Q: I was in a conversation with an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and he mentioned that after ministering to the sick at the local hospital, he realized that there were several consecrated hosts left over. Knowing his local church was locked up until the following morning and not having access to the tabernacle, he consumed all of the extra host.
What are our options in this case? Would it have been appropriate to take the extra consecrated hosts home until the church opened up the following morning or was consuming the hosts a better option? Neither option seems appropriate.
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A: The rite of giving communion to the sick allows others who wish to receive communion to do so. That would include the minister. If it is the last stop, the best solution is for the minister to consume the hosts that remain as part of the distribution of communion to the sick.
Redemptionis Sacramentum 132 forbids bringing communion to the minister’s home or any other place contrary to the norm of law.