The Problem With Female Eucharistic Ministers (to be more precise - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)

Tim and I have yet to attend a church which does NOT have women who act as Eucharistic ministers at communion time. I must say the whole thing is a real mess in my thinking. I was fortunate to attend a Catholic grade school which was devout and leaned heavily on tradition even in the late 70's early 80's, when that may have been out of "fashion". Therefore my earliest memories of the mass and of receiving Holy Communion, are ones surrounded by mystery, holiness, and a sense of awe and wonder. Those times in my life I credit for keeping me bound to my faith and to the Eucharist even when I was seemingly straying far off the path.

Tim, on the other hand is a convert and for him all he has ever known is the watered down, feminized version of the mass. Women are front and center at mass. They seem to be running the "show" and the priest can (if he lets himself be) become a secondary thought, not to mention JESUS Himself becoming a secondary thought! The worst aspect of all this female "participation" is the young women who act as Eucharistic ministers. Actually the whole concept of Eucharistic ministers is odd to me. I don't feel they're really necessary in most cases. What's the point? Must we race through Holy Communion so quickly? What's the big hurry? Often by the time I get back to my pew and kneel down after receiving, the efficiency of all those "helpful" ministers makes it impossible for me to even have 2 minutes before it's time for the "announcements". Wouldn't it be nice to have Father take the time to distribute Jesus to all of his parish family and the allow them some time for reflection and prayer afterwards? Those who "eat and run" will always be in a hurry to leave after receiving. Why not make this time of the mass more solemn for the rest of us? To add salt to this wound we are often confronted with female Eucharistic ministers that make me feel just a tad uncomfortable. I am hesitant to get in line with them but when I am forced to I tell the Lord that I'm offering it up as a little sacrifice just for Him. I always hope that this small act of penance/charity can somehow cancel out my negative thoughts and my judgements. As usual I sin right through mass even! Speaking of near occasions of sin Tim revealed his level of discomfort from having to receive Jesus from some of the female ministers. He and I both have the bad habit of leaving mass and saying to one another "Did you see what that young girl who was our Eucharistic minster was wearing?" We typically say that we are glad she is involved at mass and loves her faith but boy oh boy shouldn't her mom and dad (specifically dad) tell her to cover up a little for church? I'd never realized the degree to which this bothered Tim. I assumed his discomfort was the same as mine. Turns out it's different for guys. It's worse! He very carefully told me how hard it is to stay focused on Jesus when a young pretty Eucharistic minister is holding the host chest high wearing a low cut tank top. I can only imagine the difficulty and the mental restraint required of all the men who go up to receive. This is why I find the old way a far better way to receive Jesus. I may not be a mantilla wearing Vatican II hater but I surely see the wisdom of the communion rail and the kneelers and the priest and the altar servers(boys of course). If the Holy Eucharist is the high point of the mass and the greatest thing (person) we enjoy as Catholics why then do we choose to dispense it like a lollipop handed out after a good appointment at the doctor's office? "Here's one for you and one for you and another one for you...off you go now to love and serve the Lord...see ya'll again real soon ya hear?"