Blessings by Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

[larryo]

Is it proper for EMEs to grant blessings at Mass to those who are unable to receive? At our parish, the EMEs–called Special Ministers of the Eucharist (SMEs)–are instructed to bless anyone who approaches with his arms crossed. Is there any instruction or guidance on this issue?

 

[Iohannes]

I think only priests can bless people.
EMHC are not suppose to do it I think, probally another sign of priest-envy.

 

[ChuckODonnell]

Extra Ordinary Ministers are instructed to say

“May God Bless You” when someone approaches with
arms crossed. We have had two priests instruct us at different times with the same instructions. My understanding is that we are not giving a sacramental blessing as a priest might.

So I checked the GIRM and “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion … " at the USCCB site (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops”. So far, I cannot find any written instruction for this situation.

usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.htm

What I did find is that our parish is doing several things wrong. But that is another story.

God Bless

 

[buffalo]

No! They are not allowed to give a blessing.

 

[arnulf]

It is my understanding that only ordained persons may give a blessing on behalf of the church, but parents may always bless their children, and any lay person may pray for God’s blessing on himself and others, using the form “May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life” while making the sign of the cross.

 

[ChuckODonnell]

buffalo:

No! They are not allowed to give a blessing.

Do you know of anything in the GIRM, etc that addresses this? I would certainly bring it up to our pastor immediately. I have felt uncomfortable with this aspect of the Extra Ordinary Minister responsibilities for several years. Thanks for the information.

God Bless

 

[Anthony]

Before I was confirmed as I traveled on my long path home into the church I would obediently approach the communion line and receive a blessing although my Spirit hungered for the Eucharist. On most occasions I would receive a blessing from the priest or the extraordinary Eucharistic minister, depending on which line I would walk in. On one particular occasion I approached the elderly lady who was the eucharistic minister with my arms crossed and she stumbled and stuttered saying “The Body of Christ” holding it out to me although my arms were clearly crossed over my chest. I asked her for a blessing and she responded, “I can’t do that, you have to go to the priest.” Well, the experience was very awkward and confusing for me and as I returned to my seat to pray I found it hard to concentrate. I don’t see the liturgical reason why someone would be restricted from saying “God Bless you,” as a simple blessing. We say it all the time when someone sneezes, why should someone who has been granted the responsibility to minister the Body of Christ be restricted from administering a blessing? During the most high moment of the mass, when we are supposed to be one body in communion, why do we need to confuse people by not offering them blessing?

 

[ChuckODonnell]

arnulf:

It is my understanding that only ordained persons may give a blessing on behalf of the church, but parents may always bless their children, and any lay person may pray for God’s blessing on himself and others, using the form “May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life” while making the sign of the cross.

Right. In the written instruction for ministering to the homebound we find these words, “May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life” while making the sign of the cross. You phrase it as I understand it; that we pray for God’s blessing. The problem is that I have never seen written instruction on this topic for either mass or the homebound.

God Bless

 

[buffalo]

Blessings

From the CCC:

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.174 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).175

From EWTN:
EMEs and Blessing
Question from Janet on 10-27-2003: Dear Colin,Thank you for taking my question.

Are EMEs allowed to give a blessing when they are distributing Holy Communion? This is prevalent in our Parish. I want to address this issue with the individual who trains the EMEs as I have read several posts that say they are not allowed to impose a blessing on individuals when they are distributing Communion. Please let me know if there is a document that I can cite that forbids this practice so I can present it to the EME trainer. Thanks again.

Janet

     **Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 10-28-2003:**            Canon 1169

1. Persons who possess the episcopal character as well as presbyters to whom it is permitted by law or by legitimate concession can validly perform consecrations and dedications.
2. Any presbyter can impart blessings, except those which are reserved to the Roman Pontiff or to bishops.
3. A deacon can impart only those blessings which are expressly permitted to him by law.
   You don’t have to prove they are forbidden to bless. It is up to those who claim they can to prove the authority has been granted by law, along the lines of #3 above. It hasn’t, ergo, they are simply flaterring their own egos if they think waving their hands or signing someone on the forehead actually DOES anything.

 

[alamb]

larryo:

Is it proper for EMEs to grant blessings at Mass to those who are unable to receive? At our parish, the EMEs–called Special Ministers of the Eucharist (SMEs)

Re: Aren’t they supposed to be called "Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion" ?

–are instructed to bless anyone who approaches with his arms crossed. Is there any instruction or guidance on this issue?

Re: *Why are these ‘blessings’ going on at all? Holy Communion is a time for all Catholics, who are prepared, i.e. in state of grace, to approach the priest, deacon, or EMHC… to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus… that’s the proper action at that time… If parents don’t want to leave pre-Communion children in the pews, why not teach them to make a ‘spiritual communion’ (Jesus ,come into my heart,) *
As to ‘blessings’… everyone gathered at Mass receives the Final Blessing… Should someone desire a 'special, personal blessing, the Pastor or Deacon would certainly be glad to do that, I would think…(unless of course, everyone would line up for a blessing at the door…Gee, maybe that’s how and why the Final Blessing was placed at the end of Mass…'ya think?

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Anthony:

On one particular occasion I approached the elderly lady who was the eucharistic minister with my arms crossed and she stumbled and stuttered saying “The Body of Christ” holding it out to me although my arms were clearly crossed over my chest. I asked her for a blessing and she responded, “I can’t do that, you have to go to the priest.”

Good for her! She’s the first Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who I’ve heard of properly executing her commission under such circumstances!

Well, the experience was very awkward and confusing for me and as I returned to my seat to pray I found it hard to concentrate.

You were actually confused in the first place, expecting a member of the lay faithful to impose a blessing upon you during HolyCommunion. (I don’t mean to sound harsh here and I apologize if it comes across that way.)

I don’t see the liturgical reason why someone would be restricted from saying “God Bless you,” as a simple blessing.

No, you don’t see the liturgical reason. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. It just means you don’t see it.

…why should someone who has been granted the responsibility to minister the Body of Christ be restricted from administering a blessing?

BINGO. You’ve just answered your own question. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to be called upon in extraordinary cases, to assist in distributing Holy Communion. Period. They are not priests. They are not ordained. Their hands have not been consecrated. They have no business imposing blessings, taking the Host or Chalice from the altar, pouring the wine into the chalice, or reposing the Sacred vessels in the tabernacle after Holy Communion. They have been deputed for a single function only.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

INSTRUCTION

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED
FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA
VATICAN CITY 1997**

…Article 8

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

…§ 1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. … Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.(97)…
A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to **act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion **(my emphasis) outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period…

This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese…
To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

…
— the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of “a great number of the faithful”.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

From the Vatican, March 25, 2004
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT

INSTRUCTION

Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

---

Chapter VII

EXTRAORDINARY FUNCTIONS
OF LAY FAITHFUL

[146.] There can be no substitute whatsoever for the ministerial Priesthood. For if a Priest is lacking in the community, then the community lacks the exercise and sacramental function of Christ the Head and Shepherd, which belongs to the essence of its very life.[247] For “the only minister who can confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[248]…
[151.] Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the Liturgy. Such recourse is not intended for the sake of a fuller participation of the laity but rather, by its very nature, is supplementary and provisional.[252] Furthermore, when recourse is had out of necessity to the functions of extraordinary ministers, special urgent prayers of intercession should be multiplied that the Lord may soon send a Priest for the service of the community and raise up an abundance of vocations to sacred Orders.[253]…
continued…

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

You see that the Church does not extend the same privileges to the non-ordained as to ordained priests and deacons. And nowhere can permission for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to give blessings be found. Therefore, they are not authorized to perform this function during the Mass.

The priest performs a blessing upon all the faithful after Holy Communion and before dismissal.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[Deacon2006]

EMHC are deputed to represent the Church in their temporary litugical function. As such if there is no rule that permits the EMHC to bless then generally the blessing is illicit.

However most pastors do grant the authroity to EMHC to bless at communion time because it serves the very noble pastoral concerns for those who might not be Catholic, or properly disposed to recieve communion. Don’t forget a lay person is normally allowed to administer scaramentals such ashes.

The real problem I have seen is that one EMHC with the Eucharist in hand trances a cross in the air while she says Body of Christ. Explicit law is very clear, the laity including installed acolytes are prevented from performing eucharistic benedictions.

God Bless

 

[cmom]

Deacon2006:

EMHC are deputed to represent the Church in their temporary litugical function. As such if there is no rule that permits the EMHC to bless then generally the blessing is illicit.

However most pastors do grant the authroity to EMHC to bless at communion time because it serves the very noble pastoral concerns for those who might not be Catholic, or properly disposed to recieve communion. Don’t forget a lay person is normally allowed to administer scaramentals such ashes.

The real problem I have seen is that one EMHC with the Eucharist in hand trances a cross in the air while she says Body of Christ. Explicit law is very clear, the laity including installed acolytes are prevented from performing eucharistic benedictions.

God Bless/QUOTE

First of all the Communion line is hardly the place for a sacramental.
Second, who gives a priest the right to deputize lay people to give out blessings?
Citations in the Canon law, GIRM or Chruch document please.

 

[JimG]

I’ve seen this happen too, but laypersons should not be giving blessings in the communion line. It causes a confusion of roles.

The whole thing could be avoided if people were simply instructed to only approach for communion if they intend to receive communion. Anyone not receiving communion should remain in the pew.

JimG

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Furthermore, I’ve been told time and again that receiving Holy Communion is not a devotion which is to be individualized; “it’s not a ‘me and Jesus’ kinda thing.”
It is a Sacrament of Unity.
When we receive Holy Communion, we all become One Body: the Mystical Body of Christ.
What happens when one goes up to receive a blessing?
It’s a “me” thing. A personal, individual blessing.
It sets the person more apart than if he simply remained in his seat and made a Spiritual Communion.
We are all blessed together at the end of the Mass.
Is that blessing not good enough?
One feels the need for a special, personal blessing at Communion time?
This seems to me to be yet another innovation; someone inserting something extra into the Mass, which was not originally intended.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[JC_Nixon]

Great thread! As a EMHC I have had a couple of situations similar to these that had never been addressed in training. I can see the children coming in the Communion line with their parents and having their arms crossed is helpful, as you can’t always tell if they are of age to have made first Communion. I just smile at them and turn my attention to giving Eucharist to the parent. It is a bit awkward, but it works. Where I had really been stumped was when during the process of distruibuting Eucharist, and all of a sudden there is an adult standing in front of me with their arms crossed! So what am I supposed to do?? I already had the host in my fingers, so I simply held it in place and said ‘the Body of Christ’, they said amen and kept on going. Was this correct?? I have no clue, but I am glad this has been raised as I really need to get some clarification from our pastor as I have seen this person and her spouse in other Communion lines, so it is obviously a recurring issue.

 

[a_pilgrim]

JC Nixon:

Great thread! As a EMHC I have had a couple of situations similar to these that had never been addressed in training. I can see the children coming in the Communion line with their parents and having their arms crossed is helpful, as you can’t always tell if they are of age to have made first Communion.

Hi, JC Nixon!

Just curious… Eastern Catholic children, for the most part, receive the Eucharist as an infant, during the same ceremony that they receive the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation (Confirmation). These children are therefore eligible to receive Holy Communion at any Catholic Church, despite their youthful age, from that point on. Did your EMHC training address this point with regard to Eastern Catholic families who may be visiting your parish? As an EMHC, how were you taught to handle a toddler, or even an infant in parent’s arms, if they were to approach for Communion?

a pilgrim