If this is not the teaching of the Church, then it is merely a matter of discipline, not doctrine. This discipline was unfortunately permitted after the Second Vatican Council. It was entirely unnecessary and contradicted the entire tradition of the Church. Never in the Church's two-thousand-year history, whether in the East or the West, have laypeople been permitted to distribute Holy Communion during Mass. We must abolish this practice. It should not continue, because whenever a priest is celebrating the Holy Mass, it is not a grave necessity for laypeople to assist in distributing Holy Communion. Even if the celebration could be prolonged, we cannot justify it. We must give time to the Lord. The Holy Mass is not a cafeteria service that we need to finish quickly.
Our Orthodox brothers and sisters can set an example for us. Even in the Orthodox Church, specifically the Byzantine Orthodox Churches, deacons are forbidden from touching the Body of Christ and distributing Holy Communion; only priests and bishops are permitted to do so.
Even if there are a thousand people, they will wait with patience. They will show reverence, for this is the greatest gift of the Church the Body of Christ. We must make time for this, especially when receiving it, and not treat it as though we are eating at a fast-food restaurant. We need to take the time because we must be present in the moment of Holy Communion, which is the most sacred and holy time. Before the Second Vatican Council, deacons could distribute Holy Communion because they were extraordinary ministers due to the sacramental ordination bestowed upon them. We must draw a clear distinction between the practice of extraordinary so-called lay ministers during Mass and their practice outside of Mass. These are significantly different.
Outside of Mass, the Church has a long tradition especially during times of persecution, even in the early centuries. In my personal experience within the Soviet clandestine Church, laypeople could give Holy Communion, but only outside of Mass to bring it to the imprisoned or the dying. My mother, for instance, gave Holy Communion to her mother, my grandmother, when she was ill because there were no priests available. These were the realities of those times: with the permission of a priest or bishop, laypeople could bring Holy Communion to those in need. Of course, they had to do so with the utmost reverence. For example, they would have a small room in their house where a tabernacle was reserved exclusively for this purpose. In my own case, during the persecution, my great aunt had a hidden tabernacle in a room, and they would offer adoration there. So, in these specific circumstances, it could be done, provided the greatest reverence was shown toward the Body of Christ.
Another aspect is when laypeople bring the Body of Christ to the sick or I'm prisonedthey must help them make an act of contrition. We need to receive our Blessed Lord with a purified heart. Especially in cases of serious sin, individuals should not receive Holy Communion until they have gone to confession. In such cases, these extraordinary ministers must seek out a priest, even if it requires traveling a great distance, to invite him, bring him, and ensure that the individual receives confession and Holy Communion. This must be carefully planned and organized, with a clear intention to ensure that these individuals receive the Sacrament of Confession to purify their souls. This is even more important in some ways. Confession is the first sacrament, followed by Holy Communion, which purifies the soul. At the very least, one can receive spiritual communion. So, these distinctions must be made.
Dear visitors of Gloria Dei and all who have already written or who will write a personal message to me. I am grateful for your attention, your kindness, for your spiritual support and especially for your sacrifices and prayers for me. God may reward you!
