First of all, there is no greater joy or privilege as a priest than sharing the sacrament with God's people. I love watching the whole community come up to the communion rail with outstretched hands. There are small hands still awash in colorful paint from the latest Sunday School project; arthritic, wrinkled hands; rough hands that have worked hard all week; lotion-smoothed hands adorned with rings; nondescript middle-aged hands that might have a paper cut from shuffling papers. But everyone is reaching out to receive the same thing: Jesus.
With this in mind, and I know this will come across as judgy to some, if you're a priest, for the love of God, please don't:
1. Say the person's name. This is not about you or your relationship with the communicant. This is a holy moment between the person receiving the eucharist and Jesus. You're merely a conduit, so get out of the way! Also, how do you think it makes the visitor at the rail feel when you say everyone's name but theirs? Excluded!
2. Touch or grasp the person's hand. Or shoulder. Or any part of their body. This is not some intimate moment between the priest and the communicant. This is an intimate moment between the person and Jesus. Just give them the sacrament and...get out of the way!
3. Slowly press the host into the person's hand while gazing deeply into their eyes. Again, it's not about you or your personal relationship with the person receiving communion. Plus, this is just creepy!
4. Change the words of administration. I've heard various things over the years from both priests and chalice bearers. Stick to the Prayer Book! There's a reason these particular words are said by the whole church. "Changing it up," is a distraction for the person receiving the sacrament. Save your innovation for the guitar mass that will surely bring in the youth.
5. Have a conversation. This isn't the time for chit chat or joking around. Seriously. Save it for coffee hour.
Remember, receiving the sacrament should be a moment of transformation. When we reach out our hearts as well as our hands to receive the living Christ, an astounding thing happens! Burdens are lifted, sins are forgiven, grace amazes, joy thrives, and peace abounds. Our role is simply to give space for that to happen, to allow God's grace and love to work in the hearts of all who reach out their hands to receive Jesus.
The holy mysteries of the Eucharist are both sufficient and life-giving. And thanks be to God for that.
4 comments:
I love what you have written. I am a lay Eucharistic Minister--have been for 35 years or so--and so often when I administer the chalice, I feel something holy happen. I see the pain and joy, the anguish and hopes that people bring to the altar rail, and I know what a privilege it is to be there with the chalice in my hand. Everything you said applies to the Eucharistic Ministers, too!
I'm so glad that you posted this. I'm just recently going back to church on a weekly basis. My home parish is not an option for me (rarely a priest, so mostly morning prayer, and average attendance is literally 6-8 people. )I found a church that is great, and I'm appreciative that the communion is not a social gathering like I've seen in other parishes. It's a joyful thing, and should be treated as such.
In the rite of ordination the phrase “Alter Christus” (“another Christ”) reminds us that Christ himself is present to his Church via his priests. Are you saying that if Christ himself were giving out communion he would say the name of the child of God before him and likewise the touch of the hand for a person the priest knows is struggling would also be Christlike.
Absolutely yes! It's an annoyance and a distraction to have someone say my name when giving me a host or a sip. I don't care that you remember my name!
As for the words of institution: the only variation I ever do is I sometimes add "This is..." to "The Body/Blood of Christ."
Post a Comment