St. Catherine Review: Communion in the Hand

I'm wondering if the use of lay persons as Extraordinary Euchartisiic Minister has weakens faith in the Real Presence among the Faith communities.

I believe that would depend on a number of things within the individual themselves. Is their position one of necessity, approached with awe and reverence or is it done out of pride? I don't know.

On a related subject (I think), do you pray before meals at a restaurant? I mean do you and your family visibly bless yourselves and say a slightly audible prayer thanking God and asking Him to bless you and your food? There was a time when I didn't and I approached a meal like an animal without recognizing Who provided the food and Who permits me to enjoy it.

Dear narses,

"More priests?"

*chuckle*

I remember when I was young, I went to a parish with I guess over a thousand families. There were typically three or four priests assigned to the parish at any one time, not including the pastor emeritus. They were generally all relatively young men. When it came time for Communion, it seemed almost as if a small army of priests came out of the sacristy to assist in the distribution of Communion.

I remember one of the priests in particular, he was always after me. I spent lots of time alone with him. I'd visit in his room in the rectory. We'd go places together. I knew what he wanted... he wanted me... TO JOIN THE PRIESTHOOD! What a good and holy priest he is.

It would be nice if God gave the Church more vocations (and it would be nice if the vocations He gave the Church weren't thwarted by others). At every Knights of Columbus Council meeting, we close by praying for vocations.

However, narses, I'm not sure how that would help with the problem at hand. Do you think that priests are more careful in the distribution of Communion than are extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist? That hasn't been my experience.

sitetest

"It would be nice if God gave the Church more vocations"

God will, but it would help Him if the Church promoted Catholic Education. In my area the Church (flush with the "Spirit of Vatican II") GAVE all of it's schools to the public schools and told the people to stop "being different". The only Catholic K-12 schools here for many years were established years after that fact and run by the regular clergy as opposed to the diocese (and under very strained relations with the Ordinary). A few years ago, in opposition to the parish priests, the PARENTS organized a lay run "Catholic" school. No support comes from any of the local parishes, the parents do all the work themselves.

As for the current "crisis", clearly there are many places where the extraordinary ministers are necessary. There are also clearly places and times where they are not and they are misused.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.