Hypothetical Situation At Mass

[Amppax]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1313379429' post='2288133']
They could merely receive under the species of wine, provided that it was being distributed under both species.
[/quote]
I forgot. the last few churches i've went to were strictly distributing hosts. completely forgot about that.

[cappie]

Canon 927 states: "It is absolutely forbidden, even in extreme urgent necessity, to consecrate one matter without the other or even both outside the eucharistic celebration."

A priest may apparently believed that by consecrating more bread and wine within the context of the Mass he did not fall within the strictures of this prohibition.

However, what he would do would be in effect, to celebrate another Mass within Mass, as the consecration of new species implies a new sacrifice. He therefore would contravene the second aspect of the canon by consecrating both species outside the Eucharistic celebration even though he was still celebrating another Mass.

I think the best solution is to simply apologize for what happened. Sometimes we priests have recourse to extravagant "solutions" when all that is needed is to recognize our fallibility and liability to make mistakes.

This is especially so in situations, such as that described, when the consequences of not being able to receive Communion in this circumstance does not imply a major spiritual damage to the faithful and where an alternative solution may be found at some other moment of the day.

In some cases, such as mission territories when Mass and Communion are rare treasures, a priest caught in this predicament would be justified in offering to celebrate another Mass right after the first one, lest anybody be deprived of Communion for a long time

[Slappo]

[quote name='cappie' timestamp='1313385792' post='2288196']
In some cases, such as mission territories when Mass and Communion are rare treasures, a priest caught in this predicament would be justified in offering to celebrate another Mass right after the first one, lest anybody be deprived of Communion for a long time
[/quote]

The 2nd mass could be drastically shortened too by skipping the optional parts (sign of peace and homily, or give an extremely short homily if it is a holy day or Sunday as the homily is required), skip the music and use verbal rather then sung responses.

Reverence would of course still need to take place, as the mass still shouldn't be rushed. But there would definitely be no need for bells and smells!

[Maggyie]

[quote name='loveofchrist1' timestamp='1313346014' post='2287687']
Thats usually the general practise.
BTW i miss Fr Corapi
[/quote]

If you have seen this done it is absolutely vital that you report it to the relevant bishop ASAP. After this thread I was researching more and as cappie quoted above, it is extremely sacrilegious to do this. The priest who does this as a "general practice" needs to be corrected right away so that he doesn't keep (unintentionally, I would hope) abusing the Eucharist. Obviously with Fr. Corapi it's irrelevant, but for any others, even if it was years ago, please mention it to somebody. You will be doing him a favor.

Edited August 15, 2011 by Maggie

[Cherie]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1313416044' post='2288323']

If you have seen this done it is absolutely vital that you report it to the relevant bishop ASAP. After this thread I was researching more and as cappie quoted above, it is extremely sacrilegious to do this. The priest who does this as a "general practice" needs to be corrected right away so that he doesn't keep (unintentionally, I would hope) abusing the Eucharist. Obviously with Fr. Corapi it's irrelevant, but for any others, even if it was years ago, please mention it to somebody. You will be doing him a favor.
[/quote]

Yes, I was pretty shocked to hear someone say it was the "general practice"! I have been told by priests (specifically a priest who is a canon lawyer) that it is NOT allowed. And thank you, cappie, for your response!

Remember, it's not [i]necessary[/i] for us in the congregation to receive the Holy Eucharist at Mass. Some people erroneously think the Sunday obligation means you are obliged to receive Communion; that's not the case. The obligation is to assist at Mass; we are obligated to receive Communion once a[i] year[/i]. Hopefully, especially with the use of frequent Confession, we receive Our Lord much more often than that! But still, though I would be heartbroken to ever attend a Mass and [i]not[/i] receive Our Lord, it is not a requirement.

[MIKolbe]

If the priest saw that he was 'running low', is it acceptable to break the hosts in half in the cirborium as he distributes?

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1313421052' post='2288371']
If the priest saw that he was 'running low', is it acceptable to break the hosts in half in the cirborium as he distributes?
[/quote]

Most definitely.

[Amppax]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1313429950' post='2288427']

Most definitely.
[/quote]

does this also apply to EMHC's?

[Little Flower]

i dont see why not. jesus is present in even a very small fragment of the host, which is why jesus is still present in you once you have chewed and swallowed. as long as the host is recognizable as bread it is jesus. so i dont see why a EMHC couldnt do that.

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='Amppax' timestamp='1313435742' post='2288508']

does this also apply to EMHC's?
[/quote]

Yes- and as others have mentioned, sometimes it's necessary when there are more people receiving than expected.

Remember: the priest breaks the Host during the Agnus Dei. The action itself has no moral value. We do not "hurt" Jesus by breaking a Host in half. It is not the most preferred way of giving Holy Communion, of course, because there will be more particles that break off from the Host, and each particle still contains the full body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. So there's more risk of unintentional profanation of the Blessed Sacrament, especially when one who generally received in the hand receives one of the Hosts that has been broken.

[Byzantine]

Could the priest tell everyone that they had to receive on the tongue in such a case?

[fides' Jack]

[quote name='Amppax' timestamp='1313340944' post='2287637']
So at Mass today, the EMHC ran out. No big deal, another EMHC came over and everyone got communion. But what would happen if a Church ran out completely during Mass? I don't know how it would happen, but what if it did, for whatever reason? what would happen?
[/quote]

Oh - I thought you were asking what would happen if we ran out of Extraordinary Ministers! Not what would happen if we ran out of hosts...

The first would be a much more favorable situation.