Can a non-catholic recieve a blessing at communion?

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coptsoldier

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Hello.

As I am still on my journey to the catholic eastern rite church from orthodoxy, I cannot yet recieve the body and blood with our latin brothers and sisters. However I have seen written somewhere about going up to recieve a blessing at euchrist time. Is this done? And if so how?
 
While it may not be in the rubrics(?), it happens often in the Roman rite masses I go to. People often cross their arms over their chest rather than receiving the Blessed Sacrament and the priest may or may not do a blessing; in fact I believe we were taught to do this in school if not in a state of grace. If it’s a common practice or not in the Eastern rites I have no idea. At any rate, the whole congation is blessed at various parts of the mass whether they’ve received the Blessed Sacrament or not.

On one occasion I had to go up when not in a state of grace because there was no room for others in the pews to get out if I were to remain seated. I switched lanes and went to the priest with my arms crossed and was blessed.
 
It depends on the episcopate in which you reside. In many territories Bishops allow blessings to be bestowed individually at Communion. This is the policy in some parts of the US, in England and Wales and in most other parts of Western Europe (including the Vatican). But I am not sure about the position in Australia. Normally the service book would indicate what the position is but if not check at the church before the service begins.

If allowed and you feel moved to do so, you simply go up approach a priest (not a lay person distributing communion) and keep your head bowed and the priest will put his hand on your shoulder and say a short blessing. If it is is not permitted, remain in your seat, and meditate on the great mystery of the Eucharist and make a spiritual communion.
 
It is not a universal practice.

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur263.htm

At some churches you will see people do it, but not in others. If you are worried about the priest being confused or outright refusing an individual blessing, you can watch what others are doing beforehand and see if the priest gives this kind of blessing to anyone before trying it yourself.

There are differing opinions about the practice. If it is done, it should definitely not be viewed as a substitute in any way for the Eucharist. The Q&A I posted also noted reservations about it, such as the inappropriateness of laymen (in this case, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) administering liturgical blessings during the mass.
 
I do it almost daily. I asked the priest and he gave me a hug and said “Yes. This is wonderful!” He told me to come to his line and if he is not there to go to other priest or deacon. I even asked the other priest and he said, “Yes. Yes. Definitely.” 😉
 
I don’t think any Eastern Church priest, in good humor, would refuse to bless anyone even if it isn’t part of their patrimony 🤷. We lack the certain rigidity of rubrics that leads to enmity to those who perhaps don’t know them.

That being said, it isn’t necessary to go up to receive a blessing at that moment. I’m not particularly sure where that comes from, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be an Eastern innovation since, traditionally, in many Eastern liturgies catechumens left at the anaphora.
 
In theory, even Catholics should not approach the priest for a blessing if they are not receiving Holy Communion. According to the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Protocol No. 930/08/L, Nov 22, 2008):
this matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation…for the present, this dicastery wishes to limit itself to the following observations:
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  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.
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  1. Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest…]
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  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. …]
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  1. 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.
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Priests often tolerate this, since the lay faithful are often moved by good intention, but the fact remains that one walks the line of Holy Communion to receive Holy Communion, period.

The proper thing to do is to remain sitting and perform an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a very ancient devotional practice highly praised by the saints. Here is one such prayer. However, for the sake of a certain mentality which is willing to let everything be as it is, we are not often given the kind of catechesis that teaches us about these things, as if it was somehow a bad thing to tell people not disposed to partake in the Holy Eucharist to remain in their pews.
 
QNDNNDQDCE said:
It is not a universal practice.

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur263.htm

At some churches you will see people do it, but not in others. If you are worried about the priest being confused or outright refusing an individual blessing, you can watch what others are doing beforehand and see if the priest gives this kind of blessing to anyone before trying it yourself.

There are differing opinions about the practice. If it is done, it should definitely not be viewed as a substitute in any way for the Eucharist. The Q&A I posted also noted reservations about it, such as the inappropriateness of laymen (in this case, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) administering liturgical blessings during the mass.
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According to the link above, it is not proper for a non-Catholic to receive a Blessing (if a Church does it).

Personally, I feel that the best time for a private Blessing is after an one-on-one meeting with a priest. When you speak to a priest face to face about your troubles, life, etc.; he can then give a Blessing that is very personalized and helpful.
 
It is probably best to ask on the forum, Eastern Catholic. As far as the Roman Rite, there are some places that allow it, and even some priests invite people on occasion, such as at weddings and funerals, or major feast days when there may be several non-Catholics and lapsed Catholics present. You could observe what others are doing and see how that is going. However, after having read the huge controversy expressed on the internet, I would not recommend going up for a blessing during Communion time, even if I tend to be more lenient on this issue.
 
All the priests around here are happy to do it. They encourage it at weddings and funeral when many non-Catholics are present.

But I’ve always wondered:
What is the difference between getting in the Communion line for a blessing, and receiving the same blessing that everyone gets together at the end of Mass?
Do some believe it’s a “better” blessing because of the close proximity to Jesus present in the Eucharist? Or is it the fact that it is individual that appeals?
I don’t know. I’m just asking…no disrespect.
 
As ushers, we’ve been told to discourage it.

One because it confuses the priests, in some parts of the world Communion is received with the arms crossed. and

Two because a few minutes later, the entire congregation receives a blessing from the priest. A blessing at Communion does no more good that the latter one.

And third because it holds up the line at Communion. Communion takes long enough in a crowded church without non-Catholic coming up and making a special show of themselves.

They are welcome at our masses, BUT they should NOT be disrupting or holding up the process for their own self-gratification.
 
wcknight said:
As ushers, we’ve been told to discourage it.

One because it confuses the priests, in some parts of the world Communion is received with the arms crossed. and

Two because a few minutes later, the entire congregation receives a blessing from the priest. A blessing at Communion does no more good that the latter one.

And third because it holds up the line at Communion. Communion takes long enough in a crowded church without non-Catholic coming up and making a special show of themselves.

They are welcome at our masses, BUT they should NOT be disrupting or holding up the process for their own self-gratification.
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There are many innocent people who are just inquiring. Some have been encouraged and invited to go up and perhaps they think that this is what they are supposed to do. Accusing people, especially our non-Catholic guests of “making a special show of themselves” or “disrupting or holding up the process for their own self-gratification” comes across as judgmental and rude. And this is the reason why I would never recommend to an inquiring person that it is OK to go up to receive a blessing even when the priest invites them.
 
wcknight said:
As ushers, we’ve been told to discourage it.

One because it confuses the priests, in some parts of the world Communion is received with the arms crossed. and

Two because a few minutes later, the entire congregation receives a blessing from the priest. A blessing at Communion does no more good that the latter one.

And third because it holds up the line at Communion. Communion takes long enough in a crowded church without non-Catholic coming up and making a special show of themselves.

They are welcome at our masses, BUT they should NOT be disrupting or holding up the process for their own self-gratification.
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Well, now that you mention it, I recall that most of the people who do it at our parish are folks who are reluctant to go to confession for whatever reason (fear, embarrassment, out of practice) etc. Perhaps they believe it’s the next best thing??? I’m not speculating…people have said this in casual conversation. That they know they need to go to confession, but just won’t. That’s where we get the “I just tell Jesus I’m sorry in prayer” crowd. I think they believe that people will judge them if they don’t get in line. Indeed, I recall my husband’s neighbor in Ireland saying “ooooo, so-and so wasn’t at the rails this morning…there’s a story there!”
Everyone laughed, but it gave me pause. That some people DO judge instead of focusing on their own journey to Communion. Sad eh? Sad too, that people stay away from Reconciliation. But, I’m getting off-topic. Sorry.
 
coptsoldier said:
Hello.

As I am still on my journey to the catholic eastern rite church from orthodoxy, I cannot yet recieve the body and blood with our latin brothers and sisters. However I have seen written somewhere about going up to recieve a blessing at euchrist time. Is this done? And if so how?
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I don’t know where you read this. I’ve never seen it in writing. While there is nothing inherently wrong with receiving a blessing as communion time, it is inappropriate., not because it’s a sin or anything that dramatic. Simply put, the communion rite is precisely for the purpose of receiving Holy Communion, to blessings. Asking for and giving blessings during the communion rite is not part of the rite and should not be done.

However, let us not go over the top either and condemn or denounce it as some horrible violation. It is not. It is simply not part of the rite.
 
phil19034 said:
According to the link above, it is not proper for a non-Catholic to receive a Blessing (if a Church does it).
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This made me giggle in gentle humor: non Catholics should exit stage left before the final blessing, if this were true. 😉

Coptsoldier, if you mean in the Latin Rite, please see this sticky:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=543513

If you mean one of the Eastern or Oriental churches, you may get more in-depth answers in the Eastern Catholic Forum. 🙂
 
pianistclare said:
All the priests around here are happy to do it. They encourage it at weddings and funeral when many non-Catholics are present.

But I’ve always wondered:
What is the difference between getting in the Communion line for a blessing, and receiving the same blessing that everyone gets together at the end of Mass?
Do some believe it’s a “better” blessing because of the close proximity to Jesus present in the Eucharist? Or is it the fact that it is individual that appeals?
I don’t know. I’m just asking…no disrespect.
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This is how the practice of blessings at communion are explained by the Bishops of England and Wales. I have seen a similar explanation in Italian.

“Even though some in the assembly may not receive ‘sacramental’ Communion, all are united in some way by the Holy Spirit. The traditional idea of ‘spiritual’ Communion is an important one to remember and reaffirm. The invitation given at Mass to those who may not receive sacramental Communion – for example, children before their First Communion and adults who are not Catholics – to receive a blessing at the moment of Communion
emphasises that a deep spiritual communion is possible even when we do not share together the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.”
 
Our parish priest encourages people to come up for a blessing during communion e.g. young children and adults not of the faith. Our parish priest reminds us especially when there may be visitors during Christmas etc. I think it is a beautiful gesture and its sad to hear it is not encourage elsewhere.
 
I’m not a fan of this practice. First, Eucharistic Ministers shouldn’t be blessing anyone. Second, something about handling the Eucharist and people’s hair at the same time doesn’t sit well with me. Third, what’s the point? Why not shake hands with the priest? We’re receiving Communion during this Rite of Communion in which we celebrate our Communion in the mystical body. A private blessing is as out of place as shaking hands.

I get the counter-arguments. First, why not? Doesn’t hurt to receive a blessing. Second, it can place in the heart, a seed of desire for the Eucharist as the person goes up as if to receive, is in the presence of the Real Presence but then is denied. Third, it can make non-communicates feel less left-out. Fourth, it eliminates the need to awkwardly shuffle past the sitting non-communicates if everyone goes up.

On balance, I don’t like it.
 
johnmann said:
I’m not a fan of this practice. First, Eucharistic Ministers shouldn’t be blessing anyone. Second, something about handling the Eucharist and people’s hair at the same time doesn’t sit well with me. Third, what’s the point? Why not shake hands with the priest? We’re receiving Communion during this Rite of Communion in which we celebrate our Communion in the mystical body. A private blessing is as out of place as shaking hands.

I get the counter-arguments. First, why not? Doesn’t hurt to receive a blessing. Second, it can place in the heart, a seed of desire for the Eucharist as the person goes up as if to receive, is in the presence of the Real Presence but then is denied. Third, it can make non-communicates feel less left-out. Fourth, it eliminates the need to awkwardly shuffle past the sitting non-communicates if everyone goes up.

On balance, I don’t like it.
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Just to clarify:
EM’s DO NO bless anyone. When they are trained, they are specifically asked NOT to touch anyone, nor to offer some kind of blessing, as if they were conferring it. They are to say a silent prayer for the person and then say Peace or something similar to them. Having said that though, many friends have passed up on EM training because it makes THEM feel awkward.
Like you I can see both sides to this. Priests around here vary greatly in how they view this. I guess it just boils down on a parish by parish basis.
peace
 
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