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 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.
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
