Eucharistic Minister

A Eucharistic minister, also known as a communion steward, is an individual that assists in the distribution of Holy Communion to the congregation of a Christian church.

Anglican and Episcopalian Churches

Eucharistic Minister, or more properly "Lay Eucharistic Minister LEM", is used to denote a lay person who assists the priest in administering the sacraments of holy communion, the consecrated bread and wine.[1] They may also take the sacraments to those who are ill, or otherwise unable to attend Mass. LEMs usually vest in cassock and surplice rather than Alb.

Although the practice varies from Diocese to Diocese in general LEMs are recommended by the parish priest to the Bishop of the Diocese, who grants them a three-year license to practice the ministry. This license is often renewed at the priest's discretion for subsequent three year terms.[2]

Methodist Churches

In many Methodist Churches, communion stewards assist the minister in the distribution of Holy Communion to the congregation during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. These individuals also aid the minister in consuming any remaining Eucharistic elements after the distribution has been completed, although some of it is reserved to be taken to the sick in hospitals and in their homes.[3]

Roman Catholic Church

Only a validly ordained priest may consecrate the Eucharist.[4] As stated in Canon Law, "The ordinary minister of holy communion is a bishop, presbyter, or deacon."[5] and "The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte or another member of the Christian faithful designated according to the norm of ⇒ can. 230, §3." [6]

"[T]he name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone." That is also specified in the Vatican document "Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum".[7] RS Section [154] states: "the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest. Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone." [8]

"Eucharist", in the Catholic Church, refers to both the celebration of the Mass, that is, the Eucharist liturgy, and to the bread and wine which are transubstantiated (changed in substance) into the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. The term "Holy Communion" refers only to the latter. Thus, the terms "Eucharist" and "Holy Communion" are not interchangeable.

The distribution of Holy Communion is done by the priest, often with one or more ministers, depending on the size of the service. There are two types of assistants: ordained (ordinary) ministers, and extraordinary ministers. An "Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion" is an ordained Bishop, Priest, or Deacon.[9][10][11] See also Section [154] of "Redemptionis Sacramentum".[12] The term "Ordinary" refers to the fact that ordained ministers are the ones who would ordinarily assist in the distribution of Holy Communion. However, the shortage of ordained ministers has led to the need to sometimes enlist lay persons in this ministry.[13][14][15][16]

An "Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion" is a Catholic lay person who assists in the distribution of Holy Communion, either during the Mass, or afterwards, such as to housebound persons. Section [156] [17] prohibits the use of other titles for these lay persons. The term "Eucharist" does not appear in their title, because it would imply a broader function, which is reserved for the priest alone. Despite these instruction, a very common error is the use of the terms "Eucharistic Ministers", or "Extraordinary Ministers of Eucharist." These improper titles have appeared on several book titles, instructional handbooks, and in many articles. Likewise, erroneous abbreviations, such as "EM", "EME", or "EEM", are commonly used instead of the proper abbreviation "EMHC".

Section [158] provides instructions on the proper use of EMHC: "the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged." [18] However, many parishes do not follow these instructions. This is contrary to Canon Law.[19][20][21] Some routinely use EMHCs when there is no lacking of Priests and Deacons, or they employ a large number of EMHCs, reducing the Communion distribution to a few minutes. One factor is lack of knowledge of the Vatican instructions. Another is the popularity of participating in this service.

References

  1. ↑ "The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society The Episcopal Church".
  2. ↑ "The Episcopal Diocese of New York".
  3. ↑ "Communion Stewards". St. Paul UMC at Oxon Hill. 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Code of Canon Law. can. 900 § 1: Vatican.
  5. ↑ Code of Canon Law. can. 910 § 11: Vatican.
  6. ↑ Code of Canon Law. can. 910 § 2: Vatican.
  7. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament (25 March 2004). Redemptionis Sacramentum. Vatican.
  8. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament (25 March 2004). Redemptionis Sacramentum. § 154: Vatican.
  9. ↑ Code of Canon Law. can. 910 § 1: Vatican.
  10. ↑ Pope John Paul II (1980). Dominicae Cenae. n. 11: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 72: Vatican. p. 142.
  11. ↑ Congregation for the Clergy; et al. (1997). Ecclesiae de mysterio. Practical Provisions, art. 8 § 1: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89: Vatican. pp. 870–871.
  12. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament (25 March 2004). Redemptionis Sacramentum. § 154: Vatican.
  13. ↑ Code of Canon Law. can. 230 § 3: Vatican.
  14. ↑ Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments (1973). Immensae caritatis, prooemium. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 65: Vatican. p. 264.
  15. ↑ Pope Paul VI (15 August 1972). Apostolic Letter (Motu Proprio), Ministeria quaedam. 972: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 64: Vatican. p. 532.
  16. ↑ Congregation for the Clergy; et al. (1997). Instruction, Ecclesiae de mysterio. Practical Provisions, art. 8 § 1: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89: Vatican. p. 871.
  17. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament (25 March 2004). Redemptionis Sacramentum. § 156: Vatican.
  18. ↑ Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament (25 March 2004). Redemptionis Sacramentum. § 158: Vatican.
  19. ↑ Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law (1 June 1988). Responsio ad propositum dubium. AAS 80: Vatican. p. 1373.
  20. ↑ Congregation for the Clergy; et al. (1997). Instruction, Ecclesiae de mysterio. Practical Provisions, art. 8 § 2: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89: Vatican. p. 871.
  21. ↑ Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments (1973). Instruction, Immensae caritatis. n. 1: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 65: Vatican. pp. 264–271.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.