quote]

Intinction is a perfectly permissable way of giving communion in the Latin Rite as well as in the Eastern Churches. It is not the norm, but it definitely allowed and is done at various locations. St. Peter's church in Steubenville, OH has it every Saturday morning.

Self intinction is not allowed and IMO would be considered a form of self communicating. I say IMO because I don't have a source .

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Slappo' date='08 April 2010 - 03:19 PM' timestamp='1270757965' post='2089450']

Intinction is a perfectly permissable way of giving communion in the Latin Rite as well as in the Eastern Churches. It is not the norm, but it definitely allowed and is done at various locations. St. Peter's church in Steubenville, OH has it every Saturday morning.

Self intinction is not allowed and IMO would be considered a form of self communicating. I say IMO because I don't have a source .
[/quote]
I stand partially corrected.
I just assumed that it was only allowed in Eastern liturgies.

[missionseeker]

[img]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/Chant_Chick/lolcatholicwin.jpg[/img]

[Bennn]

It is indeed allowed in the Roman Rite, but only if the Priest does it.

[jeffpugh]

[quote name='Bennn' date='08 April 2010 - 06:13 PM' timestamp='1270764835' post='2089530']
It is indeed allowed in the Roman Rite, but only if the Priest does it.
[/quote]
Yes!

[mommas_boy]

In college, I was an altar server at the Newman Center. We had Extraordinary Ministers, and all EMHCs were instructed to be careful in the distribution of Holy Communion. But, the priest put a larger onus on the servers: we were to be the "body guards" of the Precious Body, and were instructed to watch communion like hawks. We never knelt after receiving communion: we always stood, and watched each and every person receive and then consume. We were told that there was a satanic cult not 60 miles away who were known to defame the Blessed Sacrament.

During one Mass, I noticed that one kid walked off with the host. He was very awkward before receiving, and so my attention turned and stayed with him. The EMHC didn't notice, and so I moved. I came down off of the altar during communion, and walked all the way over to the kid at his seat. There was the host in his hand. He looked up at me, bewildered. I asked if he was Catholic. He said no, and then I kindly told him to return the host to me, and then I consumed it.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Raphael' date='08 April 2010 - 01:50 PM' timestamp='1270745445' post='2089253']
"Sorry, do I look like I'm clutching desperately to a 20-pound Bible?"
[/quote]

Excuse you, but my Bible was only 5 pounds.

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='KnightofChrist' date='08 April 2010 - 06:34 PM' timestamp='1270708483' post='2089112']

I would defend her because this gentlemen should have been instructed first, not only how to receive but why receive. Then he should have chosen to accept Jesus Christ and His Holy Church. The confusion was on part of the gentlemen not the E.M.H.C. T'was not her failure.
[/quote]
Just repeating what I was told and just saying as it's not my place to agree or disagree but....
Not only that, but according to my enquiries an E.M.H.C. doesn't have authority to decide who should or shouldn't have communion. An E.M.H.C. is the extended hands of the Priest and does not carry any of his authority. The E.M.H.C. should have looked to the Priest who hopefully could see what was happening. If no instruction is given then the E.M.H.C. has no option but to carry out Christ's instruction.(exception Mat 7:6) Any conditions should be decided by the Catholic authority and hopefully instruction given to the E.M.H.C. on what action to take for such an event. In other words this is the responsibility of the priest to instruct E.M.H.C.'s acting for him on what he wants them to do. On a number of occasions when I have observed something I have approached my parish priest after mass for his instruction. I may be wrong, but I would not refuse communion unless it was obvious that they were taking it other than for the purpose for which it was intended, in which case Matthew 7:6 applies. [u][sup]6[/sup]"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.[/u] Before I went through RCIA I innocently took communion until I was instructed that I wasn't supposed to. I do not feel that I committed any sin.

[Ed Normile]

[quote name='Mark of the Cross' date='08 April 2010 - 08:21 PM' timestamp='1270776096' post='2089672']
Just repeating what I was told and just saying as it's not my place to agree or disagree but....
Not only that, but according to my enquiries an E.M.H.C. doesn't have authority to decide who should or shouldn't have communion. An E.M.H.C. is the extended hands of the Priest and does not carry any of his authority. The E.M.H.C. should have looked to the Priest who hopefully could see what was happening. If no instruction is given then the E.M.H.C. has no option but to carry out Christ's instruction.(exception Mat 7:6) Any conditions should be decided by the Catholic authority and hopefully instruction given to the E.M.H.C. on what action to take for such an event. In other words this is the responsibility of the priest to instruct E.M.H.C.'s acting for him on what he wants them to do. On a number of occasions when I have observed something I have approached my parish priest after mass for his instruction. I may be wrong, but I would not refuse communion unless it was obvious that they were taking it other than for the purpose for which it was intended, in which case Matthew 7:6 applies. [u][sup]6[/sup]"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.[/u] Before I went through RCIA I innocently took communion until I was instructed that I wasn't supposed to. I do not feel that I committed any sin.
[/quote]


Mark, as you say you innocently took communion I doubt you committed a sin either. In the instance I described here the boyfriend did not commit a sin either as he was innocent of any intentional wrong doing, his girlfriend being a catholic, a fact I assume as she was obviously coaching him, probably is guilty of a sin, at least she should have known better. I am a cradle catholic as another had posted in this thread, I was fortunate enough to be raised in a strong faith irish catholic family and benefitted from a catholic school education so I know what is right and wrong about receiving communion. This young woman should have went through some form of training RCIA if she was a convert, although I doubt that as she would have definetly have been taught, or at least catechism in school, which may have poorly readied her for the sacrament, if that were the case she may not be guilty of a sin either.

ed

[loveletslive]

[quote name='mommas_boy' date='08 April 2010 - 06:47 PM' timestamp='1270766860' post='2089560']
In college, I was an altar server at the Newman Center. We had Extraordinary Ministers, and all EMHCs were instructed to be careful in the distribution of Holy Communion. But, the priest put a larger onus on the servers: we were to be the "body guards" of the Precious Body, and were instructed to watch communion like hawks. We never knelt after receiving communion: we always stood, and watched each and every person receive and then consume. We were told that there was a satanic cult not 60 miles away who were known to defame the Blessed Sacrament.

During one Mass, I noticed that one kid walked off with the host. He was very awkward before receiving, and so my attention turned and stayed with him. The EMHC didn't notice, and so I moved. I came down off of the altar during communion, and walked all the way over to the kid at his seat. There was the host in his hand. He looked up at me, bewildered. I asked if he was Catholic. He said no, and then I kindly told him to return the host to me, and then I consumed it.
[/quote]

yes! the senior servers at my church do this. they call it "honor guarding." love it!

[Bennn]

I don't think it's wise to discuss whether someone is culpable or not. We can only judge objectively that it was an abuse. I received the Lord in the Eucharist throughout my whole youth without knowing that it was Him. I still repent for that, but what I'm trying to say is that some people have had such lousy catechesis that they don't even realise they are doing anything wrong.

The Eucharistic Guard thing is pretty cool. I think it's also important to know that in danger of sacrilege, one is allowed (even obligated) to refuse giving Holy Communion in the hand, and force them to kneel and receive Him on the tongue. I wonder how many Priests know this...