Eucharistic Ministers

[_bc]

I moved a few months ago. My new church appears very liberal, and one of the practices that do not strike me as right is the use of "eucharistic ministers". It just seems wrong, even though I've never had to form an opinion of this before and so never sought out any information on the subject.

I'd love a summary of the basic arguments, if somebody has them at their fingertips. Specifically, I read somewhere that the Holy Father had three times expressly forbidden the use of lay eucharistic ministers. I can't find any refererences though. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Edited November 16, 2003 by _bc

[IXpenguin21]

when i went for my interview to become an EM, a lot was explained to me.

the church's official title for this position is an:

Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

the break down of this title clears up misunderstanding...

Extra-ordinary= an adition to the usual

Minsiter of the Eucharist= priest/decon

-an aditional distributor of the Eucharist

this makes the EM subordinate to the Ordinary Minister, or OM.

and EM can never replace an OM, because EM's are extra, and extra things are not always needed.

this site may also help

[BLAZEr]

the problem with EM's is that they train them and make them wear little crosses and stuff like that and they make it a "ministry" . . . it completely defeats the purpose of being the "extraordinary" minsitery . . . that term doesn't just apply to the "ordinary" minister . . . becasue there is no such term in the girm . . . the priest gives communion, other preists should help him, if there is a case where they might need more people to help them (because of the crowd, or whatever) then they should appoint appropriate people (who would know what htey are doing) to help them . . .

If most churches with only one priest stopped giving the Body and Blood under the species of wine, then they would only need one or two EM's at any given mass . . . and it wouldn't be so dangone showy with all those EMs floating around blessing little babies and pretending like they have some ministry and role at mass . . . Christ ist he Minister of the Mass, the priest is his represntative, any thing else is distracting

IMHO

[Paladin D]

Are EM ministers allowed? Or is that a liberal thing?

My parish used to have a bunch, since we had a large parish and lots of people.

[Seminarian]

EME's are allowed by the church, however, if anyone in the congregation is a installed acolyte by the church they should distribute communion before any laity do, laity under the new GERM should not be sticking their hands into the tabernacle either without explict permission.

Acolytes, Deacons, and Priests are the only one's allowed under the GERM to go into the tabernacle and bring Jesus out for communion. EME's are allowed to distribute communion and no more.

Also if someone in the congregation is an installed Lector by the church, they should be reading at mass before anyone else as well. Once a person is installed to be either a lector or an acolyte it is a ministry that stays with them for the rest of their lives as long as they stay in good standing with the church.

Acolytes also have the right to place the luna, the little glass case that hold a large host, into the monstrance for Eucharistic adoration and take it out after adoration as well, however, only the deacon and or priest are allowed to do a benediction blessing.

I hope this helps.

Edited November 17, 2003 by Seminarian

[Paladin D]

I *believe* I saw EMs place the Eucharist into the tabernacle at times. I'm not sure, this parish was in the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. Not sure if it's Liberal or what.

[Mary's Knight, La]

i'm not too clear on the new GIRM yet but i know most churches down here have larger congregations so they use EM(E)s but the training isn't so much of a "formal ministry" training as it is to ensure that they have proper respect for the Eucharist

[Aloysius]

there'z 2 GIRMs in the PhatMass reading room

i found them talkin bout EME's in the older version

but the 2003 one makes no mention

what's the deal wit that?

[Uncle Gus]

The correct term is "Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion." The ordinary (and only) minister of the Eucharist is the Priest, acting in persona Christi. The Priest is also the ordinary minister of Holy Communion. However, in exceptional cases, a non-priest can be commisioned for the task of communicating the Eucharist. There are also preferences for who should be commissioned for this task. For example, if there is a consecrated religious person there, they should be enlisted first, and so on.

[IXpenguin21]

and it wouldn't be so dangone showy with all those EMs floating around blessing little babies and pretending like they have some ministry and role at mass

THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THEIR ROLE!

i am an EM. i know my job is insignificant compared to the other person involved in my service... Christ.

i know that all i have the privilage to do, is to distribute the Body or Blood of Christ to my church of upwards of 300 so it can be done as reasonably fast and reverant as possible.

i am a distributer for the sake of efficency in the Mass and assistance to the one or two priests available.

I DO NOT LIKE WHEN EM'S BLESS NON-CATHOLICS, BABIES, CHILDREN, OLD PEOPLE, AND ANYONE ELSE (unless of course they sneeze )!!!

i think that EMs should realize their role of humility as they present the Eucharist as Mary was humble durring the presentation of Christ in the temple.

[IXpenguin21]

please excuse my venting...

lol

[Katholikos]

For the straight dope from the Pope get a copy of a little booklet,

The Eucharist Abuse, Why "Eucharistic Ministers" are Illegal in the Catholic Church

available at http://www.pangaeus.com for $2

written by Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ph.D., author of "Why Do Catholics Do That" and "Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations, and the Telling of the Beads."

There are cases where Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are allowed -- but they are EXCEPTIONAL. The habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass is not permitted.

Orlin quotes the official documents of the Church on this subject.

[God Conquers]

My parish has EM's all the time, but that's because we only have two priests, and both are never at all the masses, it would be ridiculous for them. That being said, we ONLY have them on Sundays because it is the only day where there is a too large a crowd for just a priest and maybe an acolyte or deacon to handle. That's ok. People will leave to go to another parish if Communion itself takes a whole hour.

One more thing, anyone can bless anyone. Watch:

God Bless the members of Phatmass in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Did I just sin? Was I heretical? no. I just asked God to bless you. This is the same as an EM asking God to bless a baby or anyone else. It may not be the most approprioate time (not during communion) or the MOST apporpriate person to do so (a priest) but it's not something to go crazy over.

[Donna]

Thanks, Likos.

Michael Davies and others have documented the same, but I think the phorum will trust this other guy, God bless him for a good (and inexpensive!) booklet.

By the way, please pray for Mr. Davies, who apparently has a terminal illness.

[BLAZEr]

Ecclesiae de mysterio

On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of the Priest

Part II, Article 8. The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

The non-ordained faithful already collaborate with the sacred ministers in diverse pastoral situations since "This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery should be increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared".[95]

Such liturgical service is a response to the objective needs of the faithful especially those of the sick and to those liturgical assemblies in which there are particularly large numbers of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion.

§ 1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon.[96] Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.[97]

A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in un foreseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.[98]

§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.[99] They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. [100]

This function is supplementary and extraordinary [101] and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion.

To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

- extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

- association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

- the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of "a great number of the faithful".