Ask a Question - or - Return to the Liturgy Forum Index

Question Title Posted By Question Date
Communion Service without Mass Patricia Saturday, July 14, 2007

Question:

When a Priest is unavailble to celebrate Mass who, the Deacon, Nun, or lay person, is authorized under Church Law to distribute Communion using the reserved consecrated Hosts in the Tabernacle. And, to what extent should there be some semblance of a Catholic Religious Prayer Service prior to the distribution of Communion.

If possible, could you furnish me with the documentation that I may use in defense of Church Teaching if necessary that I will need to do so.

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Patricia,

The instruction you are looking for is Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass.  There is a portion of it here in our liturgical library, but I was unable to find the complete text including the actual rite on-line.  It'll be in any Catholic bookstore or supplier that carries liturgical texts.

For Sundays, there is another rite, Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest.

To answer your specific question, YES there should appear to be a Catholic religious service WITH the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word.  These "communion services" are indeed Catholic liturgical prayer.

I own a hard copy of the document, so let me know if I can answer any other specific questions.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.