| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| extraordinary eucharist ministry | rosana | Sunday, February 27, 2005 |
Question: I took the course to become an extraordinary eucharist ministry. I believe and adore the real presence of my Lord Jesus in the Holy Host. Unfortunately for our Lord and the Church, there is a lack of faith in many members of His Church to this very important TRUTH or there is confusion in what are the rules for this ministry. The last speaker on this four-hour course was a lady who was in charge in giving us the guidelines for our ministry. When asked what to do with the Holy Host if He felt to the floor, she answered: “ what I do is this: I pick it up an eat it, or you could pick it up an place it on one side of the chalice and you could dispose of it later.” (English is not my main language but using IT is not correct when referring to our Lord) I try at the end of the talk to ask a question about what she meant when she said “dispose of it”, but we were too many(450) so I could not do it. The people around me asked me what the question was. I answered, She said, “you will dispose of it” what did she mean, that you would throw HIM away! THANK GOD, ALL of them said “oh no you misunderstood, what she meant is you eat Him later.” Afterwards I asked the teacher and to my amaze she explained to me what she meant when she said to dispose HIM, “ you let the HOLY Host dilute in a little amount of water and you pour it in the sacrarium” PLEASE explain to me the TRUTH, PLEASE tell me if this is the teaching of the church because it does not make any sense to me, NOT at all. If we believe HE IS present on the holy HOST and we believe that HE IS GOD why would you dispose of HIM. And if possible, could you please give me the referential quotes, of the church’s documents that give the guidelines for the extraordinary Eucharist ministers. I need them for me and also because I think this lady is a good catholic and she needs to know what to teach the next time. Do you think it is ok to be an extraordinary minister even though the ones in charge don't follow rules?. |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Rosana, If there is an accident and the Host becomes soiled to the point which it cannot safely be consumed, then yes it can be "disposed" of in this way. I'm not sure that "disposed" is the best word for it though. :-) When I first heard of this years ago I was also upset, but really it is a reverent way to deal with an accident. I would use blessed water and put it in a safe place for awhile. Remember that once the Host loses the appearance of bread then the Real Presence no longer exists. I honestly don't know at what point this happens once placed in water and later down the sacrarium, because I've never had to do this before. Yes, you can still be an extraordinary minister even if the teacher isn't following the rules exactly. If she instructs you to do something illicit then do not obey her, and then if serious problems arise then they are her problems and not yours. My guess would be though that there won't be any problems, especially since you will have the Church on your side. Guidelines for extraordinary ministers are found in Ecclesiae de Mysterio. It is online. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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