Last Sunday, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the EM’s were used to give instruction on the proper reception of Holy Communion.
As any EM knows, there is much that the parishioners do that is wrong yet they don’t even know it.
I was unaware, for example, that it is wrong to bless oneself with the consecrated host before consummation.
Our priest did a nice job of explaining that the Eucharist must be received and not taken. He said that is why the EMs should never take the ciborium or the cup from the altar, but must receive it from the priest.
It was interesting and I though needed, but, no surprise, the people who receive improperly, still did so. We have been told that it is not our place to correct people as they come to us. I guess that goes for the priest too.
Unless the errors are particularly egregious, i.e. walking away without consuming the host or putting it in their pocket, we are not to say or do anything when one approaches us and does something incorrectly.
When the person receiving the Eucharist fails to say “Amen”, I will look into their eyes and intone it in a quiet voice for them.
You are right about people receiving the Body of Christ and not taking it.
If they only realized! The REAL Body of Christ that he gave us at the Last Supper!