Madonna Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 That's right: the extraordinary ministers of the holy Eucharist. What a name. I was under the impression that they were not to give a blessing to children and to those who cannot receive Communion. I thought this was reserved for ordained clergy. Can anyone clear this up? I cringe whenever I see an EMHE give a blessing during Communion time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 They cannot, and should not, give such a blessing. Doing so is a liturgical abuse, and if they understand that fact, and proceed to do so anyway, then they incur grave sin upon their soul. The role of an EOMoHC is exclusively to help the priest distribute the Blessed Sacrament in a situation in which it would be extremely impractical and inconvenient for the priest to do so alone (especially when the result of attempting to do so would be some people not receiving at all). Their responsibilities do not go any further than this. - Your Brother In Christ, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madonna Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 I thought that was the case. Why do so many parishes have a million Eucharistic Ministers. I was not under the impression that you should have more of them just to speed up Communion. The word "extraordinary" seems to mean nothing to most. I get so annoyed at our parish. The Eucharistic Ministers used to [i]stand behind the altar[/i] while the priest presented Jesus as the Lamb of God (the actually name of this part escapes me at the moment...) I think they finally got busted. Now they all stand in the front pews. So it is just as distracting as before. "There is Jesus..oh wait! There's a woman's hip in my face. Maybe she'll have a spasm and I can have a glimpse... ) It is not just at my parish. I just came home from Texas, and the parish I went to did the same thing. I could go on. How come Eucharistic Ministers aren't properly trained? If the priests and bishops know the GIRM, why do they ignore it? /rant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I know exactly what you are talking about, the EOMoHC still stand behind the altar at my parish. I think the reason for all these problems (although not a good reason) really has two parts that are linked together: The first is that, especially in America (I live in Maryland and go to college in Pennsylvania) the clergy is not especially orthodox and some priests and even bishops are trying to use Vatican II and the Holy Father's writings for their own ends. The second is an issue of bad catechisis. The laity just don't really know their faith, let alone the things set out in the GIRM, Canon Law, etc. Catechisis is really important, especially in the wake of an ecumenical council, so that people can really process and come to understand what the council (in this case, Vatican II) was about. Just one more reason why I want to get a doctorate in theology and teach RCIA and college students the truth of the faith, and not a radtrad/liberal interpretation of it. - Your Brother In Christ, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madonna Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 I agree completely. We would get along well. I started to go to Mass at the Abbey 40 minutes away just to get an orthodox Mass. I don't get as upset as I used to about liturgical abuses, but they still distract me. I don't understand why someone would want to be Catholic if they are going to change it up anyway. Especially priests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 lol, amen to that, I mean, is it really that hard to just be orthodox and faithful to the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him? o well. lol, this is prehaps the most peaceful thread ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madonna Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 I can cause trouble. I don't like your hair cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Huether Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I agree... about the hair cut. Just kidding. I'm in a similar situation at my Parish. They are there at the alter shuffling God Almighty in the Eucharist into the dishes to distribut, while the Priest says the "Lamb of God". Then they bless the children, etc. I cringe too! But I know it will all be sorted out in the end. We just need to pray, and to live out our faith and set an example in our actions. My heartfelt prayers go out to all those who have to deal with this. On an up-note: This past week a little kid took Jesus in the Eucharist, but appearanly had not recieved his first Communion yet (wasn't the childs fault, too young... wasn't the EOMoHC's fault either... just something that's bound to happen every now and again). In the pew he showed Him to his dad who then spanked the kid. LOL. Then an EOMoHC came over, took Jesus and consumed Him. I was proud that at least the EOMoHC knew how to handle the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madonna Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 Maybe that's what we should instill in the Church: light spanking. "Received communion even though you know you're in mortal sin? That's 3 spankings for you. M'am, are you going to bless that child? You're not ordained. Don't make me spank you." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 [quote name='JeffCR07' date='Jul 27 2004, 10:10 AM'] They cannot, and should not, give such a blessing. Doing so is a liturgical abuse, and if they understand that fact, and proceed to do so anyway, then they incur grave sin upon their soul. The role of an EOMoHC is exclusively to help the priest distribute the Blessed Sacrament in a situation in which it would be extremely impractical and inconvenient for the priest to do so alone (especially when the result of attempting to do so would be some people not receiving at all). Their responsibilities do not go any further than this. - Your Brother In Christ, Jeff [/quote] jeff, can you provide the paragraphs from the GIRM that present this rule? thanks, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 [quote name='Madonna' date='Jul 27 2004, 10:23 AM'] Maybe that's what we should instill in the Church: light spanking. "Received communion even though you know you're in mortal sin? That's 3 spankings for you. M'am, are you going to bless that child? You're not ordained. Don't make me spank you." [/quote] :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: oh, i wish i could institute that rule at my parish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hey, I like my hair! Plus, my barber says its too soft to do anything else with it, so I dont have a lot of options ... phat, I'm pretty sure it isn't in the GIRM, but rather in the document that recently came out that outlined liturgical abuses. I will gladly admit though, that I am relaying this information second hand. I'll try to find it specifically, and if anyone knows something to the contrary, please feel free to correct me! - Your Brother In Christ, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 reader: your mission is to find that information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catholicguy Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 [quote name='JeffCR07' date='Jul 27 2004, 10:44 AM'] lol, amen to that, I mean, is it really that hard to just be orthodox and faithful to the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him? o well. lol, this is prehaps the most peaceful thread ever [/quote] It's not so much a question about following the Pope...I don't think he has said anything about it. It is about believing the Church's teaching on Holy Orders. ...and by Bishops in union with him you were not excluding SSPX were you (I know they at least follow this rule!) ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JeffCR07 Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 well I was replying more to Madonna's comment about people wanting to "change" catholicism in their own, individualistic way thant I was refering to the issue of EOMoHC's. Whatever the liberals/radtrads say, they are the same, just on opposite ends of the spectrum. Neither one is really following the call of the laity, considering we are explicitly told not just to follow, but to believe in our hearts [i]everything[/i] that comes from the Magisterium, whether infallibly defined by the Pope/councils or taught by the Extraordinary, Ordinary, or even the [i]Authentic[/i] Magisterium - keeping in mind, of course, that the Magisterium is made up only of those bishops in communion with the Holy Father. The liberal/radtrad outlook is one that implicitly, if not explicitly strikes a blow to the authority, dignity, and magesty of the Holy Church for in both cases, an individual, whether clergy or laity, believes that not only do they more fully understand a given subject than their shepard, but that they accomplish the greater good by opposing him and leading others away from following. This notion implies that disunity is preferable to unity, division preferable to communion, etc. What is more, the members of both groups have the audacity to believe that just because the Holy Father is hesitant to excommunicate - because he loves them and wants them to be able to receive the sacraments (in the hope that the grace gained from them will cause a conversion of heart and bring them back to orthodoxy) - this means that their believes and positions are "ok," "perfectly fine," or even "sanctioned." I would like to note that the [i]only[/i] time that a person is allowed to disbelieve/disobey a teaching from any level of Magisterial Authority is if the person has a fully formed conscience which tells them that believing and obeying the teaching would be overtly wrong. Please consider two things: First, if one finds themselves constantly in such a situation and disobeying multiple teachings of the Church, it is very possible that the person's conscience is not fully formed, and that he/she is in great need of spiritual direction. Second, this is distinctly and intrinsically a private matter. [i]Never[/i] does [i]anyone[/i] have the right to make public these discrepancies of conscience, let alone attempt to encourage others to do the same. Moreover, I would like to point out that just because someone is bound by conscience not to follow a particular teaching in no way shape or form makes them right. The Magisterium is right, the person is simply bound to his conscience. Keeping this in mind, anyone who opposes any teaching of any level of the Magisterium is on very shaky ground, and that ground collapses beneath him or her the minute he or she either a.) starts to form groups/organizations that encourage or support such behavior, or b.) makes public his or her personal discrepency of conscience as if it were an objectively valid viewpoint. Sorry for the long answer I hope you still take the time to read it all, lol. Here is the short answer to your question: I was just addressing the great need for orthodoxy in both the laity and the clergy. - Your Brother In Christ, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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