Frequently Asked Questions

Q. May an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion go to the tabernacle? 

A. In the celebration of Mass, only a priest or deacon goes to the tabernacle (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 163; Ceremonial of Bishops, 165). 

Q. When an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is asked to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament or lead a service of Holy Communion outside of Mass, he/she may retrieve the Eucharist from the tabernacle (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, 91; 30). 

A. When bringing Holy Communion to the sick, a priest or other custodian of the key to the tabernacle should place the needed number of hosts in a pyx for the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, 10). 

Q. May an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion bring the Blessed Sacrament home and reserve it there for a time later that day or during the week when he or she will bring Holy Communion to another sick person? 

A. No. It is never permissible for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to bring the Blessed Sacrament home, except for the purpose of administering Holy Communion to the sick at that location. 

Q. What is the Eucharistic fast required for a sick person?  The Eucharistic fast for a sick person is fifteen minutes, if possible (lmmensae Caritatis, III).

A. If, this is not possible, no fast is required. The fast of fifteen minutes also applies to Roman Catholic family members and health attendants who are properly disposed and wish to receive Holy Communion with the person to whom the Eucharist is being brought. 

Q. Can the Precious Blood be reserved and given to a sick person? 

A. Yes. "Sick people who are unable to receive Communion under the form of bread may receive it under the form of wine alone. If the wine is consecrated at a Mass not celebrated in the presence of the sick person, the Precious Blood of the Lord is kept in a properly covered vessel and is placed in the tabernacle after Communion. The Precious Blood should be carried to the sick in a vessel which is closed in such a way as to eliminate all danger of spilling. If some of the Precious Blood remains, it should be consumed by the minister, who should also see to it that the vessel is properly purified." (Pastoral Care of the Sick, 74). 

Q. What is the proper procedure to follow when a sick person is unable to consume the host? 

A. If a sick person is unable to consume an entire small host, a smaller piece may be given to him/her. A glass of water may be provided to assist the sick person in consuming the host. If the host is rejected, it should be wrapped in a purificator, and brought to the church or chapel from which the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion was sent. There, a priest or deacon should dissolve the host in a small bowl of water. Once dissolved, this water should be poured into the sacrarium. 

Q. Who may purify the Communion vessels at Mass? 

A. The most recent legislation states that only priests, deacons, and instituted acolytes (e.g., seminarians and candidates for the permanent diaconate) may purify the Communion vessels (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 279). This may occur after the distribution of Holy Communion. Alternatively, vessels which need to be purified may be left on a corporal and covered, either on the altar or credence table, and then purified immediately after Mass (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 163). 

Q. May an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion consume any remaining Precious Blood at the conclusion of the distribution of Holy Communion? 

No. At Saint Joseph Church, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion may NOT directly consume any Precious Blood which remains at the conclusion of the distribution of Holy Communion.

Under no circumstances should remaining Precious Blood be poured into the sacrarium (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 107). The consumption of remaining Precious Blood should be done by the priest and/or deacon reverently, at the altar, but never while walking back to the sanctuary.

Q. Is it proper for the celebrant to give the host to an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion before his own Communion at Mass? 

No. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive Holy Communion after the celebrant has received the Eucharist. 

Q. Is it proper for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to approach the sanctuary during the Agnus Dei? 

It is the tradition here at Saint Joseph Church that the Extraordinary Ministery of Holy Communion approach the side of the altar immediately after the sign of peace. 

Q. Is it proper for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to go to the altar and give Communion to themselves? 

No. The Eucharist should always be ministered to, not picked up and received by individual communicants (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 160). 

Q. May an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion assist with the breaking of the Eucharistic host? 

No. The fraction of the Eucharistic host is performed by a priest, with the assistance of a priest or a deacon, when required (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 240). 

Q. What is the proper procedure to follow when a host is dropped or the Precious Blood is spilled? 

A. "If a host or any particle should fall, it is to be picked up reverently; and if any of the Precious Blood is spilled, the area where the spill occurred should be washed with water, and this water should then be poured into the sacrarium in the sacristy." (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 280). 

Q. May Holy Communion be given to someone who wishes to kneel? 

A. Yes. While the norm for the (arch)dioceses of the United States is that Holy Communion is received standing, an individual member of the faithful may receive Communion while kneeling (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 160; Redemptionis Sacramentum, 91). 

Q. Should an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion give a blessing to one who comes forward in the Communion procession, but who does not wish to receive the Eucharist? 

A. No. In this case, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion should direct the individual who wishes to receive a blessing to the nearest priest or deacon. In general, the practice of giving blessings in the course of distributing Holy Communion is discouraged (see Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Protocol No. 930/08/L). 

Q. May Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion sanitize their hands before and after the distribution of Holy Communion? 

A. It is not the tradition here at Saint Joseph Church to do this, however, it is desired that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion sanitize their hands prior to Mass.