Blessings during holy communion

[FatHead]

You should talk to your priest - seems like this thread has indicated a few good talking points. If he brushes you off, which happens too often as I perceive it, ask him what other aspects of the ritual can be ignored . . . you know, just so you’re clear on what is a mandatory rule and what is an optional rule.

Pax,
OA

wow. great response. ive never heard it put that way.

 

[fall_fox]

The abuse we have in our parish is that the emhcs at the credence table are using PURIFIcators immediately after water is doused by the priest onto the sacred vessels. This drying act is part and parcel of the PURIFIcation process.

Are you possibly leaving something out. Does your Priest consume the water/Christ’s blood before they wipe it with the purficator. If he did, what is going on is okay, in fact the sacred vessels could be taken to the sacristy and washed without using the purificator before hand.

The act of rinsing the sacred vessel with water, then consuming it, is the Purfication. It has nothing to do with the cloth called a purificator, although the Priest usually wipes the sacred vessel dry with it, but as I have said before he wouldn’t need to.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

So…some of you here are saying that it is NOT acceptable for priests to give a blessing to people who get into the communion line and, when they come up to the priest, cross their arms over their chest?

I’m a catholic-in-training, and I was taught in RCIA inquiry that this was appropriate for those of us who can not (or not yet) receive communion (ie: those w/mortal sin, us catholics-in-training, etc), and I’ve been doing it ever since - - - and have received a blessing from the Father in 3 churches in 2 different states.

 

[sistermouse]

The EMHC’s at my parrish give blessings to people, children & adults who go up in the Communion line. I saw it during the first Mass I attended and ever since, I have kept my eyes closed & prayed until Communion is over. I had been reading on CA for over a year before I went back and I knew it was wrong for this to happen. I am unable to attend a different parrish so I live with what I have.

 

[Edward_H]

Are you possibly leaving something out. Does your Priest consume the water/Christ’s blood before they wipe it with the purficator. If he did, what is going on is okay, in fact the sacred vessels could be taken to the sacristy and washed without using the purificator before hand.

The act of rinsing the sacred vessel with water, then consuming it, is the Purfication. It has nothing to do with the cloth called a purificator, although the Priest usually wipes the sacred vessel dry with it, but as I have said before he wouldn’t need to.

No I am not leaving anything out. Show us where the drying of the vessels on the altar with the PURIFIcators is not part of purification. Maybe you can find something in the GIRM. I couldn’t.

 

[Edward_H]

So…some of you here are saying that it is NOT acceptable for priests to give a blessing to people who get into the communion line and, when they come up to the priest, cross their arms over their chest?

I’m a catholic-in-training, and I was taught in RCIA inquiry that this was appropriate for those of us who can not (or not yet) receive communion (ie: those w/mortal sin, us catholics-in-training, etc), and I’ve been doing it ever since - - - and have received a blessing from the Father in 3 churches in 2 different states.

That is right . Not acceptable. There is one blessing in the Mass. And it is not from the emhcs.

I have seen a priest when confronted by a hand crosser simply do a mini benediction as he was already holding a host in his hand. Beautiful way to handle it.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

That is right . Not acceptable. There is one blessing in the Mass. And it is not from the emhcs.

I have seen a priest when confronted by a hand crosser simply do a mini benediction as he was already holding a host in his hand. Beautiful way to handle it.

Can you give a (short) explanation why? I understand why the emhcs cannot bless, but why not the father who, in my limited understanding, in this role fills in for Jesus? Are you saying Jesus couldn’t/can’t stop what he’s doing a give a poor chap a blessing? Seems like he did that frequently…

 

[PiousTemplar]

thanks for bringing this up. I didn’t know about this. I myself am a emhc, and at my parish we were told to bless people that come up with the arms crossed. Never had an adult come up. Just kids, so i just tapped their heads with my hand. It’s not really doing anything because i am a lay person. Also we were told to drink reverently the precious blood in the sacristy after everyone had came up for communion. It really disturbs me when the other person say’s "there’s nothing like a glass of wine on sunday." after we consume the precious blood we are suppose to swish tap water around in the chalice and consume it, then we dry them and put it in the cabinet.

I believe there needs to be some reform at my parish. I try to do everything as reverently as i can, but the other’s i am not so sure about.

I am currently in the process of applying to seminary, and if i ever get ordained god willingly, i would bring back the altar rails and have 1 emhc.

I also heard some things today at choir practice, our organist isn’t catholic, and she said she does not take communion, but one time a member of the choir broke a host and brought it up to her. I don’t know this member, but i do know she is no longer catholic.

Lord have mercy! Tell the priest!

 

[Edward_H]

Can you give a (short) explanation why? I understand why the emhcs cannot bless, but why not the father who, in my limited understanding, in this role fills in for Jesus? Are you saying Jesus couldn’t/can’t stop what he’s doing a give a poor chap a blessing? Seems like he did that frequently…

Sure Jesus and the priest could, and some priests end their homily with a blessing, it’s just not part of the rubrics of the Mass and it’s simply not necessary. It accomplishes nothing supernaturally that is not done as part of the Mass anyway.

The only reason to do it is to make some person “feel” better, and that’s not something that should define the content of the Mass, and in this case the Communion Rite.

There is already too much nonsense done for the sake of feelings. That’s not what Holy Mass is about. It’s not about us, in the temporal sense.

 

[FatHead]

I understand why the emhcs cannot bless, but why not the father who, in my limited understanding, in this role fills in for Jesus? Are you saying Jesus couldn’t/can’t stop what he’s doing a give a poor chap a blessing? Seems like he did that frequently…

because the church says he cant, and jesus gave his authority to the church.

why cant father go feed the poor during mass, since he’s filling the role of jesus?

why cant father [fill in the blank] during mass, since he’s filling the role of jesus?

you see the upsurdity of this argument?

 

[Boatswain2PA]

because the church says he cant, and jesus gave his authority to the church.

why cant father go feed the poor during mass, since he’s filling the role of jesus?

why cant father [fill in the blank] during mass, since he’s filling the role of jesus?

you see the upsurdity of this argument?

You say “The Church” says he can’t. Yet Jesus gave his authority to Peter, who has passed it on down to Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict has delegated authorities down to the Bishops and them to the priests…so if the priests (and the Bishops) are okay with it, then I am. I certainly do not see a moral issue with receiving a quiet blessing from the priest instead of holy communion.

Is there a formal church doctrine that explicitly states the priest cannot give someone a blessing instead of communion?

 

[Edward_H]

You say “The Church” says he can’t. Yet Jesus gave his authority to Peter, who has passed it on down to Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict has delegated authorities down to the Bishops and them to the priests…so if the priests (and the Bishops) are okay with it, then I am. I certainly do not see a moral issue with receiving a quiet blessing from the priest instead of holy communion.

Is there a formal church doctrine that explicitly states the priest cannot give someone a blessing instead of communion?

Why would the priest need to do this when he gives a blessing to all at the end of Mass?

Are you saying the blessing of Jesus through the hands of the priest at the end of Mass is somehow inadequate?

 

[Boatswain2PA]

Why would the priest need to do this when he gives a blessing to all at the end of Mass?

Are you saying the blessing of Jesus through the hands of the priest at the end of Mass is somehow inadequate?

Because he wants to? Because some people may have a need for it? (for various reasons) Is there such a thing as “too many blessings”?

And of course I’m not saying anything is inadequate. Please don’t put negative connotations in what I’m saying.

 

[Edward_H]

Because he wants to? Because some people may have a need for it? (for various reasons) Is there such a thing as “too many blessings”?

And of course I’m not saying anything is inadequate. Please don’t put negative connotations in what I’m saying.

The Mass isn’t about what a priest and what people want.

The Blessing at the end of the Mass is to meet perfectly what the people need.

I’m not putting any sort of negative connotation on anything you’ve written. You just don’t seem to be getting what I have already said regarding sufficiency.

 

[Edward_H]

Why didn’t Jesus get off the cross and tell parables for the late comers on calvary?

Why didn’t Jesus come out the tomb on saturday morning for the early risers who were heading to their beach houses on that day?

Everything has a time and a place and a holy order. The blessing, perfectly sufficient and infinitely adequate for all, comes at the end of Mass. That is its time and place as we are resent on our mission.

 

[FatHead]

Because he wants to? Because some people may have a need for it? (for various reasons) Is there such a thing as “too many blessings”?

And of course I’m not saying anything is inadequate. Please don’t put negative connotations in what I’m saying.

negative connotations are being put into what you are saying because you are completely disreguarding what the church has COMMANDED.

the church has clearly said that there is to be NO BLESSINGS in the communion line. ever.

Can we be done with this now?

 

[FatHead]

Because he wants to?

wow. i cant believe it has come to this. wow.