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Extraordinary Ministers of
Holy Communion at Mass
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In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a
sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may
be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops,
priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their
office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
(1)
When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the
bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be
assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary
ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may
call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly
instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed
for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also
depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162)."
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive
sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to
fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. In all matters
they should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (Norms
for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both
Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America,
NDRHC, no. 28). When recourse is had to Extraordinary Minister
of Holy Communion, especially in the distribution of Holy
Communion under both kinds, their number should not be increased
beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent
distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord. In all matters
such Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should follow the
guidance of the diocesan bishop (IBID).
All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest
reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their
attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated
bread or wine. Should there be any mishap--as when, for example,
the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice--then the
affected "area . . . should be washed and the water poured into
the sacrarium [GIRM, 280]." (NDRHC, 29).
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- As the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God is begun,
the bishop or priest alone, or with the assistance of the
deacon, and if necessary of concelebrating priests, breaks
the eucharistic bread.
- As the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God is begun,
the Bishop or priest alone, or with the assistance of the
deacon, and if necessary of concelebrating priests, breaks
the eucharistic bread. Other empty ciboria or patens are
then brought to the altar is this is necessary. The deacon
or priest places the consecrated bread in several ciboria or
patens, if necessary, as required for the distribution of
Holy Communion. If it is not possible to accomplish this
distribution in a reasonable time, the celebrant may call
upon the assistance of other deacons or concelebrating
priests.
- If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are
required by patoral need, they should not approach the altar
before the priest has received Communion. After the priest
has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to
the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and
then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of
Holy Communion to the people.
- All receive Holy Communion in the manner described by
the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, whether
priest concelebrants (cf. GIRM, nos. 159, 242, 243, 246),
deacons (cf. GIRM, nos. 182, 244, 246), or Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion (cf. GIRM, no. 284). Neither
deacons nor lay ministers may ever receive Holy Communion in
the manner of a concelebrating priest. The practice of
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive
Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy
Communion is not in accord with liturgical law. (NDRHC, 39;
GIRM, 160).
- After all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have
received the Eucharist, the bishop or priest celebrant
reverently hands vessels containing the Body or the Blood of
the Lord to the deacons or extraordinary ministers who will
assist with the distribution of Holy Communion. The deacon
may assist the priest in handing the vessels containing the
Body and Blood of the Lord to the Extraordinary Ministers of
Holy Communion. (NDRHC, 40).
- The proper and only permissible form for distributing
Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated bread by saying,
"The Body of Christ" and to offer the consecrated wine by
saying, "The Blood of Christ." No other words or names
should be added; and the formula should not be edited in any
way. (Cf. GIRM, 161; 284-287).
- If the Eucharistic bread or some particle of it falls,
it should be picked up reverently by the minister. The
consecrated bread may be consumed or completely dissolved in
water before being poured down the sacrarium.
- Should there be any mishap, for example, if the
consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice, the area
should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium.
- In those instances when there remains more consecrated
wine than was necessary, if needs dictate, Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion may consume what remains of the
Precious Blood from their cup of distribution with the
permission of the diocesan bishop. The sacred vessles are to
be purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted
acolyte. The amount of wine to be consecrated should be
carefully measured before the celebration so that none
remains afterward. It is strictly forbidden to pour the
Precious Blood into the ground or into the sacrarium.
(NDRHC, 51-55).
- Similarly, "consecrated hosts are to be reserved in a
ciborium or vessel in sufficient quantity for the needs of
the faithful; they are to be frequently renewed and the old
hosts properly consumed" (Code of Canon Law, no. 939).
Burying hosts or consecrated Eucharistic bread is strictly
forbidden.
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