Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Teens as Extraordinary Ministers
ROME, SEPT. 21, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
In the wake of our commentaries on teenage extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (see Sept. 7) a reader asked, "What about the practice in some parishes where at a wedding Mass the priest 'on the spot' deputes the bride and groom as Eucharistic ministers so that the couple can give Communion to one another and then to each other's family, relatives and friends."
This practice has been specifically forbidden in the instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, No. 94: "It is not licit for the faithful 'to take ... by themselves ... and, still less, to hand ... from one to another' the sacred host or the sacred chalice. Moreover, in this regard, the abuse is to be set aside whereby spouses administer Holy Communion to each other at a Nuptial Mass."
Related to the theme of extraordinary ministers was the following question from a reader in Atlanta, Georgia: "Regarding GIRM No. 162, do the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion have the option of when they 'approach' the altar? Some feel that the proper interpretation is that the extraordinary ministers leave their pews during the 'Lamb of God,' assemble standing at the base of the altar while the rest of the community kneels, and then 'approach' the top of the altar stairs after the celebrant receives Our Lord in communion. Others feel that the extraordinary ministers should not leave their pews until the celebrant receives Our Lord in communion, and then come to the top of the altar stairs. In this way, the extraordinary ministers are kneeling with the rest of the community before they approach, while in the first option they are standing."
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], No. 162, says: "The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion. These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful."
I would first observe that the question of whether the extraordinary ministers are kneeling or standing during the "Lamb of God" applies only to most dioceses of the United States and a few other countries. In most countries the people stand at this moment, as foreseen in the general norms (although these norms also contemplate and recommend maintaining kneeling wherever it is customary).
I would say that the meaning of the expression "approach the altar" is that extraordinary ministers should only come to the altar in order to receive the sacred vessels. They should not be present in the altar's immediate vicinity, in the manner of concelebrants, until their service begins.
However, if the design and logistics of the chapel require it, there is no reason why they could not all gather in a convenient place within or near the sanctuary at a reasonable distance from the altar. They can thus approach the altar immediately after the priest's communion. The most opportune moment for this gathering would be after reciting the "Lord, I am not worthy," especially if distances are short. If the number of ministers or the complex design of the sanctuary calls for it, it could also be discreetly done during the "Lamb of God."
In the wake of our commentaries on teenage extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (see Sept. 7) a reader asked, "What about the practice in some parishes where at a wedding Mass the priest 'on the spot' deputes the bride and groom as Eucharistic ministers so that the couple can give Communion to one another and then to each other's family, relatives and friends."
This practice has been specifically forbidden in the instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum, No. 94: "It is not licit for the faithful 'to take ... by themselves ... and, still less, to hand ... from one to another' the sacred host or the sacred chalice. Moreover, in this regard, the abuse is to be set aside whereby spouses administer Holy Communion to each other at a Nuptial Mass."
Related to the theme of extraordinary ministers was the following question from a reader in Atlanta, Georgia: "Regarding GIRM No. 162, do the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion have the option of when they 'approach' the altar? Some feel that the proper interpretation is that the extraordinary ministers leave their pews during the 'Lamb of God,' assemble standing at the base of the altar while the rest of the community kneels, and then 'approach' the top of the altar stairs after the celebrant receives Our Lord in communion. Others feel that the extraordinary ministers should not leave their pews until the celebrant receives Our Lord in communion, and then come to the top of the altar stairs. In this way, the extraordinary ministers are kneeling with the rest of the community before they approach, while in the first option they are standing."
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], No. 162, says: "The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion. These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful."
I would first observe that the question of whether the extraordinary ministers are kneeling or standing during the "Lamb of God" applies only to most dioceses of the United States and a few other countries. In most countries the people stand at this moment, as foreseen in the general norms (although these norms also contemplate and recommend maintaining kneeling wherever it is customary).
I would say that the meaning of the expression "approach the altar" is that extraordinary ministers should only come to the altar in order to receive the sacred vessels. They should not be present in the altar's immediate vicinity, in the manner of concelebrants, until their service begins.
However, if the design and logistics of the chapel require it, there is no reason why they could not all gather in a convenient place within or near the sanctuary at a reasonable distance from the altar. They can thus approach the altar immediately after the priest's communion. The most opportune moment for this gathering would be after reciting the "Lord, I am not worthy," especially if distances are short. If the number of ministers or the complex design of the sanctuary calls for it, it could also be discreetly done during the "Lamb of God."
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
11:57 AM
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