Answering "Amen"

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 02-17-06 | Fr. William Saunders

[Coleus]

I have also had someone approach me with the open pic. >>

if that person is not a diocesan-approved em then I think that person is NOT allowed to give that communion host to their sick loved one.

if there is a priest in the rectory during a mass, that priest is obliged to give out communion and not the em.

[TheBrotherhood]

What is the Latin equivalent of amen?

I'd prefer the Latin version to the jewish version.

[NYer]

If people need a host to take home for a sick one -- all they need to do is put a pic on the altar and the priest will automatically fill it. Then they can pick it up after Mass.

Are these the norms in your diocese? Anyone may bring a host home to a sick family member? According to the GIRM - DIRECTIVES FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION OUTSIDE OF MASS TO PERSONS WHO ARE SICK OR ELDERLY

"Besides priests and deacons, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may bring Communion, provided they are installed as Extraordinary Ministers and authorized to do so by the priest of the parish or the Catholic chaplain of the hospital or other institution where the Extraordinary Minister will bring Communion. "

I have also had someone approach me with the open pic. I place a host in it, and then gave them Communion.

Aside from the fact that this is against the GIRM, how did you know if the pyx was ever blessed? What assurance did this person give you the host would be consumed? Was this person also a EMHC? What about any remaining particles from the host remaining in the pyx? What are the guidelines for properly disposing of these?

I am very surprised that a diocese would allow anyone to carry a pyx to church and have it filled by a EMHC on a communion line. The pyx is to be carried only by a EMHC. Perhaps I misunderstood your comment.

[bornacatholic]

Instead of saying "Amen" kids today say "whatever"

[bboop]

We are new Catholics, as of last Easter. RCIA'd in a very liberal church. For first Confession, they told us -- 'Just confess one sin. Otherwise it takes too long.' Which seemed wrong, but we didn't really know.

Over the last few months, we have been corrected and guided and re-taught by many good priests. Just last week, the Priest said to me? "Are you left-handed or right-handed?" "Right." "Then you put that hand UNDER the other." I corrected that. As I walked away he said, "And DON'T put it in your mouth like that. Take your right hand." I thanked him and said, 'We are brand new.' I spoke with him after Mass and thanked him for speaking out.

They are teachers, after all. If they don't teach, people will assume it's ok.

[NYer]

Welcome Home!

It is most comforting to hear that you have met some wonderful priests who have been excellent guides. You are absolutely correct ... they are teachers, shepherds of their flocks.

[NYer]

There is so much from Catholicism that still guides my life and my worldview, however, I just can't get past Original Sin and the Resurrection thing,

Hope you don't mind but here are two suggestions. Perhaps you can resolve those two things at this site:

ONCE CATHOLIC

I commend you on your journey. Mine led me back to the roots, to Judaism.

I've often said that were I not catholic, I would be Jewish - the draw to ancient roots is that strong. In fact, of all the Eastern Churches, the Maronite Catholic Church retains its Jewish heritage more than the others, both liturgically and in architectural elements.

The other suggestion is to read Roy Schoeman's book, Salvation is from the Jews. Roy Schoeman was raised as a "conservative" Jew by pious parents who escaped the Holocaust. His hometown rabbi was Arthur Hertzberg.  One of the highest-profile rabbis in the U.S., he was president of the American Jewish Congress, advisor to several presidents, and wrote a number of best-selling books on Judaism and Jewish history.  Schoeman loved God and even considered abandoning his studies at MIT to attend Yeshiva in Israel. Eventually, he ended up at Harvard Business School where he taught while working on his doctorate. Schoeman loved nature and skiing. The years passed and then one day, something extraordinary happened.

Quote: During the spring of 1987 I took a few days off from work and went to Cape Cod to spend time in the nature there.  I was walking in the early morning, in the woods just back from the beach, when God intervened, dramatically and distinctly, into my life to pull me back and put me onto the right path.  As I was walking, lost in my thoughts, I found myself in the immediate presence of God.  It is as though I "fell into Heaven."  Everything changed from one moment to the next, but in such a smooth and subtle way that I was not aware of any discontinuity.  I felt myself in the immediate presence of God.  I was aware of His infinite exaltedness, and of His infinite and personal love for me.  I saw my life as though I was looking back on it after death, in His presence, and could see everything which I would be happy about and everything which I would wish I had done differently.  I saw that every action I had ever done mattered, for good or for evil.  I saw that everything which had ever happened in my life had been perfectly designed for my own good from the infinitely wise and loving hand of God, not only including but especially those things which I at the time I thought had been the greatest catastrophes.  I saw that my two greatest regrets when I died would be every moment which I had wasted not doing anything of value in the eyes of God, and all of the time and energy which I had wasted worrying about not being loved when every moment of my existence I was bathed in an infinite sea of love, although unaware of it.  I saw that the meaning and purpose of my life was to worship and serve my Lord and Master, in whose presence I found myself.  I wanted to know His name, so that I could worship Him properly, so that I could follow "His" religion.  I remember silently praying "Tell me your name.  I don't mind if You're Apollo, and I have to become a Roman pagan.  I don't mind if You're Krishna, and I have to become a Hindu.  I don't mind if You're Buddha, and I have to become a Buddhist.  As long as You're not Christ, and I have to become a Christian!" (Jewish readers might be able to identify with this deep-rooted aversion to Christianity, based on the mistaken belief that it was the "enemy" which lay behind two thousand years of persecution of the Jews.) Unquote.

REST OF THE STORY

Roy Schoeman has written a book that draws from Jewish history right up to the present.

From the Preface -

"If there is one theological issue which both Jews and Christians should be able to agree on, it is that "salvation is from the Jews".  It has been a constant teaching of Judaism from the days of Abraham onwards that the salvation of all mankind is to come from the Jews.  That is the primary sense in which the Jews are "the Chosen People".  And Christians, or at least Christians who believe in the accuracy of the New Testament, have no choice but to believe that  "salvation is from the Jews", since those are the very words which Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:22). This book is an attempt to examine the meaning of those words, from a Jewish perspective within the Catholic faith. "

I can't say enough about this book. I'm not a great reader but could not put it down. Roy Schoeman is also very active with 'Hebrew Catholics'. You can learn more about him and the book at Salvation is from the Jews .

[bboop]

Thank you. It is so good to be Home. I believe hard times sharpen the sword. There are lots of fire-breathing, on-fire, orthodox Catholic priests out there. We have spoken to many. Even here in Los Angeles!!!

I think, too, that the new converts -- esp those coming from Protestant churches -- bring that fire, often. We know the Lord, we know the Bible, we know the teachings of Christianity, and we will not abide nonsense. I had more arguments in that RCIA class about Original Sin ('babies are not bad') and other tenets of the Faith, with cradle Catholics, who either didn't know better or (as I suspected) knew darn well but were invested in changing the Church teachings.

[Salvation]

Thanks for the background information. I don't remember who the person was for sure, but I am thinking I did it because I knew they were one of the authorized Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick at our church.

[radiohead]

I went to the Once Catholic site, interesting, especially the St. Anthony search engine! It's good that there is a place where lapsed Catholics can go and ask questions w/o embarassment or aprobation.

You post such interesting comments. Thanks for taking the time to do so.

[Salvation]

Glad that you have been re-taught along the guidelines here.

[Salvation]

Many parishes have classes now for Returning Catholics. I know of a couple of them -- Landings, Catholics Can Come Home Again, Welcome Home, Catholics.

At our church we use the series, Catholics Can Come Home Again. It is taught by people who came home after being away from the Catholic Church. Wonderful classes!

Many of the issues have to do with remarraige.

[Cvengr]

I understood the meaning of AMEN from the Hebrew referred to the phrase "I believe it" or identifying the thought with truth or trustworthiness, or faithfulness. Accordingly, I would consider the response to be more faithful than rote mumbling of AMEN as though it were a mechanic.

[Bigg Red]

Saving it for a devil-worship ceremony perhaps?

LOL! I almost choked on a piece of candy reading this.

&&
Sadly, I was not joking. I understand that this happens.

[Coleus]

I am very surprised that a diocese would allow anyone to carry a pyx to church and have it filled by a EMHC on a communion line. The pyx is to be carried only by a EMHC. Perhaps I misunderstood your comment. >>

I am surprised to. The way I understand it is that all powers and permission comes from the local ordinary, he imparts that power to the priest at Holy Orders and only a priest can distribute Holy Communion unless there are "extraordinary" circumstances.

A priest may train practicing catholics to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion with their names submitted to the diocese for the bishop's approval and these people can only distribute Holy Communion under extraordinary conditions and that when an extra priest is available (let's say 2 priests are assigned to a parish and the 2nd priest is in the rectory) that 2nd priest, according to the GIRM must distribute communion too. I also believe that an EM can only distribute Holy Communion in his home diocese and can not distribute in another diocese.

If that person with the pyx is not an em and doesn't have the pastor's permission, that person is in violation of some rule, I can't quote it but I know it's not allowed. It's the duty of the pastor and the em's if the pastor isn't available to visit shut ins and the sick and give them Holy Communion.

[Diva]

We recieve in a Latin Novus Ordo Mass by intinction and thus must recieve on the tongue. The priest holds the Host up to our eye level, or down really, as we kneel on an Altar rail, and says the words Body of Christ and we answer with an Amen. When I went to the Indult Tridentine Mass I was warned not to say amen, but I forgot!! and said it anyway from habit.

[NYer]

We recieve in a Latin Novus Ordo Mass by intinction

In which diocese does the NO Mass intinct the host?

[Diva]

Detroit, I know of one church (my own) and perhaps one other. Yes, Cardinal Maida knows. The fact that we do this and also kneel to recieve scandalizes a number of good St. Suburbanites. : )

[Global2010]

That was my thought too.

Perhaps he had permission from the Priest to do so and was a what do they call those who bring Euchrist to the homebound.

Usually they have a little siver/gold compact but we don't know the circumstances I would rather believe it was all for good.

[Global2010]

He sounds like our Father.

He is very opinionated on such things.

Which I am glad.