Question
Question
Recently my church asked me to help go out to a nursing home to givecommunion there. What prayers should I say? Is there a rite or ritual thatI should follow?
--Puzzled in Paris
Answer
Answer
There is a ritual to follow when giving communion to the sick and shut-ins,or at nursing homes or hospitals. It is called, Communion of the Sick,and is part of the rites for Holy Communion Outside of Mass, whichwas promulgated in 1973. The prayers, scripture readings, and other itemsare there in the ritual to assist you. Your local Catholic bookstore orDiocesan Office of Worship/Liturgy will have a copy for you to use/purchasefor your assistance in this ministry.