Am I doing this right?

[benedictgal]

I was received into the church at Easter last year. Whilst others were receiving Holy Communion my sponser always asked me to come up and receive a blessing from Father. We are a small parish and crossing of arms was not necessary. I however encountered a similar problem at a larger Parish event when there was more than one line and i somehow got into the line with a lay person and it was embarrassing (i switched lines) and wished I had stayed in my pew!!! I dont know what you should have done, maybe he felt unfit to recieve but i dont know why you would line up in that circumstance.

At least now you know that, unfortunately, you were given incorrect instructions. Circumstances like the one that you described are another good reason why this practice never should have happened in the first place. Sadly, when people take it upon themsleves to insert something into the Mass that does not belong there, confusion takes place and it helps no one.

 

[Danima]

Actually, with all due respect, the term Eucharistic Minister is reserved only for the priest and bishop since they are the sole ones who can confect (cause to happen) the Holy Eucharist. The deacon, by virture of his ordination, is one of the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (like the bishop and the priest) only he does not consecrate. We are Extraordniary Ministers of Holy Communion because our function is out of the ordinary in assisting the celebrant and deacon with the distrubution of Holy Communion.

Now, as to what you should have done (and should do in the future), this is what the document from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments tells us to do:

Now, regarding this particular post:

This is not our call to make, nor is it the celebrant’s. The CDWDS has indicated that this should not be done. We cannot give what we are not allowed to impart. Furthermore, as the document notes, everyone will be receiving the same blessing at the end of the Mass. The OP is doing the right thing by staying in the pew and praying. Remember, the line is to receive Holy Communion, not a blessing.

That is a very interesting resource you have quoted, and if you have a link to it, I would be most grateful for it. As for going up for a blessing, I personally do not like doing if for the same reason you’ve stated, that it is for Holy Communion, and not for blessings. I said that only if the parish is in that custom would I ever recommend it as an option to them. I apologize if I was unclear. However, I was not aware of the CDWDS, at least not all of it. Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[japhy]

That is a very interesting resource you have quoted, and if you have a link to it, I would be most grateful for it.

Here’s the Adoremus Bulletin article on it, and here’s my post introducing it for the first time here.