Extraordinary Ministers Of...

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='thicke' date='Jun 20 2004, 06:30 PM'] Priests and deacons can bestow such a blessing I believe. [/quote]
Yes, a deacon can give a blessing, but only those permitted him under the rubrics and canon law [cf., canon 1169 of the [u]Code of Canon Law[/u]]. Some types of blessings are reserved to priests and or bishops. Normally, if a priest is present, a deacon should defer to the priest and allow him to give the blessing.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']Perhaps this is a bit off topic, then again, maybe not...[/quote]
I see it as on topic. I just have a few quick questions.

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']This morning at Mass, I noticed that we did not observe the penitential rite at all. (We did not pray, "I confess to Almighty God, etc.")[/quote]

Did you say the Kyrie Eleison? (This counts as the Penitential Rite).
[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']
Then, before Holy Communion, five Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion processed to the altar before the celebrant had received Holy Communion (and of course, before the Agnus Dei).[/quote]

This happens in my parish...I don't care for it very much.

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']None genuflected or knelt after the Agnus Dei, or even before the Blessed Sacrament when approaching the altar. [/quote]

I wouldn't consider this an abuse because very often the Bishops give dispensation, as is their right given in GIRM. (It says that they decide if people in their diocese kneel after the Agnus Dei).


[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']One woman stood right beside the priest while distributing the Hosts, while two other EMHCs on either side distributed Hosts and the Chalices.[/quote]

I don't know why she was there, was she an EMHC?

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion nearest me gave a very profound blessing to a mentally/physically disabled person who approached.  I have seen him do this before also. He touched his hand to the non-communicating person's head, chest, and shoulders in a bold Sign-of-the-Cross blessing motion, but did not distribute the Host.[/quote]

As Apotheoun said earlier, they're not supposed to do that. In fact, EMHCs are supposed to say no more than "May God bless you."


[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']After Communion, the woman standing next to the priest reposed the Chalices and ciborium in the tabernacle![/quote]

If the Tabernacle is on or behind the Altar, then I'm shocked. If it wasn't and there was no Deacon present, then this is something that has to be done since the Priest can't leave the Sanctuary. It's very confusing because we have this problem at my school where the Tabernacle is away from the Sanctuary. And then there's the whole thing where she's a woman...(No offense!)

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']My heart sank seeing all of this.
Were all of these things abuses?
What is the best course to take?[/quote]

I don't think that all of these were necessarily abuses, but I'm not an expert... If you feel strongly about these, you can always approach your Priest and ask him about it, but always remember charity. I remember when I asked my Priest about the number of EMHCs that we have, he seemed a little defensive, probably because a 18-year-old who doesn't know very much was questioning the way he runs Mass. (He still likes me and loves when I'm an Altar server for him. But that's my advice if you do mention something, remember where the Priest is coming from.

Edited June 21, 2004 by qfnol31

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Anna' date=' Jun 20 2004, 12:42 PM']The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion nearest me gave a very profound blessing to a mentally/physically disabled person who approached.  I have seen him do this before also. He touched his hand to the non-communicating person's head, chest, and shoulders in a bold Sign-of-the-Cross blessing motion, but did not distribute the Host.[/quote]

Since a lay person cannot impart a priestly apostolic blessing, those not receiving Holy Communion, but only approaching for a blessing, should be instructed to approach only an ordained minister.

[yiannii]

In my parish we call them special ministers....GRRR

[thicke]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='Jun 21 2004, 02:49 AM']
Since a lay person cannot impart a priestly apostolic blessing, those not receiving Holy Communion, but only approaching for a blessing, should be instructed to approach only an ordained minister. [/quote]
Here's my issue with this...Why should they approach at all? So they can receive a blessing that is not much different from the blessing they'll receive five or ten minutes later when the Mass ends?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='thicke' date='Jun 21 2004, 06:16 AM'] Here's my issue with this...Why should they approach at all? So they can receive a blessing that is not much different from the blessing they'll receive five or ten minutes later when the Mass ends? [/quote]
Of course it goes without saying that no one is required to go up for a blessing, but they are free to do so. There are several reasons for doing this:

(1) the blessing received is a particular blessing imparted by the priest to that person as an individual. I don't know about you, but when I meet and talk to a priest even outside of the divine liturgy, I always ask for his blessing before we part company.

(2) the person approaching can make an act of adoration to the blessed sacrament which is exposed before him.

(3) this can be thought of as a type of spiritual communion, where the person approaches signifying their desire to receive Christ spiritually, since, for whatever reason, they cannot receive sacramentally.

(4) the blessing is imparted in proximity to the exposed Eucharistic presence, and this is in some sense similar to what happens at the end of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, when the priest elevates and blesses all present with the Eucharist exposed in the monstrance.

And (5) the priest, in a particular way while distributing Holy Communion, is acting in the person of Christ the head. Thus it is a special encounter between the individual receiving the blessing and Christ, who is present in the person of His minister.

Clearly, no one is required to do this, but there is nothing wrong with doing this either.

[Guest JeffCR07]

hahaha, I was all psyched to answer that question, but then I flip to the next page and Apotheoun got to it first. lol, O well.

- Your Brother in Christ, Jeff

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='Jun 21 2004, 08:38 AM'] Of course it goes without saying that no one is required to go up for a blessing, but they are free to do so. There are several reasons for doing this:

(1) the blessing received is a particular blessing imparted by the priest to that person as an individual. I don't know about you, but when I meet and talk to a priest even outside of the divine liturgy, I always ask for his blessing before we part company.

(2) the person approaching can make an act of adoration to the blessed sacrament which is exposed before him.

(3) this can be thought of as a type of spiritual communion, where the person approaches signifying their desire to receive Christ spiritually, since, for whatever reason, they cannot receive sacramentally.

(4) the blessing is imparted in proximity to the exposed Eucharistic presence, and this is in some sense similar to what happens at the end of Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, when the priest elevates and blesses all present with the Eucharist exposed in the monstrance.

And (5) the priest, in a particular way while distributing Holy Communion, is acting in the person of Christ the head. Thus it is a special encounter between the individual receiving the blessing and Christ, who is present in the person of His minister.

Clearly, no one is required to do this, but there is nothing wrong with doing this either. [/quote]
Communion lines are meant for Communion, that's why its not called a blessing/Communion line. We are all blessed at the end of Mass and if that is not good enough see teh priest after Mass.

[Anna]

I must agree with CMom!

Using the Communion line for some purpose other than to recieve Holy Communion is another way the ignorant laity try to re-create the Sacred Liturgy to their own whims and fancies (much like holding hands during the Our Father.)

What is the point of making a Spiritual Communion, if one is going to walk right up to the Sacred Host, but not receive It?

Why cannot one privately, interiorly, adore and make a Spiritual Communion from one's own pew? If it is a "Spiritual" Communion, one need not "physically" approach the Blessed Sacrament at all. That is rather contradictory and illogical.

Aren't the Communion lines long enough already? (since the long lines are sited as a need for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in the first place.)

Mass is not Benediction, nor is Holy Communion the same as Eucharistic Adoration. For the laity to try to make it such is to blur the purpose and role of the Mass and the priest's function at that particular point of the Mass.

In short, the Communion line is not "what we make it," it's for Holy Communion! Suppose next week, I'll approach the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or the priest himself in the Communion line and give him my offertory envelope, then return to my pew without receiving....See how utterly ridiculous that is?

Pax Christi. <><

Edited June 21, 2004 by Anna

[cmotherofpirl]

WORD!

[Apotheoun]

Although I have found nothing from either the Roman Congregation that oversees liturgical practices, or the liturgical committee of the USCCB, that reprobates the practice of receiving a blessing during the communion procession in the Roman Rite, I do know that the US Bishops discussed the topic in a meeting of the conference in 2001. But so far I have been unable to find any authoritative ruling on the matter from them or Rome. I believe this practice, at least in the case of adults, developed from an earlier practice of priests blessing small children brought up by their parents when the parents approached to receive Holy Communion. In the absence of a decision on the matter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments or the USCCB, the determination of whether or not the practice is licit would be left to the local Ordinary. If the local bishop permits the practice it would be licit, if he forbids it, it would be reprobated.

In the Eastern Rites this is not a problem, because all the faithful, after having received Holy Communion, process up at the very end of the Divine Liturgy for an individual blessing from the priest. They first kiss the cross or icon that the priest is holding, and then kiss his hand, and receive his blessing.

Edited June 21, 2004 by Apotheoun

[cmotherofpirl]

It doesn't have to be particularly mentioned. No priest or bishop may add things to the Mass. Blessing people in a Communion line is an addition to the Mass and therefore is not permitted.

[Anna]

Because Church Law is positive law (i.e., that which is not specifically granted is reserved), the absence of a statement about what blessings may be given during the distribution of the Eucharist, or by the non-ordained, seems to indicate that such blessings are not permitted.

Nowhere in the GIRM will one find the proper format for rendering a blessing in lieu of Holy Communion. Yes, parents who can't very well leave small children in the pew while themselves receiving the Eucharist do bring their children with them. Some priests do bless the children. That, too, seems a spontaneous act on the part of the priest, whether actually permissible or not.

But that is not really what I am discussing here.

I am discussing individuals deliberately getting into the Communion line with no intention of receiving Holy Communion, thereby creating a secondary purpose and meaning to the Communion line itself, and creating a secondary purpose and meaning to the role and function of the person distributing the Eucharist.

That is an innovation, found nowhere in Church documents as an acceptable norm, IMHO.

Pax Christi. <><

[Apotheoun]

Since the matter is under review by the legitimate authorities, i.e., by the Episcopal Conference of the United States, which can determine if adaptations to the liturgy are appropriate with the proper 'recognitio' of the Holy See, it is up to them, not to the average laymen to determine what is or is not reprobated. Thus, if you are concerned about this issue you should contact your local Ordinary to know the stance of your bishop on this matter. Since the bishop, as the Moderator of the diocese both in universal and particular law, is responsible for the proper implementation of the norms for celebrating Mass.

Edited June 21, 2004 by Apotheoun

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Anna' date='Jun 21 2004, 10:42 AM'] But that is not really what I am discussing here.

I am discussing individuals deliberately getting into the Communion line with no intention of receiving Holy Communion, thereby creating a secondary purpose and meaning to the Communion line itself, and creating a secondary purpose and meaning to the role and function of the person distributing the Eucharist.

That is an innovation, found nowhere in Church documents as an acceptable norm, IMHO.
[/quote]
Regardless of whether people are coming up for blessings or not, I sincerely doubt that in a parish with more than a 1,000 people in attendance at Sunday Masses, that there is only one priest assigned to that parish, and if there are other priests, or deacons assigned to the parish, they should come to distribute Holy Communion, as Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion even at Masses at which they are not serving as celebrants. When I was a Latin Catholic I went to several extremely large Churches in the San Francisco area and at those Churches the celebrant was assisted by priests, who had either already celebrated a Mass earlier in the day or who were later scheduled to celebrate Mass. At the time of communion, the priests would come over to the Church from the rectory and would distribute Holy Communion with the celebrant and then leave. "Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion" were rarely if ever used. Now, if there is a parish with more than 1,000 members, which only has a single priest serving the entire community, then he may need the assistance of "Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion," but if there is such a pressing need for this assistance due to a real lack of sacred ministers, on a weekly or daily basis, it follows that the local Ordinary should institute men to the ministry of the Acolytate, as canon law allows.

Edited June 21, 2004 by Apotheoun