A blessing at the Eucharist

[CyrilSebastian]

One local Catholic man expressed: “Suppose I am at Mass. It is time for Holy Communion. My soul is not in a state of grace. I do not want to stand in line to receive a blessing. There are many blessings given during Mass.”
Please explain.

 

[CathBoy1]

I actually believe it is against the rubics to “give a blessing” in the communion line (I could be wrong though), as it’s been explained to me before, discouraging people from coming up the line during Holy Communion, if one is not receiving.
As for the OP, many blessings are bestowed on one who participates in Holy Mass, even if they don’t receive Holy Communion.
Also, might I suggest (if you feel you cannot receive Holy Communion during Mass) making a spiritual communion.
Here’s a link:

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/blsac4.htm

Hope this helps.

 

[Reuben_J]

One local Catholic man expressed: “Suppose I am at Mass. It is time for Holy Communion. My soul is not in a state of grace. I do not want to stand in line to receive a blessing. There are many blessings given during Mass.”
Please explain.

The man is right not to stand in line for a blessing because there is the final blessing for everybody in the Concluding Rites. Would two blessings give more grace than one? Not necessarily.

However, human beings are living organics that cannot be reined like herd of sheep. They are independently minded and one individual is not the same as another. There are many different ways as to how an individual reaches out to receive something in order to be satisfied. We are complicated animals.

As an aside, in my parish, adults do not usually go out for blessing during Communion but almost all the children do. Not sure the reason why but probably their mothers want them to.

I often times encountered small children who begrudgingly did not like to be laid hand on their heads during Communion ( we still allow our EHMCs to do that, maybe one day when the Archbishop will stop it, we wouldn’t know) but their mothers nevertheless made them do it.

Once the children become older, you can see them being very grateful for the blessing.

 

[Rosebud77]

The man is right not to stand in line for a blessing because there is the final blessing for everybody in the Concluding Rites. Would two blessings give more grace than one? Not necessarily.

However, human beings are living organics that cannot be reined like herd of sheep. They are independently minded and one individual is not the same as another. There are many different ways as to how an individual reaches out to receive something in order to be satisfied. We are complicated animals.

As an aside, in my parish, adults do not usually go out for blessing during Communion but almost all the children do. Not sure the reason why but probably their mothers want them to.

I often times encountered small children who begrudgingly did not like to be laid hand on their heads during Communion ( we still allow our EHMCs to do that, maybe one day when the Archbishop will stop it, we wouldn’t know) but their mothers nevertheless made them do it.

Once the children become older, you can see them being very grateful for the blessing.

Yes here the parents take their children even in arms up for a blessing. It is the way for them to take part and get accustomed to going up.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yes here the parents take their children even in arms up for a blessing. It is the way for them to take part and get accustomed to going up.

Yes, Rose, that’s what I thought so. Of course not just the mommies only. Some dads would carry their infants/toddlers in their arms as they come up to receive HoLy Communion. I know I shouldn’t but seeing they like it so much, our EHMCs would always bless the infants before giving Communion to the parents. Here our Bishop has not made any fixed ruling on this perhaps seeing that it has been the practice and expectation of the parishioners.

But it’s true - parents realise it a way to initiate their little ones to participate in the mass/Communion.

 

[Rosebud77]

Yes, Rose, that’s what I thought so. Of course not just the mommies only. Some dads would carry their infants/toddlers in their arms as they come up to receive HoLy Communion. I know I shouldn’t but seeing they like it so much, our EHMCs would always bless the infants before giving Communion to the parents. Here our Bishop has not made any fixed ruling on this perhaps seeing that it has been the practice and expectation of the parishioners.

But it’s true - parents realise it a way to initiate their little ones to participate in the mass/Communion.

Amazes too that the little ones who have been causing utter chaos at the back suddenly go quiet and calm as we all walk up the the altar…

 

[AXO]

The whole thing of blessings at the distribution of the Communion is a new phenomenon only happening in America as it seems. It has never had a place in the Roman liturgy and it’s not prescribed in the rubrics. The position of the man is understandable. There’s a reply in this forum by the then-Undersecretary of the CDWDS explicitly stating that the concluding rites already include the blessing of the congregation. This blessing can also become controversial, if not problematic, in some occasions.

 

[Rosebud77]

The whole thing of blessings at the distribution of the Communion is a new phenomenon only happening in America as it seems. It has never had a place in the Roman liturgy and it’s not prescribed in the rubrics. The position of the man is understandable. There’s a reply in this forum by the then-Undersecretary of the CDWDS explicitly stating that the concluding rites already include the blessing of the congregation. This blessing can also become controversial, if not problematic, in some occasions.

It is something I have read about here though in the past many times. In advice to non Catholics at Mass I think…

 

[paperwight66]

The whole thing of blessings at the distribution of the Communion is a new phenomenon only happening in America as it seems. It has never had a place in the Roman liturgy and it’s not prescribed in the rubrics. The position of the man is understandable. There’s a reply in this forum by the then-Undersecretary of the CDWDS explicitly stating that the concluding rites already include the blessing of the congregation. This blessing can also become controversial, if not problematic, in some occasions.

No, it isn’t just happening in America.

As far back as the 1970’s in the UK, following the Swanwick Conference, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales announced that Holy Communion should not be the time for hurt and division, but that those non-receiving should be allowed, in fact encouraged, to come forward for a blessing. Since then, it is the custom to encourage them, especially at funerals and weddings.

But this is referring to blessings by clergy. EMHCs are told in trainings that they are not to give blessings, but rather use some phrase like ‘May God bless you’, or ‘May God make you happy’ if to a child. EMHCs should never actually touch a child.

 

[AXO]

No, it isn’t just happening in America.

As far back as the 1970’s in the UK, following the Swanwick Conference, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales announced that Holy Communion should not be the time for hurt and division, but that those non-receiving should be allowed, in fact encouraged, to come forward for a blessing. Since then, it is the custom to encourage them, especially at funerals and weddings.

But this is referring to blessings by clergy. EMHCs are told in trainings that they are not to give blessings, but rather use some phrase like ‘May God bless you’, or ‘May God make you happy’ if to a child. EMHCs should never actually touch a child.

I didn’t know it. I haven’t been able to find any sort of instruction in this regard, though. I keep the same stance.

 

[paperwight66]

I didn’t know it. I haven’t been able to find any sort of instruction in this regard, though. I keep the same stance.

There are several resources to help you and clarify the issue.
First, see the sticky at the top of this forum.
Then for more information, google ‘Communion for non-communicants’, and you will find several websites dealing with the issue. The most authoritative for the situation in England and Wales is the document published by the Liturgy Office of the Board of Bishops, called ‘Celebrating the Mass - A pastoral introduction’. Go to section 212.

 

[AXO]

There are several resources to help you and clarify the issue.
First, see the sticky at the top of this forum.
Then for more information, google ‘Communion for non-communicants’, and you will find several websites dealing with the issue. The most authoritative for the situation in England and Wales is the document published by the Liturgy Office of the Board of Bishops, called ‘Celebrating the Mass - A pastoral introduction’. Go to section 212.

I see. It’s a liturgically-unfounded invention of those Bishops anyway.