Bill Cork has an excellent discussion of Eucharistic ministers and the nature of the Eucharist.
I served as an extraordinary Eucharistic minister for 6 years. Too long, in my opinion. I decided to resign last year because I could detect a sense of habit and routine setting in. This duty cannot be performed by habit or routine. I cannot take it for granted, so I needed to step back, even though there is a shortage of people to serve as EEM's. It's better not to do this duty than to do it poorly.
I look upon this duty as me simply serving as the extensions of the hands of the priest. He just didn't have enough hands to go around, and I am contributing my hands during a time of priestly shortage. Someday, the EEM will no longer be needed.
Even so, I was often overwhelmed by emotion after serving as an EEM. The faith of those who receive is radiant on their faces and my own poor faith is put to shame. Oh yes, there is the many casual recipients and many who I suspect do not have a clue or care about what they are doing. That is mostly not my call, but I do report any abuses, general lack of reverence or other problems to the priest.
I attempt to be "invisible" to the recipient. This is a meeting between the person and God. I just happen to be nearby. I try to be both reverent and unnoticed but will not hesitate to climb over pews to deliver the Body of Our Lord to an elderly or handicapped person who cannot go up to the altar.
The best aspect of EEM service for me was the time spent in our parish's Blessed Sacrament chapel. As many parishes do around here, the Tabernacle is not on the altar, but in a separate chapel. Ours is hushed, with soft indirect lighting. One light explodes around the back of the Tabernacle drawing you in. The tabernacle is plain, and there are about 10 simple kneelers in the chapel. One EEM is supposed to wait there whenever the tabernacle is open. When possible, I would take this tasks on, and would kneel untiuil the Tabernacle was closed after Communion.
Our Parish is named after a Franciscan saint who most famously served in South America
It is here that I find I can pray best and look deep into my heart. After Mass, a few reverent people come in kneel down and pray silently. I also usually retuen after Mass. We all are alone in our own ways and are careful not to disturb each other. The only sound I often hear is the sound of someone quietly crying. I add a prayer for that person's peace.
Often, when I hear that sound, I am the only one in the chapel.
+JMJ+
I habitually pick my pews carefully and sometimes jump lines (though I do try not to be obvious about it) in order to avoid receiving Communion from an Extraordinary Minister. I also look forward to the day when there will be enough priests to make Extraordinary Ministers unnecessary.
However, your post has made me rethink my views. How much better and holier it is to see an Extraordinary Minister as the extension of a priest's hands than as an unfortunate result of liberalism taking hold of the Church. My avoidance of them is more due to politics than to real reverence. The Eucharist is the Eucharist no matter who is laying it on my tongue.
Posted by: Enbrethiliel | May 03, 2006 at 12:57 AM
In my church I would advise any person how to loop around the back to come up the main aisle to recieve from the priest if they want to avoid EEM's.
In spite of the EEM stations , the line for the priest is still the longest--as it should be. Every person has the right to receive from the priest, even by walking past 5 EEM's if necessary.
What's interesting is that I, as EEM, do not personally care how people recieve. Some geneuflect, some kneeling, some on the tongue. I care not, I serve them all. They are in a state of grace at that moment.
Soemtimes when the line is really long, I am directed to stand next to the priest with my own Hosts so people can step out of the longer line.
I have no problems standing there while everyone recieves from the priest if that's what happens. I don't feel awkward at all. I try to be invisibly respectful.
Almost evereyone who recieves has a glow of faith on their face. I do not often feel that glow myself, which is why I am often emotionally overcome after serving.
But again, that is my personal private problem. In public, I am the extension of the hands of the priest.
Posted by: Unapolgetic Catholic | May 04, 2006 at 01:18 PM
I like your term "invisibly respectful". My parish has terms of 3 years, which I think is long enough. There's always the danger of the ministry becoming routine or ego-involved.
Posted by: Lynn | August 06, 2006 at 09:39 AM
someday I would love to be a Eucharistic Minister. I was received into theRoman Catholic Church this past Easter Vigil and am grateful for the turn my faith has taken :-) Great blog!
Posted by: scottf | July 17, 2007 at 06:11 PM
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Thank You,
David Wuletich
Posted by: David Wuletich | August 04, 2007 at 07:51 AM
Very interesting post. I thank you for this. I have just been invited to share in this ministry and I am feeling so humbled.
Posted by: Terri | January 19, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Hello and thank you for sharing this. I am a sacristan minister at St. Mary's and I feel that I want to stop doing it but don't know how to tell them. I think I am just going through a stage, feeling worthless and as if I do not matter somehow. I am trained for EEM to begin this in the fall, but I am a little nervous and afraid I will feel just as worthless. I liked being a member and not having to worry about the responsibility, but I just feel as though it was easier to perform my faith than to perform for the service. Maybe I just need to reaffirm myself and serve.
Posted by: Cheryl Myers | August 14, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I will also pray for peace for that person crying quietly in the chapel. Blessings and grace be upon them.
Posted by: Lisa S. | November 16, 2009 at 03:23 PM
I was asked to get information on EEMs by a Pastoral Nun in our diocese, who is preparing a guide for EEMs. This may not be guide book material but I have been trully touched by your post. I have often heard people from my Parish saying they do not want to receive the Body of Christ from so and so because of what they may heard. I have continuoulsy tried to makem realise that the efficacy of sacraments is not affected by the person. The grace comes directly from our Lord and we should be grateful for these people who volunteer to do such an enormous task. On the other hand familiarity breeds contempt and there should be a time limit as tho how long one may serve as an EEM. And yes, we seem to have similar issues all over the owrld to show that our church is trully catholic.
Posted by: African Catechist | October 18, 2010 at 02:20 AM
My husband and I became EEM's at vigil Mass this Easter Saturday. We would both like to reinforce the idea that EEM's provide extra hands for the priest. God willing there will be more vocations and the need for us in this role with cease. Until then, the Body of Christ continues to feed the Body of Christ. When asked to consider becoming EEM's both of us prayed and entered discussion with our parish priest, neither of us feeling worthy. This was a big decision and not made lightly. I had never touched the Eucharist with my hands before, so to agree to give it to others was momentous. Until the last few years I had always made a bee-line for the priest, not believing in what I considered unnecessary liberalisation within the Church. Having seen how hard our priests work as well as the reverence shown by EEM's in our parish I began to change. I still love to receive Communion from the priest, but being human he one pair of hands. The Eucharist remains what it is, regardless of who gives it. We thank God that we have two sons, one of whom looks like he could have a vocation. Despite the hectic pace of life, and 'wanting to get on' more sons need to enter the priesthood, so that future generations can continue to receive communion at all. I dread the day coming when the luxury of even weekly Mass is a distant memory. In the meantime we have to work together in our parishes. God bless all of you, and our prayers are with you, regardless from whom you seek to receive Communion.
Posted by: Mary | April 25, 2011 at 12:12 PM