Can EMHCs bless people?

[Caesar]

At my parish I often see people going up to the priest for blessings if they are not recieving Communion. Recently I have also seen the lay ministers blessing people as well. Is this right?

 

[Saoirse]

Yes. However, there is a difference.

to recieve a blessing from a priest is to recieve a sacramental… to recieve a blessing from an EMHC is just nice…

I always preffered to be blessed by the priest when I was waiting and working to be recieved into the Church… it always made me feel like God was deffinitely there, and for just one moment I was sure that He loved me… being blessed by the EMHC, while still nice, did not carry with it the same power.

Had I recieved my first blessing, at the first MASS I ever attended, from an EMHC - I may not have converted. It was that incredible feeling that comes with being blessed by a priest that made me initially realize that God was calling me to Him - and that He wanted me to come to the Catholic Church. I was so driven to find the root of that amazing feeling of love, I studied the Catholic faith - and was converted!

in love and faith,
Saoirse

 

[Sir_Knight]

At my parish I often see people going up to the priest for blessings if they are not recieving Communion. Recently I have also seen the lay ministers blessing people as well. Is this right?

No, it is not right. A blessing given by a priest or deacon is a blessing of the church. A blessing given by a lay minister is not.

This topic has been brought up numerous times on these forums and the general conclusion is that lay ministers should not be giving blessings during communion.

 

[yessisan]

They can, but they shouldn’t. This is only for a Priest to do.

This is a topic that is discussed a lot here on CAF. Below is a link of the same topic that I posted a while back.

click here

For the answer from an apologist click here

 

[dylanschrader]

The Rite of the Distribution of Communion doesn’t mention a blessing at all.

There is an argument which claims that a priest may “pause” the distribution of Communion, give a blessing, and then resume distribution for serious pastoral reasons. This argument is based on an interpretation and application of the appropriate liturgical law, but it is not in the law.

Thus, it is tenuous to claim even that a priest should be giving blessings at this time, but it is clearly not permitted for lay people to attempt to give blessings during the distribution of Communion.

First, they are performing a liturgical rite. They do not have the authority to add anything to that rite. Second, there is a priest present during the rite, so even if blessings were permitted the priest would be the one to give them.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I realize that traffic flow is irrelevant to the idealists here at CAF, but for many pastors, it is a necessity. It’s much easier for those who cannot not receive communion to follow along with everyone else than to sit in the pews and inhibit flow.

If you don’t like EMHC’s giving blessings, then go to a priest for yours (anyone reading this). :banghead:

 

[kleary]

Yes. However, there is a difference.

to recieve a blessing from a priest is to recieve a sacramental… to recieve a blessing from an EMHC is just nice…

I wanna puke. They still don’t have an "I’m puking smiley so I will just say . You will get as much of a blessing from a lay person distributing Holy Communion as from this guy here .

Lay people are forbidden to bless others. Only a Deacon or Priest can administer a blessing. Next time you see a lay person distributing Holy Communion do that you bring it to your pastor. If he says it is “ok” then take it to the Diocese. If the Diocese does not help you take it to the Congregation for Divine Worship in the Vatican.

Ken

 

[Sir_Knight]

You will get as much of a blessing from a lay person distributing Holy Communion as from this guy here .

Lay people are forbidden to bless others. Only a Deacon or Priest can administer a blessing.

CLARIFICATION: Anyone can give a “blessing” but only a Deacon or Priest can administer a “CHURCH blessing”.

If you don’t like EMHC’s giving blessings, then go to a priest for yours (anyone reading this). :banghead:

I respectfully disagree with this. When a EMHC distributes communion it is the SAME Body of Christ that is being distributed by a priest or deacon. However, when a EMHC gives a blessing, it is NOT the same blessing that is given by a priest or deacon because the blessing given by a priest or deacon is a CHURCH blessing while a blessing given by a EMHC is not but since the communion being distributed is the name, many people will wrongfully conclude that the blessing is the same.

For that reason, I believe that EMHC should not give blessings and this is coming from someone who is a EMHC.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I wanna puke. They still don’t have an "I’m puking smiley so I will just say . You will get as much of a blessing from a lay person distributing Holy Communion as from this guy here .

Lay people are forbidden to bless others. Only a Deacon or Priest can administer a blessing. Next time you see a lay person distributing Holy Communion do that you bring it to your pastor. If he says it is “ok” then take it to the Diocese. If the Diocese does not help you take it to the Congregation for Divine Worship in the Vatican.

Ken

Saoirse is saying the same as you, but in a much nicer manner.

 

[Walking_Home]

I realize that traffic flow is irrelevant to the idealists here at CAF, but for many pastors, it is a necessity. It’s much easier for those who cannot not receive communion to follow along with everyone else than to sit in the pews and inhibit flow.

If you don’t like EMHC’s giving blessings, then go to a priest for yours (anyone reading this). :banghead:

---

By the statement above—it would seem—you are okay with EMHC’s giving blessings during Communion.

 

[MSJoan]

The priest who trains EMHCs in our diocese specifically instructs us that if we say anything to someone with arms crossed (indicating they are not receiving), we are only to say ‘peace be with you’. We are in no way to touch the person, say any other words, or make any other gestures that would be construed as a blessing for just that reason, we are not giving a blessing - it’s not our role. Our role is solely to assist the priest and if present, the deacon distribute Holy Communion during Mass when needed and to bring the Eucharist to those unable to attend Mass. Unfortunately, we have 1 priest and 1 deacon in our parish, and the deacon has been very ill lately, so we usually need at least 2 EMHCs at most Sunday Masses, and with the exception of the Priest’s visit once a month, 3-5 EMHCs make the home/facility visits on Sundays.

I pray for an increase in vocations so we have sufficient priests for Masses and to visit the sick, homebound, and those in facilities…and to permit our priests to have at least one whole day off every few weeks to attend to their personal and spiritual needs.

 

[dylanschrader]

CLARIFICATION: Anyone can give a “blessing” but only a Deacon or Priest can administer a “CHURCH blessing”.

This is true. There is an ontological difference between a blessing given by someone ordained and by someone not ordained.

 

[Cobbfmly]

At our parish the EMHCs are allowed to say, “May God bless you this day.” They are not allowed to say “I bless you…”.

 

[LeahInancsi]

---

By the statement above—it would seem—you are okay with EMHC’s giving blessings during Communion.

This was my priest’s response when I approached him with the question:

The Blessing by the EM’s comes from the commissioning of them via the priests of the Parish who act in the name of official Shepherd of the Diocese. This small gesture as of blessing on the part of the lay person has everything to do with carrying out, spreading, displaying and encouraging people to approach THE CROSS. That lay person gives THE SIGN to a brother or sister who comes, hand across chest as you know. That is the EM’s evangelizing in public but intimate sense. A Baptized Child of God BLESSES those Children of God who approach not able to receive Holy Communion, but hunger for some affirmation from the Body of Christ, THE CHURCH, and the EM is THAT Commissioned AGENT. Wonderful!

As Saoirse said above:

to recieve a blessing from a priest is to recieve a sacramental… to recieve a blessing from an EMHC is just nice…

The priest blesses us twice during mass. Whether or not you believe the blessing of an EMHC has any value, a nice gesture by a lay person hardly hurts anyone. It is a simple means of evangelization.

If you don’t believe the blessing of a EMHC is valid, then get in the priest’s line for YOUR blessing.

 

[LeahInancsi]

At our parish the EMHCs are allowed to say, “May God bless you this day.” They are not allowed to say “I bless you…”.

I think that is a good idea. When I approached my priest about blessing I mentioned above, I asked him exactly what should I say. He said, “We bless you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” My thought was, “Okay, if you say so.” I think I like “May God bless you this day” much better.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

After completing the section on Christianity in one of my Comparative Religion classes a Lutheran student told me that what I described as Catholicism was much closer to both the Lutheranism that he knows than what he as observed Roman Catholicism to be. I don’t know about Lutheranism but I’d say the use of EMHC’s is much closer to the non or even anti-Catholic traditions than it is to the Catholicism I converted to.

I agree with Caesar’s hope that Pope Pius IX will be canonized but even more that his Syllabus of Errors, especially section 3, will someday be taken seriously by the American Church.

CDL

 

[Marian_Carroll]

**REMINDER:

As this is the Liturgy & Sacraments Forum, posters are free to agree or disagree with the institution of EMHCs, but posts that label these as “an abuse” or otherwise disparage the function in terms of blatant disrespect are unacceptable.

Those preferring the TLM and church practice prior to Vatican II are welcome to include their remarks in an appropriate thread here: forums.catholic-questions.org/forumdisplay.php?f=102

Thank you for your cooperation.**

 

[GregoryPalamas]

Marian,

Could you clarify. Is it ipso facto an attack upon the Church to wish that Pope Pius IX be canonized? Is it merely a matter of taste to hope for a proper respect to be paid to the sacrament of ordination?

CDL

 

[Sir_Knight]

Whether or not you believe the blessing of an EMHC has any value

a nice gesture by a lay person hardly hurts anyone.

It can mislead those who are receiving the blessing into thinking that a blessing from an EMHC has the same value as the one other people are getting from a priest when it is not – especially when the communion that they are receiving from an EMHC is the same communion that others are getting from a priest.

If you don’t believe the blessing of a EMHC is valid, then get in the priest’s line for YOUR blessing.

I’m willing to wager that if it was explained right before communion that those who approach a priest for a blessing, receive a sacramental blessing while those that receive a blessing from an EMHC is just a means of evangelization, the amount of people walking up to an EMHC would be greatly reduced.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

It can mislead those who are receiving the blessing into thinking that a blessing from an EMHC has the same value as the one other people are getting from a priest when it is not – especially when the communion that they are receiving from an EMHC is the same communion that others are getting from a priest.

I’m willing to wager that if it was explained right before communion that those who approach a priest for a blessing, receive a sacramental blessing while those that receive a blessing from an EMHC is just a means of evangelization, the amount of people walking up to an EMHC would be greatly reduced.

I would surely think so.

CDL