Blessings by lay people

[Hudsonite]

We have a Mass at our Catholic school, oops, Education Center every Friday. A friend of mine attended last Friday and she said she was mortified at the abuses that went on.
The thing that bothered her the most was watching, after communion, ALL of the kindergarteners, 1st graders and 2nd graders lined up for a blessing. The kids stood in line with thier arms crossed in front of them as they approached one of two woman who laid hands on them and gave them a special blessing. What is that? Lay people can not give Blessings.
From my understanding, we can bless our children and bless ourselves but we can not Bless others.
Where does the Church stand on this?

 

[MrS]

I think it is called “touchy, feely” And is not meant to be a part of the liturgy.

Our otherwise-orthodox pastor started giving a blessing to any and all children who came to communion with their parents. Kid gets blessing, parent receives. The communion line is NOT the place for these blessings.

It was intended to give the kids an eagerness to receive. That just does not happen. For them it is a parade with a touch from the priest.

Why can’t we teach reverence in the Mass. Because so many lay people think Vatican II gives/encourages them to be inovative and creative.

MrS

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Hudsonite:

We have a Mass at our Catholic school, oops, Education Center every Friday. A friend of mine attended last Friday and she said she was mortified at the abuses that went on.
The thing that bothered her the most was watching, after communion, ALL of the kindergarteners, 1st graders and 2nd graders lined up for a blessing. The kids stood in line with thier arms crossed in front of them as they approached one of two woman who laid hands on them and gave them a special blessing. What is that? Lay people can not give Blessings.
From my understanding, we can bless our children and bless ourselves but we can not Bless others.
Where does the Church stand on this?

Just a small clarification – lay people can give blessings. The Book of Blessings – the official ritual book for blessings, specifies that more than half of the blessings in it may be given by lay people. Lay people (and deacons) do not bless in their own name but, rather, call upon God to bless. Bishops and priests may bless in their own name, but they, too, usually call upon God to bless. Some blessings in the book are reserved to bishops, priests and deacons, others to bishops and priests, and still others to bishops alone.

What is happening is not prohibited, nor is it encouraged. the GIRM is silent on this question. Theologicailly one can view this from two different positions – the children are getting used to God’s graces at the time of communion which will, at the appropriate time, become the graces of the Eucharist. The other side is that this is a practice which has no historical bases and which is contrary to the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Pick your side…

Deacon Ed

 

[BLB_Oregon]

Deacon Ed:

Just a small clarification – lay people can give blessings. The Book of Blessings – the official ritual book for blessings, specifies that more than half of the blessings in it may be given by lay people. Lay people (and deacons) do not bless in their own name but, rather, call upon God to bless.

I’m glad to hear this, since we give our children a blessing every night. They even bless us back.
Deacon Ed:

Theologicailly one can view this from two different positions – the children are getting used to God’s graces at the time of communion which will, at the appropriate time, become the graces of the Eucharist. The other side is that this is a practice which has no historical bases and which is contrary to the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Pick your side…

I’m on the side of not introducing anything contrary to the Eastern Catholic Churches without reason. We have enough to mend as it is.

 

[Lance]

Thanks Deacon Ed. I was begining to worry, because our pastor has asked that lay ministers give a blessing to kids and others who do not receive when giving communion. I was begining to think I was doing something wrong.

 

[Crusader]

Deacon Ed:

Just a small clarification – lay people can give blessings. The Book of Blessings – the official ritual book for blessings, specifies that more than half of the blessings in it may be given by lay people. Lay people (and deacons) do not bless in their own name but, rather, call upon God to bless. Bishops and priests may bless in their own name, but they, too, usually call upon God to bless. Some blessings in the book are reserved to bishops, priests and deacons, others to bishops and priests, and still others to bishops alone.

What is happening is not prohibited, nor is it encouraged. the GIRM is silent on this question. Theologicailly one can view this from two different positions – the children are getting used to God’s graces at the time of communion which will, at the appropriate time, become the graces of the Eucharist. The other side is that this is a practice which has no historical bases and which is contrary to the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Pick your side…

Deacon Ed

The GIRM is also silent on the question of allowing a chicken BBQ to take place on the edge of the sanctuary during the Mass.

To suggest something must be tolerated because the “GIRM is silent” on the issue simply makes no sense.

Using that sort of logic, we could sell draft beer and peanuts during Mass to raise funds for youth programs…

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Crusader:

The GIRM is also silent on the question of allowing a chicken BBQ to take place on the edge of the sanctuary during the Mass.

To suggest something must be tolerated because the “GIRM is silent” on the issue simply makes no sense.

Using that sort of logic, we could sell draft beer and peanuts during Mass to raise funds for youth programs…

The GIRM is not silent on this issue, so your argument is spurious.

1. The People of God, gathered for Mass, has a coherent and hierarchical structure, which finds its expression in the variety of ministries and the variety of actions according to the different parts of the celebration. The general ordering of the sacred building must be such that in some way it conveys the image of the gathered assembly and allows the appropriate ordering of all the participants, as well as facilitating each in the proper carrying out of his function.

The faithful and the choir should have a place that facilitates their active participation.

The priest celebrant, the deacon, and the other ministers have places in the sanctuary. Seats for concelebrants should also be prepared there. If, however, their number is great, seats should be arranged in another part of the church, but near the altar.

All these elements, even though they must express the hierarchical structure and the diversity of ministries, should nevertheless bring about a close and coherent unity that is clearly expressive of the unity of the entire holy people. Indeed, the character and beauty of the place and all its furnishings should foster devotion and show forth the holiness of the mysteries celebrated there.

This makes it pretty clear where everyone sits. At the same time, chickens were brought into the sanctuary as offerings both in the early Church and, more recently, in areas where that is what it offered because the people have no money. I doubt, however, that a BBQ would be considered a liturgically appropriate action. Since giving a blessing is liturgically appropriate, the issue of whether or not the GIRM makes any statement on it is relevant.

Deacon Ed

 

[rwoehmke]

Good night and God Bless! I learned this blessing for my children and others(Good By and God Bless) from my Irish mother-in-law about forty years ago. My children use it with my grandchildren as well as with people on the phone, meeting someone at the store etc. It has become a lot like the greeting used in Bavaria and Austria to almost everyone “Gruss Gott.” I can only say what a wonderful witness it is to the fact that God matters in your own and others lives. As part of the Mass it self? I have no opinion, but it sure wouldn’t bother my sensibilities.

 

[KCT]

Lance:

Thanks Deacon Ed. I was begining to worry, because our pastor has asked that lay ministers give a blessing to kids and others who do not receive when giving communion. I was begining to think I was doing something wrong.

Our parish does this too. To me, it gives the appearance that the lay person distributing Communion is somehow set apart from the rest of the congregation. As if they are more like priests than anyone else in the pews. If anyone can give a blessing, why not let parents do it in the pew before they go up to receive? My opinion obviously, but I just think it’s one of those things that helps blur the line between ordained and laity. —KCT

 

[Hudsonite]

KCT:

Our parish does this too. To me, it gives the appearance that the lay person distributing Communion is somehow set apart from the rest of the congregation. As if they are more like priests than anyone else in the pews. If anyone can give a blessing, why not let parents do it in the pew before they go up to receive? My opinion obviously, but I just think it’s one of those things that helps blur the line between ordained and laity. —KCT

Touche!

 

[RichT]

I’m going to KFC for lunch. And of course I’ll ask God for a blessing before I eat it.

 

[DJJG]

Deacon Ed:

Just a small clarification – lay people can give blessings. The Book of Blessings – the official ritual book for blessings, specifies that more than half of the blessings in it may be given by lay people. Lay people (and deacons) do not bless in their own name but, rather, call upon God to bless. Bishops and priests may bless in their own name, but they, too, usually call upon God to bless. Some blessings in the book are reserved to bishops, priests and deacons, others to bishops and priests, and still others to bishops alone.

What is happening is not prohibited, nor is it encouraged. the GIRM is silent on this question. Theologicailly one can view this from two different positions – the children are getting used to God’s graces at the time of communion which will, at the appropriate time, become the graces of the Eucharist. The other side is that this is a practice which has no historical bases and which is contrary to the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Pick your side…

Deacon Ed

While lay people can give some blessings, this should be in a private place, as at home, NOT in a public place, as in the church. Also, that is correct that blessing the children at mass, durring communion, “is not prohibited, not is it encouraged,” however, if it is done the children should come up with their parents or a family member, while they are receiving communion and NOT approch as a group after communion, this whould be wrong.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Lance:

Thanks Deacon Ed. I was begining to worry, because our pastor has asked that lay ministers give a blessing to kids and others who do not receive when giving communion. I was begining to think I was doing something wrong.

Pope John Paul II on April 17, 1980, approved and confirmed Inaestimabile Donum. In it’s forward, he wrote:

The faithful have a right to a true Liturgy, which means the Liturgy desired and laid down by the Church, which has in fact indicated where adaptations may be made as called for by pastoral requirements in different places or by different groups of people. Undue experimentation, changes and creativity bewilder the faithful. The use of unauthorized texts means a loss of the necessary connection between the lex orandi and the lex credendi. The Second Vatican Council’s admonition in this regard must be remembered: "No person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority."

---

Therefore, unless you can find some official Church document which permits the laity to bestow blessings during Mass upon other laity, it shouldn’t be done.

There is also an instruction to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, can’t quite remember its name right now, but it tells the emHC that the only words they are to say is, “The Body of Christ,” or “The Blood of Christ.” They are not to “ad lib.” To render a blessing instead of Holy Communion is not within the parameters of their authority. They are specially commissioned to perform a very specific function, in times of necessity, for a temporary term.

To expand the necessity of emHC by allowing any and all to come forward for blessings when this time of the liturgy is traditionally observed for reception of Christ’s Body and Blood is altering the liturgy and unduly pronlonging the Mass ~ which is why priests claim they need emHC’s in the first place!

Indeed, silence in the GIRM does not indicate permission or approval. Innovations are forbidden. Period.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

In 1997, the Holy Father released Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest, with Article 8 thoroughly discussing the role and limitations of the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. Among its statements is:

§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100)

This instruction sites Canon Law Section 230 to point out the legality of the use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Nowhere does Canon Law specifiy the right of emHC to render blessings in lieu of Holy Communion.

Bishops are given the authority to regulate the norms for emHC within their dioceses, provided that such norms are in accord with Canon Law.

To date, much has been written from the Vatican warning of the “clericalization” of the laity, of the blurring of the lines of distinction between the ordained and the layfaithful. Yet few are listening and heeding the wise counsels from the Vatican.

The most recent of such instructions was Redemptionis Sacramentum, released on March 25, 2004.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

One blessing that is always appropiate is for parents to bless their children. This goes back to OT times. I think it is a beautiful family practice. Scott Hahn mentioned this in one of his classes. He said that he bless his kids daily.

God bless you all,
Deacon Tony

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I’ve seen this question pop up a couple of times now. (In fact, I think I posted the question once myself!) And it always asks about the laity imposing blessings during Mass.

I think most of us know that we can bless ourselves and our loved ones with holy water and/or a prayer at home, in the hospital, etc.

However, the real question is, should laity (non communicants) be approaching laity (extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) for a blessing in the Communion line during Mass?

The answer seems obviously to be “no,” since during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the priest acts in persona Christi ~ in the person of Christ ~ and extraordinary ministers are merely members of the faithful who have been deputed to distributed the Body and Blood.

The priest blesses everyone in the assembly after Holy Communion has been distributed, before dismissal.

Why do some people feel the need, then, to approach an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to receive a special blessing from them? It is truly confusing and bewildering!

Does a blessing of children really make them anticipate reception of Holy Communion? Or, does it satisfy the desire to go up and get “something” from “someone,” so that receiving a blessing becomes regarded as “on a par” with reception of Holy Communion?

My fear is that the blessing becomes a cheap, easy substitute for the “Real Presence.” Those who are in a state of sin, have not observed the required fast, are not Catholic, have not received all the Sacraments, etc., ~ can all walk up and be “satisfied,” rather than remaining seated and hungering and thirsting for the Body and Blood of Our Lord.