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References for Extraordinary Ministers of Communion in the General Roman Missal 2000
Excerpts from An English Language Study Translation of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani Prepared by the NCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy, ©2000. All rights reserved.

Questions should be directed to the Office for Worship, 603.669.3100, ext. 132

General Considerations

As a member of the assembly, celebrate the liturgy with understanding, deep faith, and enthusiasm.

Understand and follow good Catholic liturgical practice concerning the ministry of Communion (i.e., according to the Order of Mass; see also the Guidelines for the Diocese of Manchester).

Remember the human fact of your ministry and maintain the spirit of graciousness, hospitality, and dignity.

Preparation for Communion

Come to the altar and reverently (determined by the practice in your parish). If not already near the sanctuary, it may be necessary to approach quietly during the Lamb of God. However, do not go to the altar to stand in the manner of a deacon or concelebrating priest.

Who will bring the Hosts from tabernacle? Ideally? No one! This practice is to be discouraged whenever it is possible. The people should receive communion from the gifts of the eucharistic sacrifice itself. But if it occurs, there should be a protocol for bringing the Eucharist from the tabernacle, bringing the vessel to the altar, removing lid, if any—all this before “This is the Lamb of God…” The new GIRM stipulates that the Eucharist should be brought from the tabernacle by a deacon or the priest. The deacon or priest also reposes the Blessed Sacrament after Holy Communion.

Maintain appropriate posture, if possible, kneeling, when appropriate, with the other members of the assembly and attention during the invitation to Communion (“This is the Lamb of God…). This is determined by local parish practice.

Reception of Communion by the Ministers

Receive Communion in an exemplary way, usually under both kinds.

Reverently accept the Communion vessel from the priest or deacon for distribution.

Eucharistic ministers do not take the vessels from the altar themselves. Rather, they receive them graciously from the priest or deacon.

Distribution of Communion

Be deliberate, focused, and unhurried in taking the paten or chalice to the Communion station.

When offering the consecrated Host:

• Reverently hold the paten (show care for the sacred elements).
• Allow the communicant to come to stand before you and make a bow of the
  head in reverence to the Lord.
• Hold the particle of the Body of Christ, raising it slightly and showing it to the
  communicant saying only “the Body of Christ.”
• Show care for these words (addressed to each person, not mumbled, not
  shouted).
• Show care for the gesture (not grandiose or indifferent).
• Show care for the communicant (young, old, various abilities, confused).
• Be skillful and gracious in giving the Eucharistic bread:
  • in the hand / in the mouth;
  • tall people/ short people/ person carrying child;
  • although it is not a preferred or recommended manner of receiving Holy Communion, do not demonstrate anger or annoyance for those who insist upon genuflecting or kneeling for Holy Communion.

When sharing the chalice containing the Precious Blood:

• Gracefully hold the chalice and purificator.
• Allow the communicant to come to stand before you and make the bow of the head to honor the Lord.
• Present the chalice with the words “the Blood of Christ”
• Let communicant take the chalice and be willing to help the unsure or the young.
• Accept the chalice back wiping it well—inside and out—but without display, turning the chalice and using different areas of the cloth for wiping.
• Refill paten or chalice if necessary during the rite.
• Graciously leave the Communion station if your vessel is empty and there is to be no refilling.

Completion of Communion Rite

Ministers of the chalice:

• Return to the altar or side table.
• The priest and/or deacon consume what remains (with extraordinary ministers assisting, when necessary). This is not to be done at the communion station, nor while walking, but at the altar or side table where the minister stands reverently. Don’t “gulp” what remains.
• Consecrated wine is not to be reserved in the tabernacle (unless it is the form of Communion soon to be taken to someone who is ill). In addition, the Blood of the Lord is never to be poured into a drain—not even in the sacrarium; it must be consumed.
• Cover the chalices with a white cloth for cleansing later (unless they are cleansed right away). Do not stuff the purificator in the chalice.

Ministers of the consecrated Host:

• Return to altar where any remaining fragments are consumed by the priest or deacon or are gathered in a vessel to be taken to the tabernacle.
• Protocol at the tabernacle: the deacon or priests places the vessel inside, all genuflect after the deacon or priest closes the door, leave the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
• Empty patens are taken to side table for cleansing (usually after Mass).
• If particles adhere to fingers, they are rubbed over the paten or, if necessary, washed.
  Communion ministers return to their places.

In case of mishap:

• Remain calm;
• Be gracious to the communicant;
• If a particle falls, pick it up. It may be consumed or dissolved in water and poured into the sacrarium;
• If the Precious Blood is spilled, cover the spot, if possible with a cloth. Move so that the spot will not be in a traffic pattern. After Mass, the area is to be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium.

Purification of Sacred Vessels after Holy Communion

1. The General Instruction makes no provision for laypersons to assist in the preparation and purification of sacred vessels at Mass.
2. Several years ago, the Holy See did grant permission to the dioceses of the United States to engage laypersons (sacristans and Eucharistic Ministers) to assist the priest in the purification of sacred vessels at Mass. When the renewal of this permission was sought in 2006, it was not granted.
3. Note that there is a distinction between “purifying” sacred vessels and “cleaning” them.
   1. Purification of sacred vessels includes putting some water in the sacred vessels and then consuming the remains of the consecrated bread or wine. This action belongs to the ministry of the bishop, priest and deacon.
   2. The “cleaning” of sacred vessels, including washing the vessels after being purified may be done by a deacon or priest and also by a layperson designated by the pastor to do so.

The following practices are to be observed in all celebrations of the Mass in the Diocese of Manchester.

1. Following the distribution of the Precious Blood, the Eucharistic Ministers consume what remains in their cups at the credence table, or, if necessary at the altar.
2. The priest or deacon then purifies the sacred vessels either at the credence table or altar, using the appropriate prayer associated with this purification. ¹ For a large number of sacred vessels, it may be advisable to wait until after Mass to do this. (GIRM, #183).
3. If the sacred vessels are to be purified after Mass, they are brought to the credence table and suitably covered with a clean cloth. After Mass, the sacred vessels are taken to the sacristy where they are purified by the priest or the deacon. Following the purification of the sacred vessels, they are then cleaned by the sacristan or designated layperson.
   Note: When sacred vessels are purified, the deacon or priest may purify by pouring water into the first cup, swirling the water around in the customary manner, and then pouring it into the next cup, and then into the next, etc. After he has done so with the last cup to be purified, he consumes the ablution. The vessels are then set aside to be cleansed.
4. As part of the ongoing formation of Eucharistic Ministers and sacristans, these Directives along with the rationale for making the change from current practice, should be made known and explained to them by the pastor of the parish or the person responsible for the formation of Eucharistic Ministers, at an opportune time no later than Sunday March 4, 2007, the effective date of this Policy .

¹ Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me strength and healing, now and forever.