Distribution of Holy Communion -- Ministers
By Father Robert M. O'Grady OpinionThe entire assembly or congregation gathered for Mass includes all the ministers for the Mass. The entire assembly carries out some parts of the Mass. Almost all of those parts that are to be sung are joined by all of us gathered. Some parts are entrusted to various ministers: the choir and leader of song supporting the assembly; the readers, selected, trained, and commissioned, proclaim the scriptural readings before the Gospel; the deacon proclaims the Gospel, the priest ordinarily gives the homily. A procession from among the assembly brings the gifts -- only those who bring the gifts are in this procession. With the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer, all sing the "Holy, Holy, Holy," the priest alone proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer, with the responses called the Memorial Acclamation and the Great Amen being sung by the assembly but not the priest. The Communion Rite involves, as we have seen in the past few weeks, many moving parts -- the whole assembly sings the parts assigned; the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and the extraordinary ministers of communion distribute the Body and Blood of Christ (only hosts and wine consecrated at the Mass) to the members of the assembly who will receive. Only those who will receive come in the procession.
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