Blessings by Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

[Deacon2006]

My illustration of scaramentals is an example of the lay people passing out a public blessing in church. There are others of course, such as a lay server incensing you during mass or when you offer your neighbor the kiss of peace, or a lay person blessing throats on St. Blaise day. None of these blessing are communal or rise to the level of a priestly blessing but neither does the blessing of a EMHC by saying God Bless you to another lay person.

The problem that I see with your point of view is that it does not take into account the individual who presented themselves for a blessing. I see it as is a sign of humility and respect for the Church and Eucharist to not receive communion when not properly disposed. Secondly it is perfectly legitmate for lay people to say “God Bless You” to one and other especially when one party asks for the blessing.

Are you so certain that the local bishop and/ or priest has not simply execised a lawful dispensation? If my priest requests EMHC to provide a simple blessing among lay people who then I am obliged to obey.

If I have doubts about it then I can call the bishop and let him investigate but in all likelhood he will either claim that it is not a violation of explicit law and it falls into the realm of traditon or grant a dispenstion if he has not done so already. Check out the disensation powers of a bishop and priest. They are pretty extensive especially when it comes to living out Christian charity.

God Bless

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I’ve not seen laymen bless throats on the feast of St. Blaise, nor impose ashes, to my recollection.

If, indeed, they do impose ashes, it’s still the priest who has blessed the ashes. The people are not being ‘blessed,’ are they? They are simply affirming that the holy season of Lent is beginning, and are being reminded of our mortality as humans, whose bodies will one day be dust.

Yes, any layman can say “God bless you,” as in the case when someone sneezes.

But to impose a blessing during the Mass at the time specified for distributing Holy Communion, when one has been deputed for the single purpose of distributing Communion, is overstepping the duties expressly permitted by the Vatican.

If you can find a dispensation that says a priest can deputize a layman to give blessings during Mass, I’d change my tune!

But the Vatican has warned against a ‘certain clericalization of the laity.’ (Redemptionis Sacramentum). And has even clarified the title to be used by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, so as not to broaden the scope of their duties.

I think that speaks volumes.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[condan]

Deacon2006:

…
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.

I don’t understand…I’m confused…If they are not Catholic or not properly disposed, what the hector are they doing on the Communion line?

 

[Deacon2006]

In a perfect world everyone would be perfectly disposed and we would not have needed a savior and for that matter communion.

The wisdom of the bishops reflects the world we live in. The church permits the priest to adjust and protect the sacrament in reasonable and pastoral ways. Redemptionis Sacramentum is just one document that acknowledges the difficulties faced by priests and gives them pastoral latitude see attached quote from the RS;

[84.] Furthermore when Holy Mass is celebrated for a large crowd - for example, in large cities - care should be taken lest out of ignorance non-Catholics or even non-Christians come forward for Holy Communion, without taking into account the Church’s Magisterium in matters pertaining to doctrine and discipline. It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed.

It seems to me that when a priest says to the EMHC give those people who let you know they are not properly disposed to receive communion an approprite blessing between lay people like *God Bless You * then he is in fact protecting the sacrament from being profaned while exercising his discretion of the oppurtune timing.

The communion line is not the eucharist and a lay blessing is a lay blessing. No laws are broken and in fact the discipline of only recieving when you are properly disposed is enhanced and preserved.

God Bless

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Deacon2006:

Redemptionis Sacramentum is just one document that acknowledges the difficulties faced by priests and gives them pastoral latitude see attached quote from the RS;

[84.] Furthermore when Holy Mass is celebrated for a large crowd - for example, in large cities - care should be taken lest out of ignorance non-Catholics or even non-Christians come forward for Holy Communion, without taking into account the Church’s Magisterium in matters pertaining to doctrine and discipline. It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed.

Where do you read this document extending latitude to priests? It seems to me that it is calling them to obedience to the disciplines outlined seven years ago in Instruction on Certain Questions Concerning the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained and the Priestly Ministry, which has been widely ignored here in the US. It is laying out the **“duty of Pastors…to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed.” ** Where’s the latitude there?

It seems to me that when a priest says to the EMHC give those people who let you know they are not properly disposed to receive communion an approprite blessing between lay people like *God Bless You *then he is in fact protecting the sacrament from being profaned while exercising his discretion of the oppurtune timing.

Seems to me the Vatican is telling him that it his duty to inform those present that the Communion line is for those who are receiving Holy Communion, and that all those not receiving may make a spiritual communion in their pews! Please provide some documentation that permits the priest to extend the powers of the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion while they perform their assigned function during the Mass. Why shouldn’t a priest, then, permit the EMHC to annoint the sick they visit in the hospitals? Why can’t I go up and stand next to an EMHC and say God Bless you to each communicant?
Why?
Because these things are just plain wrong.
The ordained have certain duties and privileges which the non-ordained do not have.
But none of us, priest or layman, is to add anything to the Mass. Adding blessings during Holy Communion is liturgically incorrect.
Everyone knows that the priest is going to bless them after Communion anyway, so it is redundant to go up there and make the lines any longer than they already are…
Of course, it’s those long lines that we use as justification for the habitual use of EMHC’s, which the Vatican has also called an end to, but which continue to this day.

Continued…

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

The communion line is not the eucharist

No, but it’s called the Communion line for a reason. Can you guess what reason that may be?

and a lay blessing is a lay blessing.

Please cite the GIRM or other document which allows lay blessings during Communion!!!

No laws are broken

Rubrics are not being followed, and innovations are being added. I’d say that the Church’s disciplines are not being followed carefully and to the fullest. It’s sloppy and it’s disobedient.

and in fact the discipline of only recieving when you are properly disposed is enhanced and preserved.

Enhanced more than what? Sitting quietly in the pew and making a spiritual communion? Preserved from what? If folks not receiving remain in their pews, it would lessen confusion, be more obedient to the Church’s teachings, and slow down the time for distribution of the Hosts and Precious Blood, thereby “unduly prolonging the length of the Mass.”

Incidentally, I recently spoke with one of our EMHC’s when she brought up to me the fact that she’d been asked for her blessing upon a non communicant. I sympathetically said, “Ohhhhh, they should really go to the priest for a blessing.” She said, “Oh yes, I know! But who am I to tell them?” If Father had instructed the EMHC’s to give blessings, she would’ve said so. But he hasn’t. They’re doing it all on their own, just as they’re reposing the vessels in the tabernacle before he gets to it. There are so many of them, and only one of him!

Lest you think that I am “anti-EMHC,” I am not. I do feel that many American bishops, priests, and deacons need to be far more obedient to Rome than they presently exemplify. With the Vatican website available to all, it is easy to access the many documents, letters, and instructions sent to ~ and ignored by ~ many Amercian clergy today. I find that very sad. And to some degree, EMHC are either pawns or accomplices in the disobedience.

I don’t object to their commission, but I do object to their over-use, the confusion caused when their function is broadened beyond the scope of their ministry, and when various abuses against the Eucharist and the Liturgy are committed by them, repeatedly going uncorrected by their pastors.

 

[Deacon2006]

Panis Angelicas

You make some excellent points that I don’t completely disagree with especially about the disposition of EMHC’s but if you refer back to my orginal post you will see that in RS it says

"It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed."

I noticed when you deconstructed my post for your editorial slant that you misquoted this sentence you left out the phrase at an opportune moment.

While our opinion might be the same as to when an opportune time might be, there can be no denying that the priest is clearly given the pastoral latitiude to determine when that time is.

If the pastor chooses the time to be when an individual presents themself in the communion line and out of christian love gives them a blessing instead of communion then what is the problem?

Second if the pastor determines that the need for EMHCs exists at that mass, and asks them to assist him in properly identifying those who might not be disposed, and then asks them to say **God Bless You ** before sending them back to the seats, then whats the problem?

There is no law broken here.

Sure we might all prefer that the children stayed in the pews or the catechumens silently prayed, or the visitors thumbed through the hymn book but we all know this does not happen and as such the bishops let the priest determine the opportune time for pastoral correction.

As for a lay person making a grab for ordained authority by giving blessings you cited the INSTRUCTION ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST.

In the section devoted to EMHC’s it clearly says that the ceremonials must be followed to avoid confusion with priests and deacons. None of the rules associated with EMHC prevent lay blessings and on the contrary when the EMHC takes communion to the sick, as an extension of mass, the ceremonials call for the lay person to conclude with this blessing for all those present;

A minister who is not a priest or deacon invokes God’s blessings and makes the sign of the cross on himself /herself while saying
**Lay Minister: **May the Lord Bless us and protect us and bring us to everlasting life.
**R **Amen

There is no denying that the bishops have approved lay blessings while distributing communion.

There is also no denying every time a blessing is given out it unmistakenly proclaims that the eucharist is something so much more special then a lay blessing. It drives home gently and with reverence a profound point to our protestant brethern and our young children about the summit of our faith.

God Bless

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Deacon2006:

Panis Angelicas

…if you refer…to my…post you will see that in RS it says
"It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed." … when you deconstructed my post for your editorial slant…you misquoted this sentence you left out the phrase at an opportune moment.

Dear Deacon, when I read your post, it seemed to me that you’d deconstructed Redemptionis Sacramentum, in stating that it gives the clergy “latitude,” reading something into it that is not clearly stated at all.
There is a space limit to our posts.

Traditionally, those unable to receive the Eucharist have been informed before getting into a line for Something they can’t have, that they can’t have It! That would be the **“opportune time.” **
The document says:
"care should be taken lest out of ignorance non-Catholics or even non-Christians come forward for Holy Communion,"

Sounds as though care should be taken that those who are ignorant should be informed before ("lest they) come forward"

**“It is the duty of Pastors at an opportune moment to inform” **There is an urgency there, an obligation…not a grant to procrastinate,substitute, or avoid performing the duty altogether…The issue isn’t timing, it is the duty to inform "those present of the authenticity and the discipline that are strictly to be observed."
If timing was the issue, (which seems dubious) what a fine time to “instruct on the authenticity and the discipline” when the person has already **come forward…And, **does the priest inform them, then?! How does blessing them in the Communion line inform them of disciplines that are to be strictly observed?

there can be no denying that the priest is clearly given the pastoral latitiude to determine when that time is.

There can be no denying that the Vatican is telling the clergy that their duty is to inform those present of the Church’s teachings and to strictly follow them, timing notwithstanding.

 

[Middlefork]

Deacon2006, thanks for your guidance on this difficult issue. I just wanted to add that our EMCH’s were advised by our Bishop to say “God be with you now and forever” in such situations. My parish priest has given similar direction but clearly stated not to make the priestly sign of the cross while doing so.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Deacon2006:

As for a lay person making a grab for ordained authority by giving blessings you cited the INSTRUCTION ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST.
In the section devoted to EMHC’s it clearly says that the ceremonials must be followed to avoid confusion with priests and deacons. None of the rules associated with EMHC prevent lay blessings

None of the rules associated with EMHC grant lay blessings be conferred upon others.

when the EMHC takes communion to the sick, as an extension of mass, the ceremonials call for the lay person to conclude with this blessing for all those present;

A minister who is not a priest or deacon invokes God’s blessings and makes the sign of the cross on himself /herself

Makes the Sign of the Cross on himself/herself, Deacon. Not upon the ailing communicant.

Thank you for proving my point. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is not instructed to **confer a blessing upon the ailing communicant, rather, he blesses himself while asking God’s blessing. **This is not what is happening in my parish. The sign of the cross is made over the non-communicant by the EMHC. They also take the Sacred Vessels from the altar, purify, and repose them…Are these not also duties of the ordained?

 

[Deacon2006]

As I said earlier I don’t disagree with all your points but I think I will continue with the guidance I am now recieving from my bishop and pastor.

If they modify their stance I will be the first to fall in line with the new directives. By the sounds of this thread it seems to be happening everywhere I’m sure if the bishops agree with your position then a definitive statement will be released soon.

However I think we must understand properly what is going on here. Lay people laying hands on each other, on a one to one basis, while praying for blessings in the eucharistic celebration is as old as christianity. It in no way detracts or diminishes the from the ordained. If some laity are adopting gestures (tracing crosses in the air) or words ( I bless you in the name of…)which are reserved for the ordained then let the pastor know as I have done in the past.

Your posts indicate a profound desire to champion the role of the ordained and that is to be commended. But as Peter said be prepared to do it with gentleness and be open to the possiblilty that you may be wrong.

God Bless

PS I am not a Deacon just a lowly acolyte, God willing, I will be ordained in 2006

PPS the operative words from the rubric is invokes God’s blessings the proscribed gesture indicates it is a lay blessing and not reserved to the ordained.

 

[debi]

I am an EME and unless and untill all the bishops and priests get on the same page I will continue to lay my hand upon anyone who comes up to the receive a “blessing” and say “May God be with you” as our priest has asked of us. How unchristian to just ignore or make an ackward situation with a person who is in good faith seeking *something *from us. Perhaps the beginnings of a true wanting to fully receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Often it seems we get caught in nit picking the rules until they become our faith… . Yes I know that our Church has lasted for over 2000 years partially because of the rules and our adherance to them. And yes I know that many of the problems that we now face are due to the bending of some of these rules. Just as we have traditions, and Traditions so to we have rules and Rules. Pray that you can discern the difference.

Our faith and the faith of Jesus is about Reverence and Truth, and many other things but especially about Love. Loving our neighbor, forgivness 70 X 7 (and then some) not casting stones, doing good things for the least of people. Maybe our truths, THE TRUTH, will never have the opportunity to grow within the hearts and souls of people of someone if we get so caught up in the small rules.
blessings…
PS most people in this area think I am severly orthodox :yup: .

 

[Katholikos]

Deacon2006 and others,

I have had a belly full of these liturgical abuses that you and others are defending. I am not hung up on the Latin language or the 1962 Missal, but I’m attending the Tridentine Latin Mass that was authorized on June 6 and every subsequent Sunday in the Diocese of Phoenix. It’s the first time the Tridentine Latin Mass has been allowed since VII .

There are
-No lectors.
-No EMs (usually 10 at every Sunday Mass).
-No altar girls.
-No one wears picnic or swimming attire.
-No chit-chatting in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
-No music minister/choir/orchestra parked up front for all to see, distracting attention from the altar, hugging one another and chatting while the congregation tries to pray before Mass begins.
-No annoying music rehearsals of cantors, musicians, and the congregation immediately before Mass.
-No announcements after rehearsals, “Let’s all recollect ourselves for the Mass” – I arrive recollected and remain that way through the observance of Holy Silence.
-No welcoming announcements.
-No one on the altar carrying a water bottle
-No handholding at the Our Father
-No priest wandering through the congregation at the Kiss of Peace, shaking hands

What we do have is:
-Priests profoundly genuflecting to the Blessed Sacrament each and every time they cross in front of the tabernacle instead of merely nodding or bowing slightly ONCE in its general direction.
-Altar boys genuflecting each and every time they cross in front of the Blessed Sacrament, which is many, many times during the Latin Mass.
-Altar boys well trained in the Liturgy, attentive, reverent, no talking, gestures synchronized, perfect Latin – disciplined –
-Communion received reverently on the knees
I could go on and on –

And above all, there is a sense of true WORSHIP of the transcendent God; and there is REVERENCE.

The Latin Mass is a drama, a ballet, a choreographed sacrifice, a beautiful thing to behold, and I’ll NEVER go back to the Novus Ordo again – not because I don’t think it is capable of this level of beauty – it is – but because the abuses have made it ugly. Women in short shorts with their fannies hanging out are distributing the Eucharist. Priests and deacons celebrate the Mass by their own rules, disregarding the Church’s efforts to restore the beauty and reverence we used to know and love.

You should be doing everything you can to stop the abuses in the Novus Ordo. Don’t allow it to go on even one more day.

Lex orandi, lex credendi.

Ave Cor Mariae, Jay

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Katholikos:

Deacon2006 and others,

I have had a belly full of these liturgical abuses that you and others are defending…

You should be doing everything you can to stop the abuses in the Novus Ordo. Don’t allow it to go on even one more day.

Lex orandi, lex credendi.

Ave Cor Mariae, Jay

:bowdown:





​

My sentiments exactly, except that I do not have the privilege or opportunity to go anywhere to find a Mass that is not celebrated sloppily, with priests, deacons, and laymen making up their own excuses for disobeying Rome.

from Deacon2006: Your posts indicate a profound desire to champion the role of the ordained

No, you’ve read me wrong (again).
I have a profound desire --and according to Rome, I have the right–to attend a Mass which is properly and reverently celebrated, without liturgical abuses.

from debi: …Perhaps the beginnings of a true wanting to fully receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Actually, the greatest longing to receive the Body and Blood of Christ is when you have to sit there when many others are going up to receive. Then, one thinks, “I want in!”
But, hey, if you can hop in the line and get a blessing instead of “the Wafer,” then, it’s all good! Feel the unity! Who needs a Sacrament?
That is human nature.
I realize that this isn’t the same for all individuals, but when the great privilege of approaching Our Lord to receive Him can so easily be replaced by the protestant altar call y’all come mentality, it is easy for some folk to think that one thing ~ a layman’s unofficial blessing ~ is as good as Another ~ the Most Holy Eucharist.
Are you ever concerned, while laying hands upon non-communicants, that you may be losing Sacred Particles?
Or is it just about making everyone feel warm and fuzzy?

 

[Flounder]

I never understood why adults join the communion line to get an extra blessing a few minutes before the priest is about to bless us all anyway.

 

[system]

Katholikos:

I am not hung up on the Latin language or the 1962 Missal

But you do present the standard misleading TLM propaganda, and the TLM mantra (drama… ballet… most beautiful thing this side of heaven… blah, blah, blah). And it’s injected from out of nowhere into a completely unrelated thread, for no apparent reason.

Most of your “there are no” 's do NOT occur at most N.O. masses either, and most of your “there are” 's DO occur at most N.O. masses. In fact most N.O. masses also have “a sense of true WORSHIP of the transcendent God; and there is REVERENCE”. But that’s not what your post was about, was it - it was the standard TLM informercial.

TLM advocates demand respect for their preference, but never seem to offer it in return. Legitimate options in the NO are not abuses just because they’re not in the TLM.

And now, back to the thread.

 

[Deacon2006]

Flounder
It seems really strange to me too but it happens and the bishops knows it happens. So why have they not suppressed the pious practice? Or better yet why have so many bishops decided to set out guidelines for what an EMHC should do when confronted by the situation? Negligence and ignorance don’t strike as reasonable answers.

When we look back to our roots in the first century even the hardest hearted historian will conclude there is substantial evidence that the lay would assist with the distribution of communion and that they would bless each other at eucharistic gatherings. The evidence is also clear that the lay never lost sight of the very central role reserved for the ordained and the blessings they conferred on behalf of the whole church.

I am as concerned by some lay people usurping authority as I am by the lay pushing clerics into a monstrance. Clericalism is an abuse that cuts both ways.

As I have said time and time again, if my pastor, bishop or pope decides to do away with EMHC and lay blessing I will be right there with them. They have not banned or even spoke to the pious practice in any of the recent documents from Rome which are designed to curb liturgical abuses.

The authority of the bishop to set policies for what an EMHC should do when someone presents themseleves for Communion who should not be admitted is found in clearly in the THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED document. As such I and all EMHC’s are obliged to obey our local bishops and pastors in the policies they set forth.

The mere existence of local policies is evidence that at least some bishops definitively believe that Rome has granted them the authority to do such. I’m not prepared to call these bishops and pastors heretics but I am always amazed at how many are.

God Bless

PS I do not support liturgical abuse as some have claimed I always support my bishop.

PPS The litugical abuses that have been surpressed as relating to EMHC’s, as you can see they are pointed and specific and do not relate to lay blessings even though many wish they did :

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;

— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

— 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]

Melman:

But you do present the standard misleading TLM propaganda, and the TLM mantra (drama… ballet… most beautiful thing this side of heaven… blah, blah, blah). And it’s injected from out of nowhere into a completely unrelated thread, for no apparent reason.

Most of your “there are no” 's do NOT occur at most N.O. masses either, and most of your “there are” 's DO occur at most N.O. masses. In fact most N.O. masses also have “a sense of true WORSHIP of the transcendent God; and there is REVERENCE”. But that’s not what your post was about, was it - it was the standard TLM informercial.

TLM advocates demand respect for their preference, but never seem to offer it in return. Legitimate options in the NO are not abuses just because they’re not in the TLM.

And now, back to the thread.

Mel,
I think you missed Katholikos’ point. He’s not anti Novus Ordo. He’s anti liturgical abuse.
Not surprisingly, he’s practically in heaven when he attends the indult Masses.
I’d be in heaven, too, if glaring abuses weren’t tossed into the mix every time I went to worship. It becomes very disheartening to anyone who understands and loves the Mass.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Deacon2006:

Flounder
It seems really strange to me too but it happens and the bishops knows it happens…Negligence and ignorance don’t strike as reasonable answers.

Sure they do, along with disobedience. Rome says, "Do this; and many American bishops say, “Do that.” Happens all the time.

When we look back to our roots in the first century even the hardest hearted historian will conclude there is substantial evidence that the lay would assist with the distribution of communion and that they would bless each other at eucharistic gatherings.

This is 2004, not the first century. The lay do not assist with the distribution of Communion unless commissioned by the bishop for extraordinary circumstances. And we do not bless each other at the Mass.

I am as concerned by some lay people usurping authority as I am by the lay pushing clerics into a monstrance. Clericalism is an abuse that cuts both ways.

Clericalism is the attempt of the laity to act as a priest. Who wants to push clerics into a monstrance? Seems some folks here want their bishop to be in one, since he can usurp dictates from the pope at will!

They have not banned or even spoke to the pious practice in any of the recent documents from Rome which are designed to curb liturgical abuses.

Oh, Redemptionis was designed to curb liturgical abuses? I thought you said it was written to “give latitude” to priests! Here’s a thought: If the Vatican does not directly give consent to something, then we are not assume assent to it! The Vatican has not approved lay blessings during Communion, and therefore, it should not be done.

As such I and all EMHC’s are obliged to obey our local bishops and pastors in the policies they set forth.

Anything that the bishop instructs his priests,etc. to do must be harmony with the mandates from Rome. With all due respect intended, he’s not his own little pope.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

PS I do not support liturgical abuse as some have claimed I always support my bishop.

In some dioceses in the US, those two are nearly synonymous!

PPS The litugical abuses that have been surpressed as relating to EMHC’s, as you can see they are pointed and specific and do not relate to lay blessings even though many wish they did :

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;
​

— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

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

The document you cite is SEVEN YEARS old! When will the American bishops even comply with that??? This is exactly why many faithful are so fed up, they’re not walking, they’re running to the nearest TLM!!!

Pax Christi. <><