EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
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The Most Holy Eucharist is the most
august sacrament, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained,
offered and received, and by which the Church constantly lives and
grows.
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers serve the gathered Christian assembly by assisting with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ, so that all may be strengthened and nourished to carry on the work of Jesus in the world.
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers serve the gathered Christian assembly by assisting with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ, so that all may be strengthened and nourished to carry on the work of Jesus in the world.
Pope Paul VI described Eucharistic ministers thus:
The faithful who are special
ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of
Christian life, faith and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be
worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the
Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own
devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar.
Immensae caritatis, 1973.
Eucharistic Ministers assist in the
distribution of Communion at parish liturgies. They also bring
communion to the sick, homebound, and hospitalized.
Special Ministers of the Eucharist
should in every way demonstrate by their reverence for the Eucharist
that they truly believe that this is not just bread and wine, but the
very Body and Blood of the Risen Lord. Their manner of dress, their
respectful silence, their grace-filled movement, and their care with
the Sacred Species are observed by all the people and by the Lord. One
should not accept this kind of responsibility unless he or she is
willing to carry it out with deep faith and a deep and awesome sense of
God's presence.