Ministers of communion: the eighth in the Lent-Easter series 'good liturgy'

SOMEONE ONCE ASKED ME, "Why do we need ministers of Communion? Why not just pass the eucharistic bread and wine and let people take it themselves?"

There are several answers. For one thing, a large Sunday assembly gathered in a parish church needs order in the assembly and reverence for the mystery being celebrated, and that calls for the use of ministers. I once visited a parish where, for practical reasons, part of the assembly passed the plate of hosts from one to another without any verbal interaction. For me, it was a totally impersonal experience; I had no sense ...