Approaching the priest at Holy Communion for blessing

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I have heard that approaching the priest at Communion for a blessing is in fact inappropriate, and I am leading a Bible Study on the Eucharist and would like to know to what authoritative source I can point my students for this teaching, since it may be difficult to accept because it is widely practiced and, indeed, encouraged in so many parishes. Does anyone know where/when the Church has taught this? I would appreciate the help!
 
Thank you. It is unfortunate that there is not a more “official” statement from the bishops. This will have to do though.
 
In any case you must ask the question from your local pastor. He is the boss related to such question. If you disagree with his decision you have the right to step down as instructor.

The case is unclear, other I remember some document stating that those who do not want receive holy communion could line up with other but shall indicate by crossing their hands that they do not receive and get some kind words.

Laying of the hand is inappropriate, if for not other then health reasons.
 
laszlo said:
In any case you must ask the question from your local pastor. He is the boss related to such question. If you disagree with his decision you have the right to step down as instructor.

The case is unclear, other I remember some document stating that those who do not want receive holy communion could line up with other but shall indicate by crossing their hands that they do not receive and get some kind words.

Laying of the hand is inappropriate, if for not other then health reasons.
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The communion line is for those who are to receive Holy Communion. We line up to receive Someone, Jesus in Holy Communion, not something, a blessing. The blessing, as the CDWDS stated, comes moments later. Everyone will be able to receive the blessing.

Furthermore, this “ritual” appears nowhere in the authoritative liturgical books granted recognitio by the Holy See. According ot Sacrosanctum Concilium and Redemptionis Sacramentum state that no one, even the celebrant, does not have the right to add anything to the Mass.

If those who cannot receive Holy Communion still want another blessing after the one they received at the end of Mass, they can certainly approach the priest or deacon afterwards.
 
I was not even aware of this so thank you for the posts. I was instructed as an RCIA candidate to receive a blessing from the priest. If for whatever reason I am not communicating in the future I shall not go up in the procession, which has what I have been doing anyway even though I had no idea.

If, however, I resume duties as an Extraordinary Minister some time in the future and I have young children or something who want a blessing from me, what should I do? I can’t just tell them to “get lost,” can I? :(🤷
 
I_Love_U_Jesus said:
If, however, I resume duties as an Extraordinary Minister some time in the future and I have young children or something who want a blessing from me, what should I do? I can’t just tell them to “get lost,” can I? :(🤷
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And herein lies the conflict as to why I refuse to be an EMHC now. Our pastor agrees that the “blessing” we ourselves have instituted in this country (contrary to liturgical documents) is not part of the universal church, but yet he says the abuse is so widespread now, that the reform must come from the bishops. Ergo, I have left this ministry because I know it is not to be done and I cannot in good conscience do so. See what a little knowledge does for you? 😉
 
Tigg said:
And herein lies the conflict as to why I refuse to be an EMHC now. Our pastor agrees that the “blessing” we ourselves have instituted in this country (contrary to liturgical documents) is not part of the universal church, but yet he says the abuse is so widespread now, that the reform must come from the bishops. Ergo, I have left this ministry because I know it is not to be done and I cannot in good conscience do so. See what a little knowledge does for you? 😉
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Actually, the CDWDS has begun the reform, so to speak, with the five observations that it issued. The CDWDS acts in and with the authority of the Holy Father. Just because the abuse is widespread, that does not mean that we have to perpetuate it. Your pastor is within his rights to stop this. He does not need a mandate of reform from the bishop. The documents from the CDWDS, which does carry an official protocol number, is sufficient.
 
I read the documents related to this, but can someone explain WHY this is considered an “abuse”? What difference does it make if someone gets a blessing, why is that bad?
 
benedictgal said:
Actually, the CDWDS has begun the reform, so to speak, with the five observations that it issued. The CDWDS acts in and with the authority of the Holy Father. Just because the abuse is widespread, that does not mean that we have to perpetuate it. Your pastor is within his rights to stop this. He does not need a mandate of reform from the bishop. The documents from the CDWDS, which does carry an official protocol number, is sufficient.
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You know, I have saved something from the CDWDS from another thread regarding this and I believe you are correct. Since I was in a class where the RCIA was present, and not wanting to appear confrontational or confuse the new ones further, I let it pass. But the CDWDS should trump error that the bishops have allowed. Our pastor clarified it further by saying it had to do with subsidiarity, and there you have it!

Thank you!!!
 
AnneTeresa said:
I read the documents related to this, but can someone explain WHY this is considered an “abuse”? What difference does it make if someone gets a blessing, why is that bad?
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Everything in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is governed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and the rubrics found in the Roman Missal (the part in red that gives the priest directions). These “blessings” in lieu of Holy Communion appear nowhere in the rubrics, let alone the GIRM. Someone took it on his own initiative to invent and imbed this ilicit practice into the Mass. The Constitution on Sacred Liturgy and Redemptionis Sacramentum specifically state that no one, not even the celebrant, can add anything on their own authority.

Everyone will receive the blessing at the end of the Mass. The letter makes that perfectly clear. Now, the Holy See is the superme authority in this matter, in this case, exercising its authority and its jurisdiction through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

I hope this helps.
 
AnneTeresa said:
I read the documents related to this, but can someone explain WHY this is considered an “abuse”? What difference does it make if someone gets a blessing, why is that bad?
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From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1396*** The unity of the Mystical Body: the Eucharist makes the Church. Those who receive the Eucharist are united more closely to Christ. Through it Christ unites them to all the faithful in one body - the Church.** Communion renews, strengthens, and deepens this incorporation into the Church, already achieved by Baptism. In Baptism we have been called to form but one body.233 The Eucharist fulfills this call: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? **Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread:"234 ***
When we approach to receive Jesus in Communion, it signifies our oneness with other believers. That is what the Communion line is for- to receive the Eucharist. This is the reason why non-communicants should not go forward in the Communion line. However, there will always be occassions, when a non-communicant, possibly an uninformed individual, will approach the Priest, Deacon or Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. In my opinion, it is those occassions that require special consideration and should not be judged as “abuse” if they should receive a blessing from an ordained Minister or a charitable greeting, such as, “God bless you” from the EMHC. I suppose that we will eventually have the answer when the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments finishes their study or issues a clarification on the matter.
 
EMHCs nor the Ministers are to give individual blessings in the Holy Communion line. Priests give blessings: to your sacramentals, house, people etc. The Church does not give EMHCs the grace to offer blessings.

Hopefully, once this novelty is cleansed from our churches, we can get the Sign of Peace done properly too. If you are interested, look it up in the GIRM and compare to your parish.
 
benedictgal said:
The communion line is for those who are to receive Holy Communion. We line up to receive Someone, Jesus in Holy Communion, not something, a blessing. The blessing, as the CDWDS stated, comes moments later. Everyone will be able to receive the blessing.
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Unfortunately the lining up became some kind of obligation.

When I left Hungary in 1981 less than half of the people went to communion and there was no line at all. I was astonished here, that the users actually herd the people to the communion line, so one has no choice, but leave before the line or go to the line. Together with this there is no opportunity to make confession before or during the mass in many churches. The probability of sacrilegious communion is extremely high.

People must have some possibility to just go in the line and do not receive. Nothing wrong happens if the Eucharistic minister (ordinary or extraordinary) says holding the Eucharaist: let the body of Christ bless you.

The proper sequence is : lex credendi ==> lex orandi. Christ is in that host, the sacrilegious communion is horrible, this is our faith. The rite shall follow this faith, and people shall get some way out of the essentially required line.
 
benedictgal said:
The communion line is for those who are to receive Holy Communion. We line up to receive Someone, Jesus in Holy Communion, not something, a blessing.
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Another important thing to note is that this can actually be confusing to kids preparing for First Communion. We catechists are trying to instill belief in the Real Presence in them. We would rather they not be allowed to have a blessing because it helps build the anticipation and yearning for that very special day when they will get into that line for the sole purpose of receiving Jesus, their Lord!
 
maryj said:
could you point me to where,within these documents, it says that communicants are not to approach the priest, or EMHC for a blessing. Thanks in advance. I have printed out the letter, and would like to bring this to my pastors attention.
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Blessings have been entrusted to Priests by the Church. These blessings can signify the sanctification or dedication of a person or thing to some sacred purpose.
Within that context I do not think any limitation has been imposed on the time place or setting that will limit the priests useage of this function.
I have seen nothing in Canon Law or the CDWD or RS to address this matter either generally or specifically.
On a first hand level the issue was resolved, during the discussion of " blessing during mass" at my parish. One priest felt that it was his duty to bless at Communion, the other priest was opposed.The following statement" I do not want to receive the Host from a priest that has just ruffled a childs hair." was enough to set policy at mass regarding blessings.
 
maryj said:
could you point me to where,within these documents, it says that communicants are not to approach the priest, or EMHC for a blessing. Thanks in advance. I have printed out the letter, and would like to bring this to my pastors attention.
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forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=4522747&postcount=1
Here is the response I (japhy) received in the mail today (Prot. N. 930/08/L):
Dear [names omitted],

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments acknowledges receipt of your kind letter of 13 August, 2008 and would like to thank you for your interest and suggestions. This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.

For the present, therefore, this Dicastery wishes to limit itself to the following observations:

  1. *]The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.
    *]Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; can. 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).
    *]Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands – which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here – by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.
    *]The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry.” To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.
    *]In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).

    Please continue to pray for the Church’s ministers that they ever become more worthy of the mystery they celebrate.

    With every good wish and kind regard, I am,

    Sincerely Yours in Christ,

    [name omitted]Is that sufficient to settle the matter until the Church makes a further statement on the matter?
 
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