What is an EMHC?

Answer 1

An EMHC is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. This means that a layperson, someone who has no priestly orders from the Church, is given the privilege of administering Holy Communion at Mass or to bring it to the sick or dying.

Extraordinary is the key word, since ordinarily it is the priest or a deacon that would do this task. EMHC's were introduced with the liturgical reforms of the 1960's in order to assist the priest, speed up long communion lines and get the faithful more involved in the liturgy. The last reason, which was a novel pastoral suggestion, is now used to justify the widespread application of this practice.

EMHC's have become anything but extraordinary. In most modern parishes, EMHC's are common and the faithful have come to expect them. In more conservative parishes, EMHC's are considered an abuse and are not employed at all since, they insist, the consecrated host is the priest's alone to touch and distribute unless there is grave cause. It follows that these same parishes would not allow communion in the hand.

Concerning this practice the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) reads:

GIRM 162. The priest may be assisted in the distribution of Communion by other priests who happen to be present. If such priests are not present and there is a very large number of communicants, the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, e.g., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.

In addition, the encyclical "Redemptionis Sacramentum" reads:

RS 88. Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law.

These passages require interpretation by a bishop for application in his diocese, though it would seem that they have either interpreted them most liberally, or allowed custom to rule once it became established.