Liturgy Guides
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass
General Principles
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).
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- 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 pastoral 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.
Notes
- Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy
Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United
States of America [NDRHC] (August, 2002), no. 26 and cf. GIRM
no. 162 and NRHC, no. 28
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