The universal norms
governing the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
(EMC) are given in two documents:
General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)
Redemptionis sacramentum (RS)
In addition, for Communion under Both Species, U.S.
particular law, approved by Rome, is given in:
Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy
Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the
United States of America (NDBK)
Fraction of the Wine
The wine should be poured into chalices at the
offertory, not at the fraction (during the Agnus Dei).
RS 105. If one chalice is not sufficient for
Communion to be distributed under both kinds to the
Priest concelebrants or Christ’s faithful, there is
no reason why the Priest celebrant should not use
several chalices. For it is to be remembered that
all Priests in celebrating Holy Mass are bound to
receive Communion under both kinds. It is
praiseworthy, by reason of the sign value, to use a
main chalice of larger dimensions, together with
smaller chalices.
106. However, the pouring of the Blood of Christ
after the consecration from one vessel to another is
completely to be avoided, lest anything should
happen that would be to the detriment of so great a
mystery. Never to be used for containing the Blood
of the Lord are flagons, bowls, or other vessels
that are not fully in accord with the established
norms.
Use of EMCs
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be used
when the number of Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
(bishops, priests and deacons) is inadequate.
GIRM 162. The priest may be assisted in the
distribution of Communion by other priests who
happen to be present. If such priests are not
present and there is a very large number of
communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary
ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted
acolytes or even other faithful who have been
deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the
priest may depute suitable faithful for this single
occasion.
RS 88 Only when there is a necessity may
extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant
in accordance with the norm of law.
EMCs Coming Forward
The Extraordinary Ministers should not come forward
until the main celebrant has received both Species, which
marks the end of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
GIRM 162 (cont.) ... These ministers should not
approach the altar before the priest has received
Communion, and they are always to receive from the
hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing
either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for
distribution to the faithful.
Retrieving and Reposing the Sacrament
Since retrieving the Sacrament before Communion and
reposing It after Communion is the task of the Ordinary
Minister (bishop, priest or deacon), it would fall to him
unless impeded, as in the case of infirmity or some other
necessity, or to other Ordinary Ministers (concelebrants
and deacons), before it would be legitimate for EMCs to
do it.
GIRM 163. When the distribution of Communion is
finished, the priest himself immediately and
completely consumes at the altar any consecrated
wine that happens to remain; as for any consecrated
hosts that are left, he either consumes
them at the altar or carries them to the place
designated for the reservation of the Eucharist.
Consecrating Wine for the Faithful
Only that wine should be consecrated which can
reasonably be consumed AND safely distributed.
RS 102. The chalice should not be ministered to
lay members of Christ’s faithful where there is such
a large number of communicants that it is difficult
to gauge the amount of wine for the Eucharist and
there is a danger that “more than a reasonable
quantity of the Blood of Christ remain to be
consumed at the end of the celebration”. The same is
true wherever access to the chalice would be
difficult to arrange, or where such a large amount
of wine would be required that its certain
provenance and quality could only be known with
difficulty, or wherever there is not an adequate
number of sacred ministers or extraordinary
ministers of Holy Communion with proper formation,
or where a notable part of the people continues to
prefer not to approach the chalice for various
reasons, so that the sign of unity would in some
sense be negated.
Disposing of the Precious Blood
The Precious Blood must be consumed, it may not, under
any circumstances, be poured down any sink or drain, even
the special one in the sacristy (sacrarium). Only
wash water, which although it may have come into contact
with the Sacred Species has so diluted It that the
Presence of Christ no longer remains, may be disposed of
in the sacrarium. To do otherwise is to risk
excommunication.
RS 107. In accordance with what is laid down by
the canons, “one who throws away the consecrated
species or takes them away or keeps them for a
sacrilegious purpose, incurs a latae sententiae
excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; a
cleric, moreover, may be punished by another
penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical
state”. To be regarded as pertaining to this case is
any action that is voluntarily and gravely
disrespectful of the sacred species. Anyone,
therefore, who acts contrary to these norms, for
example casting the sacred species into the
sacrarium or in an unworthy place or on the ground,
incurs the penalties laid down.
Consuming the Precious Blood which Remains
Since the Precious Blood may not be reserved (except
in a small amount needed for an actual case of Communion
for a sick person who cannot receive the Host), it must
be consumed. The priest may engage others in Its
consumption, whether concelebrants, deacons or EMCs.
RS 107 (cont.) ... Furthermore all will remember
that once the distribution of Holy Communion during
the celebration of Mass has been completed, the
prescriptions of the Roman Missal are to be
observed, and in particular, whatever may remains of
the Blood of Christ must be entirely and immediately
consumed by the Priest or by another minister,
according to the norms, while the consecrated hosts
that are left are to be consumed by the Priest at
the altar or carried to the place for the
reservation of the Eucharist.
US Norms for Two Kinds 52. When more of the
Precious Blood remains than was necessary for
Communion, and if not consumed by the bishop or
priest celebrant, "the deacon immediately and
reverently consumes at the altar all of the Blood of
Christ which remains; he may be assisted, if needs
dictate, by other deacons and priests." When there
are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, they
may consume what remains of the Precious Blood from
their chalice of distribution with permission of the
diocesan bishop.
By the law of necessity, the priest may even engage
other faithful for this purpose, if the quantity is truly
great, as it may NEVER be reserved, except in a special
vial to be used for a sick person who cannot receive the
Host.
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