Genuflecting Extraordinary Ministers

[festivaltrumpet]

And whatever method the EMHCs use in their approach to the presbyterium - please don't distract the faithful from the Fraction and the recognition of the Lord in the "breaking of bread".

Does the General Instruction not state that they should not 'approach the altar' before the celebrant has communicated?

Could one interpret this to mean 'enter the sanctuary/presbyterium' ?

[presbyter]

Does the General Instruction not state that they should not 'approach the altar' before the celebrant has communicated?

Ah - not got GIRM to hand. Not that I can think of anywhere that does this yet. Most places I know, they still seem to come up (unfortunately) during the Fraction.

[Nick Baty]

Most places I know, they still seem to come up (unfortunately) during the Fraction.

In our place they do come up before the Fraction specifically so they not distract the assembly from the rite. I'm only speaking from experience of one pastoral area in one diocese but this practice does seem to be the norm.

[mcb]

Does the General Instruction not state that they should not 'approach the altar' before the celebrant has communicated? Could one interpret this to mean 'enter the sanctuary/presbyterium' ?

GIRM makes a distinction between sanctuary and altar - cf para. 154 where the priest is instructed to remain within the sanctuary during the sign of peace. Para. 162 could have said should not enter the sanctuary, but instead says should not approach the altar, so perhaps there's a difference of intention?

[Southern Comfort]

And whatever method the EMHCs use in their approach to the presbyterium - please don't distract the faithful from the Fraction and the recognition of the Lord in the "breaking of bread".

Does the General Instruction not state that they should not 'approach the altar' before the celebrant has communicated?

Could one interpret this to mean 'enter the sanctuary/presbyterium' ?

I believe that national guidelines for Ministers of Communion which were in preparation at one stage (does anyone know if they are out now? They don't seem to be on the Liturgy Office website) stated that they should go to the sanctuary during or immediately after the Sign of Peace. I think the rationale for this was that they move when there's a lot of other movement going on in the building. Arriving after the presider has received is simply too late.

[Hare]

And whatever method the EMHCs use in their approach to the presbyterium - please don't distract the faithful from the Fraction and the recognition of the Lord in the "breaking of bread".

Does the General Instruction not state that they should not 'approach the altar' before the celebrant has communicated?

Could one interpret this to mean 'enter the sanctuary/presbyterium' ?

I believe that national guidelines for Ministers of Communion which were in preparation at one stage (does anyone know if they are out now? They don't seem to be on the Liturgy Office website) stated that they should go to the sanctuary during or immediately after the Sign of Peace. I think the rationale for this was that they move when there's a lot of other movement going on in the building. Arriving after the presider has received is simply too late.

Ours are instructed to go up during the Agnus Dei.

(Once, one of them had "switched off" during the EP and went up, grabbing her colleague on the way, during the memorial acclamation!)

[FrGareth]

In my parish, which has a centrally-located tabernacle east of the altar, the ministers come and stand at the appropriate side of the altar without bowing or genuflecting. They are not passing in front of the Blessed Sacrament at this point, merely approaching the altar on which the Sacrament is placed (and like the rest of the congregation, would have been kneeling, if able to do so, during the period when sacrament is confected).

They do join the entrance procession at the start of Mass and line up in front of the altar. When I genuflect, they all bow, then disperse to their own seats in the nave (no special places, wherever they normally sit).When they have finished their service at communion time, they do line up at the sanctuary step, bow together, and disperse back to their seats. This is the practice I have inherited from my predecessor, which is probably due to the age of many of the ministers.

Liturgically ideal? No. but...

If I require them all to genuflect, some won't be able to do so without pain.
If I require those who can to bow, there will be a disunified mixture of gestures.
If I forbid people who can't genuflect from being Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, I won't have many left to call on!

Bearing in mind the importance which GIRM #42 (2005 E&W edition: http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/GIRM.pdf) gives to unity of posture, and the guidance of the bishops in wanting the "action of walking solemnly in procession" to be the local sign of reverence to the Blessed Sacrament (Celebrating the Mass #210 http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/CTM.pdf), then (much as I would prefer the simplicity and reverence of both ministers and communicants genuflecting before receiving communion, or at least bowing GIRM Australia #160 prescribes: http://www.acbc.catholic.org.au/documents/200707031933.pdf) then under our current disciplines, the status quo seems to be the most reasonable option.

FrGareth

[presbyter]

Here's an extract from scholar Robert Taft:

For readers who do not have Taft in hard print, this is pretty good:

http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=2959