I remember Dolours mentioning the horrid usage of the rubber gloves. I have not heard of it in US. Yes, it is certainly not canonical. (If that is the right word to use here). I would have been deeply upset, also. I cannot kneel most days, but I always manage to receive on the tongue. Thank God.
During covid I regularly wore the old type linen gloves to Mass with my dress. They were pretty and I figured they protected me from picking up germs through touch. When Father brought communion, he stopped and said "take your gloves off to receive" I was confused but did so and stuck out my tongue and received on my tongue as always. He smiled after and told me that was fine but he had thought I was going to put out my hands to receive and he could not put the Eucharist on top of gloves. I am in Wisconsin. I think especially with the amount of Eucharistic ministers now used that there needs to be much more training. Many have NO idea how to place the host on a tongue, and some just take aim and throw it in there! Some get so flustered trying that you end up trying to use your tongue to go get it, and some just refuse and look over at Father like they don't know what to do! I try to get my tongue well out, so that it is a nice wide area to put the host on. The devil doesn't want us to receive in this way, and he makes it a very awkward and embarrassing situation to make us want to give up. Do NOT be put off by him. Stand firm in your reverence at Mass and your witness outside of Mass.
Why do you receive from an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister? Are you housebound? At Mass, they are only supposed to be used, as the name implies, in extraordinary circumstances e.g. such a large number of communicants that the priest or priests cannot distribute in a reasonable time - which is almost never the case. The permission for their use specifies extraordinary circumstances which is widely ignored, indeed our priest occasionally just takes his seat and allows all the distribution to be done by two Extraordinary Ministers. I get in the priest's queue even if I am on the wrong side of the church. The priests know how it is done, even if they look a bit surprised or unenthusiastic sometimes.
I always think of St John Vianney He would be turning over in his grave at the way things have turned out
Yes I agree! I hate it and usually do try to get into the priest's line. However for about the last ten years I've been on crutches most of the time, and so using the handicap pews up front so I don't have to try to move through the pew and get in line and then also I can kneel while receiving as they bring it to us (11 ankle surgeries and both ankles fused). We have a huge parish, and regularly have at least 2 EMs other than father, and it still takes almost half an hour to distribute so am sure that is why Father has them.
I don't know if anyone remembers, but in the thick of the COVID shutdowns I heard a politician saying either the churches should NOT give out communion at all, or have it put in little paper "to go" cups for people to walk up and take off a table!! Thank God Pres Trump stepped in that summer and gave back our religious rights to gather and practice no matter what laws or shut downs were in place because of Covid!
Where I live in Australia I attend 3 different churches according to other commitments. I have learned where to sit so that you end up in the line being served by the priest. A number of people I know change lines to avoid the extraordinary minister, sometimes annoying or confusing others. In one church it is as if the priest switches unpredictably with the Eucharistic minister from the front to halfway down so you never know where to sit. I avoid that church. He also sits down when finished even if the EMU is still serving. I believe this is against set norms. He also uses help at a weekday mass with only 20 people present. Again, this is an 'abuse' as it is forlarge numbers only. Jesus says to Valentina, the Sydney seer, that he does not want women serving Communion or even on the Sanctuary. He says pride motivates many and this is evident in the last case where the woman's help is not needed. Our bishop now allows Communion on the tongue but, yes, it is a problem standing, especially if the priest is shorter than the communicant. Only a few take advantage of this. One or two kneel. It is clearly a mark of devotion Some priests seem almost unable to comply and their timidity may cause the Eucharist to fall unless the Communicant pushes it in. The head priest at a Pauline Fathers shrine on the Gold Coast installed altar rails over 6 years ago. People, coming from far and wide, free to receive as they wish, show a marked preference for Communion in the 'traditional' mode. After all, it was imposed on us. Finally, the present situation where almost everyone goes to Communion and very few go to confession and miss many a Sunday mass must be the cause of very many sacrilegious Communions! Heaven help us!
Tibbi, May our example of reverent Holy Communions and staying a few minutes to remain in thanksgiving be a good example. That is one thing I am unable to enjoy as a Deacon. Because of my responsibilities at the Altar, I can't spend time in thanksgiving until after the congregation has dispersed! It remains for us to generously let go of distractions and say our "thank you's" as best we can. May our "lingering" bear fruit for both us and others. God be praised!
That thanksgiving is Soooo important. You just recieved the Body (& Blood!) of christ! People race the priest for the back door or even keep walking out coming back from communion. The Lord said to Marie-Julie Jaahehhy [Sept 3, 1925] "Tell people to rest five minutes on My Heart throbbingwith love. Think only of Me by these simple words: "THANK YOU JESUS, MY BELOVED YOU LIVE IN ME AND I LIVE IN YOU" "You will see the sweetness you will taste and how you will give Me consolation. Ask Me in the fifth minute, for the conversion of a thousand sinners. It will be a great joy for My Divine Father, for Heaven.....I will be there inside you.....overflowing with joy at this request of graces and I will also grant it." I recall several years ago, the good bishop of Wagga Wagga, on holidays on the Gold Coast, joined in the Hail Holy Quees after mass with the congregation. He came out briefly to say hello, then retuned for private thanksgiving - no better teacher than example.
