tincturing of host

[claricita]

I attended mass today and when I went to receive communion like most times I went up and tinctured the consecrated host. the minister of Eucharist did not say the words, " THE BLOOD OF CHRIST" nor did she facilitate my action of tincturing. Tincturing may be liturgically incorrect, but I believe the Eucharistic minister was passing judgement on me and acting like a Pharisees. what would Jesus have done? Well I believe He would have welcomed me, even though I was making a mistake.
I felt very angry and upset.

[TheDoctor]

Hello. By "tinctured" I presume that you mean you took your host and dipped it into the cup of Precious Blood the Extraordinary Minister was holding?

If that is the case, I am 99-44/100% sure you cannot, under any circumstances do this and it is an abuse to do so. (Someone please correct me if I am mistaken) If this is the case, the EMHC should not have said "The Blood of Christ" because they were not giving it to you, nor should they in any way have facilitated your tincturing. In fact, they should have tried to prevent it.

You are free to feel any way you want, but I don't think the EMHC was passing judgement on you. What would Jesus have done? Probably told you gently and firmly to follow the rules that His Church has decreed.

I would lovingly suggest you let it go and never do this again.

[Rolltide]

The reason that self-tincturing is considered an abuse is because there is a grave danger that drops of the Precious Blood could drop onto the floor, causing a tremendous sacrilege. It is incredibly difficult to properly remove drops of the Precious Blood containing the Real Presence from carpet, and in any case, it would certainly be inappropriate to even have the situation arise. Since sacrilege could be a grave sin (although in this case it would not be since your actions were not intentional), the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion was simply trying to protect you, the church, and Jesus from a possible desecration.

Intinction may only be performed by a priest, and is usually done by dipping the Host into the Precious Blood with a golden spoon. The Host is then carefully dropped onto the tongue. It is quite common in the Eastern Catholic Churches.

[TheDoctor]

FYI, the following is from "Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America", US Conference of Catholic Bishops at http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml

49. Holy Communion may be distributed by intinction in the following manner: "the communicant, while holding the paten under the chin, approaches the priest who holds the vessel with the hosts and at whose side stands the minister holding the chalice. The priest takes the host, intincts the particle into the chalice and, showing it, says: 'The Body and Blood of Christ.' The communicant responds, 'Amen,' and receives the Sacrament on the tongue from the priest. Afterwards, the communicant returns to his or her place." (53)

50. The communicant, including the extraordinary minister, is never allowed to self-communicate, even by means of intinction. Communion under either form, bread or wine, must always be given by an ordinary or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

[puzzleannie]

if OP is referring to self-intinction it is forbidden and the EMHC would have been remiss in her duties had she not stopped OP from doing it. Respect for the Eucharist is foremost. The EMHC was not being judgemental unless she said "you will burn in hell if you do that".

[Br. Rich SFO]

Originally Posted by claricita

I attended mass today and when I went to receive communion like most times I went up and tinctured the consecrated host. the minister of Eucharist did not say the words, " THE BLOOD OF CHRIST" nor did she facilitate my action of tincturing. Tincturing may be liturgically incorrect, but I believe the Eucharistic minister was passing judgement on me and acting like a Pharisees. what would Jesus have done? Well I believe He would have welcomed me, even though I was making a mistake.
I felt very angry and upset.

You are not making a mistake and self-intinction is not liturgically incorrect.

You are intentionally violating liturgical law and doing something that is forbidden. Stop attempting to do this immediately, before you cause a major accident to happen.

[THurifer2]

Originally Posted by claricita

I attended mass today and when I went to receive communion like most times I went up and tinctured the consecrated host. the minister of Eucharist did not say the words, " THE BLOOD OF CHRIST" nor did she facilitate my action of tincturing. Tincturing may be liturgically incorrect, but I believe the Eucharistic minister was passing judgement on me and acting like a Pharisees. what would Jesus have done? Well I believe He would have welcomed me, even though I was making a mistake.
I felt very angry and upset.

First off where did you learn this liturgically incorrect practice and WHY did you do it. Secondly INtinction the communicant cannot intinct themselves. The host must be placed on your tongue by the EMHC or priest. In my parish we put our hand over the chalice and "block" the dunk so to speak if a person insists then the EMHC takes the host and intincts then places the host on the individuals tonge...any other way is forbidden.

[lizaanne]

Originally Posted by THurifer2

... the EMHC takes the host and intincts then places the host on the individuals tonge...any other way is forbidden.

If I'm not mistaken, this is forbidden as well. ONLY a priest or deacon may use intincture. Period.

~Liza

[stbruno]

We instruct our extraordinary eucharistic ministers to cover the cup if someone moves to intinct. Sometimes it happens so quickly that you are not even prepared for the action. More catechesis needs to follow however so the communicant knows that should never happen.

[lizaanne]

Another reason I'm so very blessed to attend a parish where ONLY the priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion - by intincture.

~Liza

[mschrank]

Is this a joke post?

Why would someone want to do that?

[rpp]

Originally Posted by claricita

I attended mass today and when I went to receive communion like most times I went up and tinctured the consecrated host. the minister of Eucharist did not say the words, " THE BLOOD OF CHRIST" nor did she facilitate my action of tincturing. Tincturing may be liturgically incorrect, but I believe the Eucharistic minister was passing judgement on me and acting like a Pharisees. what would Jesus have done? Well I believe He would have welcomed me, even though I was making a mistake.
I felt very angry and upset.

If you are looking for sympathy here, I do not think you will find it.

Self-tincturing is a reprobated activity, that is to say it is never permitted. It is a very grave abuse of the Body and Blood of Christ. As such, engaging in such activity means you commit a grave sin each time you do it. That you know it is wrong makes it even more serious.

The Eucharistic Minister was not passing judgment on you, rather they were trying to prevent you from committing a very grave sacrilege.

It is time for you to be humble. First, go to confession and get forgiveness for profaning the Holy Eucharist before you receive Holy Communion again.

Next change your behavior. Stop carrying the Host; consume it immediately after receiving it. Consider receiving on your tongue instead of your hands. Never put anything into the Precious Blood, even if it is a Host.

The guidance that the Church gives us on these matters is very important. Deviating from what the Church teaches is a very serious matter.

You asked "What would Jesus do?" He would not want you to treat His Body and Blood so casually. He would humbly follow canon law and not violate established liturgical rubrics. Jesus was not a lawbreaker.

[Br. Rich SFO]

Originally Posted by THurifer2

First off where did you learn this liturgically incorrect practice and WHY did you do it. Secondly INtinction the communicant cannot intinct themselves. The host must be placed on your tongue by the EMHC or priest. In my parish we put our hand over the chalice and "block" the dunk so to speak if a person insists then the EMHC takes the host and intincts then places the host on the individuals tonge...any other way is forbidden.

The way you describe is also forbidden. Only a priest may offer Communion by Intinction., an EMHC may not.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by claricita

I. what would Jesus have done?

Well, why don't we look at what Jesus Himself said.

Matthew 23:1-3

1hen Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

So why do you put yourself over Christ's own command? Especially when we are now in a much better position that the early disciples. We have a leader in +Benedict who DOES practice what he preaches.

I felt very angry and upset.

Try being humble and obedient, THAT is what Christ asks.

[TheDoctor]

Originally Posted by mschrank

Is this a joke post?
Why would someone want to do that?

I would guess under the misguided assumption that they are getting "more Jesus" by dipping the Host.

Hey folks - I think the responses are getting a little stern. Can we give the OP the benefit of the doubt here? Maybe they were never taught the correct thing to do or lovingly corrected (we've all made mistakes, right?) when they erred. Maybe they were corrected but there is an emotional issue that they are struggling with (how many EMHC have been compared to Pharisees?).

Maybe Jesus sent them here in anger to be educated in love.