Does This Bother Anyone Else?

[CatherineM]

I was in line for communion today behind two moms with a total of 5 kids between them. The EM blessed everyone of those kids. I wanted to scream, but thought that might not go over very well. I am to the point where I don't like receiving from EM's, especially the host, and this one is someone that is in all charity, not someone who should be an EM anyway. On top of that, she gave communion to a retired priest who lives in our rectory. I don't think that he should have to co-celebrate, but he could at least help distribute communion. He doesn't walk with a cane, or shake or anything that on the surface would make him not be able to distribute communion. It's these little things that just drive me crazy, and make me want to go to another parish.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
it bothers me too.

but today, the EM just traced the sign of the cross on my girl's forehead, no blessing involved. which made me happier.

[HisChildForever]

I see nothing wrong with them distributing, but in the case of blessing, I feel that only the priest should do it.

[Jutty1224]

I am a EM in my church. I generally serve as one every sunday. Normally when a child who has not yet made their first holy communion comes up to me with either their arms crossed or that I now they are not that age yet, I will put my hand on their head and say "May God less you". We generally have 6 EMs administering the host in addition to the priest and then 4 with the cup. We have a deacon in the parish who will serves one weekend a month, will read the Gospel and then preach, and will administer the cup during communion.

[CatherineM]

We had our priest and 5 EM's today for around 50 parishioners. No music, no organist, no choir, no cantor, but plenty of EM's.

[Apotheoun]

I find it interesting that Extraordinary Ministers are used on an ordinary basis.

[Archaeology cat]

Yes, it bothers me.

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1593467' date='Jul 7 2008, 07:34 AM']I find it interesting that Extraordinary Ministers are used on an ordinary basis.[/quote]
Yeah, I know.

[kujo]

I've always been told to just place a hand on the shoulder of the would-be communicant and say a brief prayer for them.

[cappie]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says : 1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a "blessing," and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).

That being said :

The 1997 Vatican instruction ("On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of the Priest")states:

"Article 6 -- Liturgical Celebrations
" 1. Liturgical actions must always clearly manifest the unity of the People of God as a structured communion. Thus there exists a close link between the ordered exercise of liturgical action and the reflection in the liturgy of the Church's structured nature. This happens when all participants, with faith and devotion, discharge those roles proper to them.

" 2. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers -- e.g., especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology -- or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant." [Canon 907 basically re-states part of what has just been quoted.]

Only a priest can bestow an official church blessing which is a sacramental. As to children coming up I don't think it hurts to greet them in a friendly manner, smile at them and then send them on their way.....

[Archaeology cat]

Thanks for posting that & clarifying, Father.

[Caramelonion]

Our EMs usually just put their hand on the head of the child and says "Jesus Loves you" or traces the sign of the cross. I don't mind that too much.

[StColette]

[quote name='cappie' post='1593503' date='Jul 7 2008, 05:44 AM']Only a priest can bestow an official church blessing which is a sacramental. As to children coming up I don't think it hurts to greet them in a friendly manner, smile at them and then send them on their way..... [/quote]

Thank you, Father

A Professor of mine at FUS talked about this situation, he's also a Deacon. He spoke of spiritual jurisdiction. About how priests have spiritual jurisdiction over the laity, how men have spiritual jurisdiction over their family (mothers have spiritual jurisdiction over their children, but husbands have it over the entire family). He said the EMHCs do not have the spiritual jurisdiction to give blessings to the laity. Now I can see if the EMHC was some a child's parent and he or she blessed the child, that's a little different, since they have spiritual jurisdiction over their child.

[mortify]

EM's in general annoy me, I only accept the practice because the Vatican accepts it. Back in the old days only the priest would handle communion, no matter how large the parish, and only in extreme cases would the *deacon* get involved. Nowadays my parish has four priests, two deacons, and we still have an army of EM's handing out communion. I have to say overall our EM's are good parishioners, well dressed, and they thankfully hand communion gracefully. It's nothing personal to them or any EM, I just feel the the Vatican should do away with this practice (which started out as a liturgical abuse.) Thankfully they're making a lot of changes with the Papal masses that will hopefully trickle down!

[mommas_boy]

Ok, so please let me know if my practices were right.

We were told that we could not give an official blessing, but that we were to "make up something" to take the place. (?)

So, what I did instead was this: (1) hand on shoulder (not head), instead of tracing the cross; (2) did not say "in the name of the Father ..."; (3) instead used the prayer from the breviary for non-ordained: "May the Lord bless you, protect you from all evil, and lead you to ever-lasting life".

Was this kosher? Thanks!

[Noel's angel]

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion shouldn't be put in the position where they might have to 'make up' some sort of blessing or prayer. It should be made clear to congregations that the priest is the only person who can give a blessing. In our parish, people are always told to come into the centre aisle and receive a blessing from the priest, and it works.

I can understand the difficulty if an EMHC is presented with someone asking for a blessing. Personally, if it was me, I would simply point them towards the priest.