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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 812 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2007 07:37 pm |
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Greetings All,
I have been asked to take the Holy Eucharist to 1 or 2 individuals who are confined to their home. "They" told me I would be trained/informed on what to do and how to do it. However, I would like to get a leg up on the situation. However, I am having trouble finding information about the prayers and procedures used in such matters. Can anyone point me in the right direction on the Internet for such infomation? 
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5347 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2007 08:33 pm |
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BodRod wrote: Greetings All,
I have been asked to take the Holy Eucharist to 1 or 2 individuals who are confined to their home. "They" told me I would be trained/informed on what to do and how to do it. However, I would like to get a leg up on the situation. However, I am having trouble finding information about the prayers and procedures used in such matters. Can anyone point me in the right direction on the Internet for such infomation?
A small booklet called Communion of the Sick is the standard reference. It should be available at any religious bookstore. The list price is $2.95. Your parish may well provide this to you. Basically, a small table covered with a white cloth should be prepared with a lighted candle and a small amount of holy water, preferably with a crucifix. This is a typical "sick call kit" also available at religious stores. You bring the Eucharist in a small container known as a pyx (also available at any religious store). This also might be provided by your parish.
You begin with a penitential rite, a brief reading from scripture, prayers of petition, the Our Father, the prayer before communion (This is the Lamb of God...), distribute communion to all present who wish to receive (even if they have already received communion at mass earlier in the day), and a closing prayer. Then you can visit briefly, ascertain if they need to see a priest, etc. You should always ask if the sick person has been anointed, had the opportunity to confess, etc.
You should not carry the Eucharist any more than necessary. Retrieve the Eucharist from the Tabernacle after mass, and go directly to the sick person's home. When you leave, go directly to the next person's home, etc. If necessary, break the hosts so that as many as possible have the opportunity to receive. If the sick person has difficulty swallowing, you may break off the tiniest piece of the host and place it on their tongue. It can also be dissolved in a very small amount of water, but talk to your priest before you do this.
You can also say the rosary with them (one decade if time is short), or read scripture (especially the Sunday gospel), and share highlights of your priest's homily with them. It really depends on how much time you have to share with them, and how much they are willing to put up with from you.
When you are finished for the day, you should consume any remaining Eucharist, and purify the pyx according to the instructions you are given.
Of course, you may not have time or the sick person may not have the endurance, but many homebound have few visitors and would welcome a long visit. You'll just have to play that by ear.
Visiting the sick is a wonderful ministry.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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