Blessing during communion

[Jerok]

I understand that going up for a blessing instead of receiving the Eucharist is bad (I’m not Catholic yet). However, today during Mass the church was filled (a Cardinal came to campus and celebrated Mass with us!) and I could not simply remain in my seat or sit on the edge like I usually do. I had to get up and walk out of the isle - and I couldn’t go sit back down because then they’d have to walk over me and there’s barely enough room for that here, also I’m a big guy.

So I went up, crossed my arms, and got a blessing. I thought about walking past the priest but that would be really rude, so he blessed me and I sat down. What should I do in this situation, when I’m basically forced to go into the communion line? Is this a sin, to disobey the rules of the Mass instead of making people walk over me? Thanks

 

[benedictgal]

I understand that going up for a blessing instead of receiving the Eucharist is bad (I’m not Catholic yet). However, today during Mass the church was filled (a Cardinal came to campus and celebrated Mass with us!) and I could not simply remain in my seat or sit on the edge like I usually do. I had to get up and walk out of the isle - and I couldn’t go sit back down because then they’d have to walk over me and there’s barely enough room for that here, also I’m a big guy.

So I went up, crossed my arms, and got a blessing. I thought about walking past the priest but that would be really rude, so he blessed me and I sat down. What should I do in this situation, when I’m basically forced to go into the communion line? Is this a sin, to disobey the rules of the Mass instead of making people walk over me? Thanks

First of all, no one is forcing you. What you should have done, with all due respect, is to have remained in your pew. I do not want to be rude, but, what the priest did was wrong, regardless of whether or not a Cardinal is present.

While what you did is not a sin, it does beg the question as to why you did this in the first place. Irregardless of a person’s physical stature, this should not be done. Prudence on the part of all, including the ushers, should have been exercised. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has given five solid observations, based on current liturgical and canonical law as to why these should not be done in the first place:

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.

1. 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; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).

1. 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.

1. 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.

**5. 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).

The ushers (I am assuming that is who did this) had no right to get you in line since the line is only for those who are receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion and not a blessing. I realize that you mean well and have come here for an answer. I do not mean to pounce on you, but, it is somewhat frustrating that folks (not necessarily you) do not understand the purpose of the Communion line. When people take it upon themselves to add things to the Mass that they have no authority to add, it causes the kind of confusion that individuals such as yourself are experiencing. In the end, this sort of action does more harm than good.

 

[Moscati]

This has happened to me before. I completely understand where you’re coming from. It does feel incredibly awkward and rude to make people who are going up to receive literally climb overtop of you to get to the aisle–and I’m a small person!

Sitting at the end works well, as you can step out, let the row pass, and kneel back down. But, if that just doesn’t work out, my trick is to get up, out in the aisle, cut through the pew in front of mine (all those people are in line, so it’s empty), and make a loop back to my seat. Hardly anyone will notice, unless you’re way in the front. People may still have to squeeze past you on their way back (if they left purses or whatnot in their seats), but more often than not, you can just scoot down to the end when they come back and everyone can file in. It’s like a giant game of merry-go-pews . . .

I have to say, I’ll be glad when I can legitimately join the Communion line. And receiving a blessing is certainly not a sin. When I learned that going forward during Communion for a blessing wasn’t really the best thing to do, I missed getting it, so now, my priest gives me one after RCIA.

 

[prodigalson12]

I see nothing wrong with getting a blessing in the communion line. You are after all, in Rome, so doing as the Romans do, the process of standing in line is kind of like a practice run of sorts, and if you are in mass, don’t you want to participate in as much fullness as possible?

 

[benedictgal]

I see nothing wrong with getting a blessing in the communion line. You are after all, in Rome, so doing as the Romans do, the process of standing in line is kind of like a practice run of sorts, and if you are in mass, don’t you want to participate in as much fullness as possible?

Actually, Rome has already given its answer and five reasons, based on current liturgical and canonical law, to back it up. Please re-read my post. These blessings should not be done.

In fact, it is a false sense of active participation that you seem to be promoting, as I read your post. We form a line to receive Someone, Our Lord in Holy Communion, not something, a blessing, which will be given to everyone at the appropriate time, the end of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

One does not have to be doing something or joining a line to participate. Active participation is also interior participation. One can certainly participate by silently praying in the pew and making a Spiritual Communion.

 

[Heavens_Flowers]

My children always get a blessing every time we go to church, and my 6 month old that I hold in the communion line, recieves a blessing in my arms where the priest does the sign of the cross on his forehead and says bless you while I receive the Eucharist. Also when I was going through RCIA we were told to cross our arms in the communion line and receive a blessing. I always received a blessing and the priest never even mentioned that we wernt suppose too. In fact just this morning at mass I saw a girl looked 18 or 19 receiving a blessing in the communion line. I’m confused, so NOONE is suppose to receive a blessing during the communion line? Also my mother in law always stops the priest after mass and asks him to bless my children(her grandchildren) he gladly does. Is this also not exceptable? I reread the ccc on the previous quote but am not sure where my questions lie in that. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jerok]

Thanks for the comments. I usually do the trick of sitting on the edge, or going through the other rows. But this time is was not possible because of how close I was to the back (they did front and back communion) and the people were already back in the row. So my only choices were to sit in the pew and have people climb over me, or go up and receive a blessing, or walk past the priest in hoping noone notices me lol

I’m glad it’s not a sin and I do want to follow the church on Mass.

My girlfriend just asked me another question. Is this rule dogma? (She’s Catholic and never heard of this) I don’t really know how to respond since I’m not really sure what she’s asking. Maybe, can this law be changed or has it always been this way. Thanks

 

[StillWondering]

Thanks for the comments. I usually do the trick of sitting on the edge, or going through the other rows. But this time is was not possible because of how close I was to the back (they did front and back communion) and the people were already back in the row. So my only choices were to sit in the pew and have people climb over me, or go up and receive a blessing, or walk past the priest in hoping noone notices me lol

I’m glad it’s not a sin and I do want to follow the church on Mass.

My girlfriend just asked me another question. Is this rule dogma? (She’s Catholic and never heard of this) I don’t really know how to respond since I’m not really sure what she’s asking. Maybe, can this law be changed or has it always been this way. Thanks

When I cannot receive but I would block people, I step out of the seat and take a step or two backwards and gesture for others to go ahead as if I’m an usher. Afterwards I’ll walk back to my seat without interrupting the lines.

As for dogma, I do not think it’s dogma. Instead it is continuation of tradition. Personally, in the traditional Vietnamese parish I attend when I was young, we never had blessings during communion. Instead, we had a lot of people not go up. The devotion is touching, but it was also painful as well. Lots of young people go overboard and develop scrupulosity. However, here in San Francisco, I think the blessing is quite popular in the diocese. After a while of getting up, letting others go by, then seating back down, it becomes second nature and you won’t have to interrupt your prayers or thoughts.

 

[Moscati]

Thanks for the comments. I usually do the trick of sitting on the edge, or going through the other rows. But this time is was not possible because of how close I was to the back (they did front and back communion) and the people were already back in the row. So my only choices were to sit in the pew and have people climb over me, or go up and receive a blessing, or walk past the priest in hoping noone notices me lol

I’m glad it’s not a sin and I do want to follow the church on Mass.

My girlfriend just asked me another question. Is this rule dogma? (She’s Catholic and never heard of this) I don’t really know how to respond since I’m not really sure what she’s asking. Maybe, can this law be changed or has it always been this way. Thanks

I hear that it’s a matter of liturgical norms, not dogma. It could be changed, if the Church saw fit to, but the letter benedictgal cites seems to say they are not leaning that way, and may in fact explicitly prohibit the practice in the future. It’s one of those spontaneous things, that just grew on its own not that long ago.

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen blessings given to both children and adults at every parish I’ve ever visited, in four states (all different regions of the country), including a basilica, and at the very conservative EF mass I go to occasionally. Not that it’s right, but it is a very entrenched custom/practice.

 

[Phemie]

This practice is regional at best.

It’s not done in any of the parishes where I’ve worshipped in Canada in recent years but obviously priests are aware of what’s being done elsewhere because one day a child presented herself to Fr. with arms crossed and received a blessing. It wasn’t mentioned by anyone.

A woman who was a member of our parish for several months was apoplectic one day that she had to request a blessing for the toddler each time she took him to Communion with her: “I shouldn’t have to ask, it should be automatic that he’s blessed when we get up there.” She was expecting the wrong thing from the most liturgically correct pastor we’d had in decades.

Now, though, I’ve noticed that the young Polish priest that we’ve got staying with us for a few months blesses all the little ones in the Communion line, even calling back parents who don’t wait for it because they’re not expecting a blessing at that time. I just want to tell him to cut it out because when he leaves they’ll be expecting it. It’s strange, our rubrically challenged pastor and the missionary never bless in the Communion line but they never genuflect and they receive at the same time as the altar servers and EMHCs; the visiting priests does the red and says the black so reverently yet blesses every child within reaching distance in the Communion line. Is it any wonder that the people are confused?

To the OP, if you don’t feel comfortable letting them just go past you (and having had to ‘step over’ pewmates at times, believe me that’s no big deal) just step out into the aisle and let people go past you then regain your seat. Do the same when they come back. That’s what most people do in my parish if they are not going to Communion.

 

[Seatuck]

Most of the time I just turn as far as I can sideways or stand up and lean back to let people pass. I have gone to the end of the pew and let them out as well. I will check a row of chairs to make sure they are wide enough to accommodate this when I arrive at church If I know I am not going to be receiving.This is supposed to be happening all the time. Try not to feel as though you are the only one who is going through this.

 

[Joannm]

It is not done in our area of the country. We do have a lot of non-Catholics in our parish high school. To keep order during school masses, those kids who are not Catholic or are not receiving Communion for any reason are asked to walk in procession but simply walk around without approaching the minister. Since the minister stands at the bottom of the step of the sanctuary and there is at least 4 feet between them and the first pew, it is easy for non communicants to just walk up to the first pew and make a turn and join the line back to their pew. As I said this was our best solution rather than having high school kids climb over each other which could get out of control at such a sacred time.

 

[thistle]

I see nothing wrong with getting a blessing in the communion line. You are after all, in Rome, so doing as the Romans do, the process of standing in line is kind of like a practice run of sorts, and if you are in mass, don’t you want to participate in as much fullness as possible?

Even if you are Catholic it NOT permitted to join the Communion line for a blessing.
Also Mass is not an entertainment. Non-Catholics should not be joining the Communion line for a practice run. That is a ridiculous statement to make.

 

[puzzleannie]

I understand that going up for a blessing instead of receiving the Eucharist is bad (I’m not Catholic yet).

What should I do in this situation, when I’m basically forced to go into the communion line? Is this a sin, to disobey the rules of the Mass instead of making people walk over me? Thanks

no this practice is not “bad” as in the sense of sinful, if the priest where you are invites people or it seems the common practice you can also go forward. It simply is not part of the rubrics, and the priest should not add it for that reason, but even if it were wrong the burden would be on the priest, not you.

Under the circumstances you followed the cardinal rule (no pun intended) of charity and hospitality and consideration for others. There is never a wrong in accepting a blessing.

Welcome Home!

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

I understand that going up for a blessing instead of receiving the Eucharist is bad (I’m not Catholic yet).

Well its not a liturgically correct thing to do but its not the end of the world.

So I went up, crossed my arms, and got a blessing. I thought about walking past the priest but that would be really rude, so he blessed me and I sat down. What should I do in this situation, when I’m basically forced to go into the communion line? Is this a sin, to disobey the rules of the Mass instead of making people walk over me? Thanks

As previously stated, its not liturgically correct to do so but given the circumstances you outlined I understand why you did it. You could have simply crossed your arms, briefly bowed your head, and kept walking past the priest. It wouldn’t have been considered rude. What you did wasn’t in any way sinful.

 

[FAB]

Actually, Rome has already given its answer and five reasons, based on current liturgical and canonical law, to back it up. Please re-read my post. These blessings should not be done.

In fact, it is a false sense of active participation that you seem to be promoting, as I read your post. We form a line to receive Someone, Our Lord in Holy Communion, not something, a blessing, which will be given to everyone at the appropriate time, the end of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

One does not have to be doing something or joining a line to participate. Active participation is also interior participation. One can certainly participate by silently praying in the pew and making a Spiritual Communion.

It’s always easy to quote the law or rule, but there are times to be pastoral. Giving a blessing to those who canot recieve the Eucharist for waht ever reason is a pastoral practice.
I have seen bishops do this on repeated occasions. Centainly our teachers know best.
Peace,
FAB

 

[benedictgal]

It’s always easy to quote the law or rule, but there are times to be pastoral. Giving a blessing to those who canot recieve the Eucharist for waht ever reason is a pastoral practice.
I have seen bishops do this on repeated occasions. Centainly our teachers know best.
Peace,
FAB

FAB, this is not about being pastoral. Rome has already given five solid reasons, based on current liturgical law. What you are advocating, as I read your posts, is to go against something that Rome has already said should not be happening.

Furthermore, many folks hide behind “pastoral reasons” in order to keep doing things that are ilicit.

 

[benedictgal]

My children always get a blessing every time we go to church, and my 6 month old that I hold in the communion line, recieves a blessing in my arms where the priest does the sign of the cross on his forehead and says bless you while I receive the Eucharist. Also when I was going through RCIA we were told to cross our arms in the communion line and receive a blessing. I always received a blessing and the priest never even mentioned that we wernt suppose too. In fact just this morning at mass I saw a girl looked 18 or 19 receiving a blessing in the communion line. I’m confused, so NOONE is suppose to receive a blessing during the communion line? Also my mother in law always stops the priest after mass and asks him to bless my children(her grandchildren) he gladly does. Is this also not exceptable? I reread the ccc on the previous quote but am not sure where my questions lie in that. Thanks in advance.

Your post is the exact reason why this should not be done. With all due respect, it sent you the wrong message. A blessing is not a substitute for not being able to receive Our Lord. When well-intenioned people start inserting things into the Mass that do not belong there, it causes confusion.

Furthermore, the Cathechism of the Catholic Church is not a catch-all document. It is a teaching document, not a legal one. It cannot be expected to encompass everything about the Church. That is why the Church has authoritative liturgical and canonical documents.

There is nothing wrong with requesting a blessing after Mass. Many people have done this. However, insofar as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, everyone will be receiving the blessing at its appropriate time, at the end of the liturgy. In fact, this is the most inclusive part of the Mass because it is applicable to everyone, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

 

[japhy]

Also when I was going through RCIA we were told to cross our arms in the communion line and receive a blessing. I always received a blessing and the priest never even mentioned that we wernt suppose too. In fact just this morning at mass I saw a girl looked 18 or 19 receiving a blessing in the communion line. I’m confused, so NOONE is suppose to receive a blessing during the communion line?

It’s really quite possible that priests are unaware about whether the practice should or should not be done. Priests can’t be expected to know everything, and there has never been (to my knowledge) a document from Rome saying “do not give blessings during the Communion procession”, and even the letter that benedictgal posted doesn’t come straight out and say “do not give…”, but simply provides explanations from existing Church law and discipline for why they should not be given. (I was the original recipient of that letter, so I’m very familiar with this issue.) The letter also doesn’t say what should be done when someone presents himself for such a blessing, only what shouldn’t be done.

Also my mother in law always stops the priest after mass and asks him to bless my children(her grandchildren) he gladly does. Is this also not exceptable?

Blessings outside of Mass are another matter entirely; indeed, before or after Mass is the appropriate time for these sorts of blessings. The Communion procession is for Holy Communion.

 

[FAB]

FAB, this is not about being pastoral. Rome has already given five solid reasons, based on current liturgical law. What you are advocating, as I read your posts, is to go against something that Rome has already said should not be happening.

Furthermore, many folks hide behind “pastoral reasons” in order to keep doing things that are ilicit.

The laws of the church including the ones you quote are subject to pastoral practices. That is part of Canon law.
The primary teacher for a diocese, as you know, is the ordinary, not Rome. He is the one to interpets the law and enforces it according to the needs of the people to whom he is responsible. He is our primary teacher, not Rome.
The last thing I think I will do is go to my ordinary before mass and quote those five sections of the law, and tell him he isn’t suppose to give blessings to those who come to him in the communion line.
I always find it ammusing that when you quote the law, you want to leave out the role of the ordinary.
Peace,
FAB