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Who is really the "extraordinary minister" of the Eucharist?

"Only consecrated hands shall give and bring My Son to the peoples of earth, legally ordained and given the Holy Spirit—the clergy chosen by the Father to bring His Son to you! Unclean hands shall not touch My Son’s Body! You must not allow My Son to be defiled any longer. No children shall carry My Son’s Body in the hands! Know, My child, that only one exception can be made: when a legally ordained priest is unable to reach the dying, he will send his deacon* to bring My Son to him. But only in severe trial and need, I say! Only to the dying. All others, My child, will be given the needed grace if they pray." - Our Lady, December 31, 1974

* Deacon: it is understood here in the traditional sense: a celibate man soon to be ordained a priest.

Msgr. William Smith, renowned theologian and seminary professor, stated that a change in language often precedes a revolution, that a verbal revolution precedes a social revolution, or a theological / liturgical revolution.  

Such a change in meaning occurred with the term "extraordinary minister" of the Eucharist.  

The priest has always been the ordinary minister of the Eucharist. This is a tradition dating back to the Apostles, and taught by the Council of Trent. It is not a discipline, such as the Eucharistic fast law. The privilege and right to distribute Holy Communion is intimately bound to the sacrament of holy orders. 

No laymen or women was ever the extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist, according to Catholic doctrine. The reason: lack of ordination, lack of holy orders (an impossibility to women). 

Following are a few sources explaining the age-old doctrine, that a priest alone is the ordinary minister of the Eucharist. In cases of necessity (with permission), the transitional deacon (soon to be ordained a priest) was permitted to give Holy Communion to the dying. But the deacon was only the extraordinary minister. 

Let us see what traditional Catholic theology books and other sources taught on this subject. 

Sacramental theology book (1963) 

"Extraordinary [minister].

"a)        By ordination a deacon is the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion but only with permission of the local Ordinary or of the pastor granted by either for a serious reason, but this permission may be presumed in a case of need. Apart from necessity a deacon would not be justified in acting without permission. Examples of need are Viaticum for a sick person, the large number of communicants and the insufficiency of priests, etc. The required permission can be granted by the rector a church, seminary rector, religious superior. Even with priests present a deacon may transfer the Blessed Sacrament from one altar to another.
"b)       The deacon in administering Holy Communion observes the ceremonies as prescribed for a priest. He wears the stole in the fashion of a deacon and unless a priest also distributes at the same time he gives his blessing with his hand at the end of the ceremony as prescribed.  Unlike inferior clerics the deacon, although sinning gravely, does not incur an irregularity if he acts without permission." (Nicholas Halligan, O.P., The Administration of the Sacraments, copyright 1963 by the Society of St. Paul, p. 108. Imprimatur: Richard Cardinal Cushing, November 7, 1962) 

Let this sink in. 

The Church teaching in 1962-63 was that a transitional deacon would sin gravely (commit a mortal sin) if he distributed Holy Communion without permission. If this was merely a light matter, a penalty of mortal sin would not be attached. 

So if even a transitional deacon would be guilty of serious sin (mortal sin) for giving Holy Communion without permission, what of all the laymen and lay women giving out Holy Communion today? 

By what authority can anyone change a doctrine of the Church? 

Moral theology book (1930) 

"The minister of Communion--(a) Qualifications.-- The ordinary minister of Communion is the priest, the extraordinary minister a deacon." (Moral Theology: A Concise Course, "The Sacrament of the Eucharist," #2703, John A. McHugh, O.P. and Charles J. Callan, O.P., p. 661. Copyright 1930. Imprimatur: Patrick Cardinal Hayes, D.D., November 7, 1930)

1917 Code of Canon Law 

Canon 845, par. 1. “The ordinary minister of holy communion is only the priest.”  

Canon 845. par. 2. “The extraordinary minister of holy communion is the deacon, with permission of the local bishop or the parish priest, only to be granted for a serious reason, which may legitimately be presumed in a case of emergency.”

Summa Theologica (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

Regarding transitional deacons distributing Holy Communion: 

"The deacon, as being nigh to the priestly order, has a certain share in the latter's duties, so that he may dispense the blood; but not the body, except in case of necessity, at the bidding of a bishop or of a priest." (Summa Theologica, Part III, St. Thomas Aquinas, Question 82: The minister of this sacrament, Art. 3: "Does it belong to the priest alone to dispense this sacrament?", Reply Obj. 1) 

Regarding laymen and women distributing Holy Communion: 

"On the contrary, It is written (De Consecr., dist. 12): 'It has come to our knowledge that some priests deliver the Lord's body to a layman or to a woman to carry it to the sick: The synod therefore forbids such presumption to continue; and let the priest himself communicate the sick.'" (Summa Theologica, Part III, St. Thomas Aquinas, Question 82: The minister of this sacrament, Art. 3: "Does it belong to the priest alone to dispense this sacrament?", On the Contrary) 

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Only priests to administer Holy Communion: 

"To omit nothing doctrinal on this Sacrament, we now come to speak of its minister, a point, however, on which scarcely anyone can be ignorant. It must be taught, then, that to priests alone has been given power to consecrate and administer to the faithful, the Holy Eucharist. That this has been the unvarying practice of the Church, that the faithful should receive the Sacrament from the priests, and that the officiating priests should communicate themselves, has been explained by the holy Council of Trent, which has also shown that this practice, as having proceeded from Apostolic tradition, is to be religiously retained, particularly as Christ the Lord has left us an illustrious example thereof, having consecrated His own most sacred body, and given it to the Apostles with His own hands. 

The laity prohibited to touch the sacred vessels: 

"To safeguard in every possible way the dignity of so august a Sacrament, not only is the power of its administration entrusted exclusively to priests, but the Church has also prohibited by law any but consecrated persons, unless some case of great necessity intervene, to dare handle or touch the sacred vessels, the linen, or other instruments necessary to its completion.
     "Priests themselves and the rest of the faithful may hence understand how great should be the piety and holiness of those who approach to consecrate, administer or receive the Eucharist." (The Catechism of the Council of Trent, "The Minister of the Eucharist," Tan Books, pp. 253-254) 

St. Francis of Assisi, (1215) 

"We should visit churches often and show great respect for the clergy, not just for them personally, for they may be sinners, but because of their high office, for it is they who administer the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. They offer It in sacrifice at the altar, and it is they who receive It and administer It to others. We should realize, too, that no one can be saved except by the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy words of God, and it is the clergy who tell us his words and administer the Blessed Sacrament, and they alone have a right to do it, and no one else." (Letter to All the Faithful, 1215, St. Francis of Assisi) 

Pope St. John Paul II 

"To touch the sacred species, and to distribute them with their own hands, is a privilege of the ordained, one which indicates an active participation in the ministry of the Eucharist.” (Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Dominicae Cenae, February 24, 1980) 

When a non-priest touched the Ark of the Covenant 

Everything in Holy Scripture is there for our benefit and enlightenment. In the Bible it is recorded that only the Levite priests were allowed to carry the Ark of the Covenant: “No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever” (1 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Paralipomenon 15:2 in Douay-Rheims Bible). 

There is a dramatic event in 1 Chronicles, showing that God would only allow the priests to touch the "Holy of Holies," the Ark of the Convenant. When a non-Levite touched the Ark of the Covenant, he was struck dead:  

“And when they came to the floor of Chidon, Oza put forth his hand, to hold up the ark: for the ox being wanton had made it lean a little on one side. And the Lord was angry with Oza, and struck him, because he had touched the ark; and he died there before the Lord” (1 Chronicles 13:9-10; 1 Paralipomenon 13:9-10 in Douay-Rheims Bible). 

Do you really think it does not matter who touches and administers the true "Holy of Holies," Jesus Himself in the Holy Eucharist? 

Doctrine cannot change 

Dietrich von Hildebrand, called a 20th Century "Doctor of the Church" by Pope St. John Paul II, helps clarify a very necessary distinction: doctrine is either true or false; human law (which includes Church law, canon law) is either prudent or imprudent. Catholic doctrine is infallible true. Human law, however, is not infallible; canon law is not infallible. 

Something is not true because canon law says so; canon law serves Divine law, the Commandments and Church doctrine, not the reverse. So if the new code of canon law (1983) changes the definition of the minister of the Eucharist, does the doctrine change? Of course not. Truth is truth. It does not change for any person on earth. Catholic doctrine is a rock that will endure and remain eternally unaltered, no many how many heretics and liberal Catholics dash themselves against this rock of truth. 

We are certainly free to humbly pray for the reversal of some very imprudent, bad human laws in the 1983 code of canon law. And this author would add, deceptive laws that have sought to put new meaning on terms that for centuries have meant something entirely different. 

As one holy priest told me, "This schizophrenic attitude in the Church has got to stop." 

Our Lady of the Roses' theology is flawless. She explains simply and perfectly that the priest is the ordinary minister and the deacon the extraordinary minister, that we are to receive Holy Communion only from the hands of a priest. It is not Our Lady who is misleading her Catholic children. Rather, it is the many priests and bishops who are the heretics and false prophets, misleading their flocks with lies and half-truths. 

"Pastors, no hands other than those consecrated by a legally-ordained priest shall give the Host to others. Better that you spend more time consummating your role as the representative of Christ than joining the world. The extraordinary [Eucharistic] ministers have become a farce! Women? Children? Whatever shall become of you? The rules of discipline in the houses of My Son have already been given to you. 
     "Only legally-ordained representatives of My Son—they receive the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit deems that they shall bring the Host to the man and the woman recipient and the children!" - Our Lady, August 21, 1975

Directives from Heaven

Articles

The consecrated hands of a priest
ConsecratedHands.htm

Bishop Laise speaks out against Communion in the hand
BishopLaise.htm 

Modernist and Protestant revolutionaries were behind Communion in the hand
CommunionInTheHand.htm 

Fr. John Hardon speaks out against Communion in the hand
Hardon.htm 

VIDEO: Bishop Athanasius Schneider on Communion in the Hand
BishopSchneiderOnCommunionInTheHand.htm

Communion in the hand should be rejected
VonHildebrand.htm 

Re-thinking Communion in the hand
cih.htm 

More reasons for rejecting Communion in the hand
cih2.htm 

Communion in the Hand: Documents and History (Bishop Juan Rodolfo Laise)
BishopLaiseBook.htm

 

Links

Pope Benedict discourages Communion in the hand
http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/2008/05/pope-benedict-discourages-communion-in.html

Pope Benedict to Catholics: Kneel For Communion
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090801065749zzzz.nb/topstory.html

VIDEO: Pope continues to support Kneeling to receive Holy Communion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3zHpo3gtN0

VIDEO: New Vatican protocol for receiving Communion at Papal Masses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeiE-lznSYE

Vatican official: Church should reconsider Communion in the hand
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0800606.htm

Regarding Communion in the Hand, Fr. Greg Markey
http://hughofcluny.blogspot.com/2008/12/regarding-communion-in-hand.html

Receptivity Fitting For The Lord, Fr. Roger J. Landry
http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/landry/00663.html

 

 

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Revised: July 28, 2017