Can EMs really give out communion?

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However, for the time being, the Holy See has put a stop to blessings in lieu of receiving Holy Communion. This stop applies just as much to priests and deacons as it does to EMHCs (who are never supposed to bless anything–as you rightly observed, the only thing we can do is to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion).

Earlier in this thread, I quoted from the letter that the Holy See wrote regarding stopping this practice. Since it is now in the official publication of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, it is bona fide policy until such time as the Holy See concludes its study.
Do you mean during the communion? Or it should be understood to receive any blessings after the mass?

Because I agree then, I was very confused looking at the priests line up from my praying and seeing so many small kids in the communion line just receiving blessings.
 
I think by “race” (correct me if I am wrong please!) it was meant that Holy Communion is hurried. What is wrong with waiting longer to recieve Christ? What is wrong with kneeling to recieve Him, or genuflecting? I do not feel that Communion should be rushed. When there are numerous lines it seems that people are in a hurry to get it done with. Nothing wrong with a little patience =]
it was sarcasm.
no worries, i got what you’re trying to say.
i agree, but at the same time people are falling away from the Catholic Church because of many of its “outdated” things and so for them 1 hour is too long (think of how many people leave before the final blessing). An hour and a half would be too much…
 
Do you mean during the communion? Or it should be understood to receive any blessings after the mass?

Because I agree then, I was very confused looking at the priests line up from my praying and seeing so many small kids in the communion line just receiving blessings.
The document that I quoted treats what happens during the Mass, specifically, during the time for the distribution of Holy Communion. The time for the blessing come at the end of Mass when the final blessing is imparted by the celebrant.
  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.
Now, what happens after Mass is an entirely different story. If I am going in for a medical procedure or if I am under stress because of work, then, I can ask my pastor or parochial vicar to give me a special blessing after Mass. In a smilar manner, if people have religious objects, these can certainly be blessed after Mass. At the Cathedral, there is one familly who usually asks the administrator for a blessing after Mass, which he willingly imparts.
 
I never said I know better than the Church. I agree with the Church that a Priest’s hands are sacred, and that is why I will only receive from a priest.
If you become home bound and a priest is unable to bring Communion to you but an EMHC is available to bring our Lord to you, will you refuse to receive?
The Church and Her Bishops have said on numerous occasions that EMHC’s are overused. They should only be used in extreme conditions.
And who makes that determination? The person in the pew or the pastor assigned to shepard the flock?

If the pastor does not have a problem with it, neither should the people in the pews. And, if the pastor does have a problem with it, he should put a stop to it.
That is correct. Communion often seems very rushed. Often people march up in the parade/procession, grab Our Lord, chew Him like a potato chip, then rush outside to be first in line for the Daytona 500 about to take place in the parking lot.
Sadly this is very true. After the final blessing is given, the church doors are opened for the people to leave. Prior to that, they are shut requiring the person to push the door open. Clearly visible on the closed door is a sign saying that Judas also left early after receivng the Eucharist. Since putting those signs up, it has SIGNIFICNATLY reduced the number of folks leaving early.
 
That is correct. Communion often seems very rushed. Often people march up in the parade/procession, grab Our Lord, chew Him like a potato chip, then rush outside to be first in line for the Daytona 500 about to take place in the parking lot.
That is true…
 
it was sarcasm.
no worries, i got what you’re trying to say.
i agree, but at the same time people are falling away from the Catholic Church because of many of its “outdated” things and so for them 1 hour is too long (think of how many people leave before the final blessing). An hour and a half would be too much…
There are alot of people falling away, but i don’t think it’s because we have a traditional mass. if people were to pay attention to the mass they would see the beauty in it! i am so amazed by the mass, the "outdated"ness is what draws me closer i think. this was the same mass our forefathers attended. i think people might be falling away more, not because of it being tradtional, but because they see catholics not living the faith… they see some of us grumpy and annoyed and they think, “yeesh, lets go find some religion that is more happy” (why the mormons and baptists get to many catholics i think)…

i dunno, just some thoughts. father was talking about it yesterday at mass, and it made me think.
 
Is it wrong to lean over and whisper to a child that Jesus loves them when they come through the communion line? That is not a blessing. I guess there are still many small parishes out there. We have 2500 people come to one of seven Masses each weekend. Mass would go on forever if only the priest distributed the Eucharist.
 
Is it wrong to lean over and whisper to a child that Jesus loves them when they come through the communion line? That is not a blessing. I guess there are still many small parishes out there. We have 2500 people come to one of seven Masses each weekend. Mass would go on forever if only the priest distributed the Eucharist.
I don’t see how that is wrong… But that is not the problem. The problem was the the EMHC was giving a blessing that is reserved for a priest to give.

That is a HUGE parish!
Yes, there are alot of small parishes still. =]
 
There are alot of people falling away, but i don’t think it’s because we have a traditional mass. if people were to pay attention to the mass they would see the beauty in it! i am so amazed by the mass, the "outdated"ness is what draws me closer i think. this was the same mass our forefathers attended. i think people might be falling away more, not because of it being tradtional, but because they see catholics not living the faith… they see some of us grumpy and annoyed and they think, “yeesh, lets go find some religion that is more happy” (why the mormons and baptists get to many catholics i think)…

i dunno, just some thoughts. father was talking about it yesterday at mass, and it made me think.
I dont think people see Catholics as grumpy.
That’s a horrible and odd misconception/stereotype of Catholics…
It’s more that people just don’t want to follow the “rules” of Catholicism and by going to another branch of Christianity like the Baptist Church they may have more leeway in doing what they want.

I get a lot out of Mass just as you may, but keep in mind, most young Catholics who are falling away from the church do not agree at all. Nor can they see Mass as being so fruitful and fulfilling.
 
I dont think people see Catholics as grumpy.
That’s a horrible and odd misconception/stereotype of Catholics…
It’s more that people just don’t want to follow the “rules” of Catholicism and by going to another branch of Christianity like the Baptist Church they may have more leeway in doing what they want.

I get a lot out of Mass just as you may, but keep in mind, most young Catholics who are falling away from the church do not agree at all. Nor can they see Mass as being so fruitful and fulfilling.
Have you talked to people that have fallen away from the church, or have you spoken to those that are anti-catholic?

I have, and these are the views that they gave me. Today’s majority of catholics DO NOT live the faith. they see that, and instead of concentrating on the happiness and joy of the Catholic faith, they said we are somber and grumpy.

There is more to that, sure… but I think this is a big reason.
 
Have you talked to people that have fallen away from the church, or have you spoken to those that are anti-catholic?

I have, and these are the views that they gave me. Today’s majority of catholics DO NOT live the faith. they see that, and instead of concentrating on the happiness and joy of the Catholic faith, they said we are somber and grumpy.

There is more to that, sure… but I think this is a big reason.
I’ve talked to both people who fell away from the Catholic Church and are anti-catholic.

They just don’t like all the rules.
Nothing about being somber and grumpy.
 
I’ve talked to both people who fell away from the Catholic Church and are anti-catholic.

They just don’t like all the rules.
Nothing about being somber and grumpy.
Hm… I agree about the rules. They are sometimes hard to follow. It takes alot of faith.

However, I have gotten “You Catholics are too serious” and “Why do you always have grumpy looks on your face, when your faith promotes joy” and things like that (Mostly from Baptists).
 
Hm… I agree about the rules. They are sometimes hard to follow. It takes alot of faith.

However, I have gotten “You Catholics are too serious” and “Why do you always have grumpy looks on your face, when your faith promotes joy” and things like that (Mostly from Baptists).
Maybe so, but that’s just one group of people that you have spoken to.
That’s not all protestants/people who have left the Church, keep that in mind, that’s all.
 
Maybe so, but that’s just one group of people that you have spoken to.
That’s not all protestants/people who have left the Church, keep that in mind, that’s all.
Those comments were also made by others, but sure. not every single person that has left the faith, or as some aversion to the faith says “catholics are grumpy”

I originally had posted this: “I think people might be falling away more, not because of it being tradtional, but because they see catholics not living the faith… they see **some of us **grumpy and annoyed and they think, “yeesh, lets go find some religion that is more happy””

I never said ALL. I said they see SOME OF US. The main reason I think, is not living the faith.
 
Is it wrong to lean over and whisper to a child that Jesus loves them when they come through the communion line? That is not a blessing. I guess there are still many small parishes out there. We have 2500 people come to one of seven Masses each weekend. Mass would go on forever if only the priest distributed the Eucharist.
Not a thing wrong with it - and that is exactly what I do when a child is in my line.

We rarely have lay ministers distributing the Body (we usually distribute the Blood), but we have one priest who is retired (from our parish) that will fill in when our only priest is not there. The retired priest is unable to stand without the altar to lean on or his cane, so we have the only deacon and a lay minister distribuiting the Body.
 
They prefer an unruly church.
two people i talked to also said they didn’t like feeling guilty for sinning…
i guess in other churches or when you dont attend a church, you can just ignore the fact that having an abortion, or using birth conrtol etc. is a sin…
 
Those comments were also made by others, but sure. not every single person that has left the faith, or as some aversion to the faith says “catholics are grumpy”

I originally had posted this: “I think people might be falling away more, not because of it being tradtional, but because they see catholics not living the faith… they see **some of us **grumpy and annoyed and they think, “yeesh, lets go find some religion that is more happy””

I never said ALL. I said they see SOME OF US. The main reason I think, is not living the faith.
oops, sorry. I read that too fast maybe.
 
Have you talked to people that have fallen away from the church, or have you spoken to those that are anti-catholic?

I have, and these are the views that they gave me. Today’s majority of catholics DO NOT live the faith. they see that, and instead of concentrating on the happiness and joy of the Catholic faith, they said we are somber and grumpy.

There is more to that, sure… but I think this is a big reason.
two people i talked to also said they didn’t like feeling guilty for sinning…
i guess in other churches or when you dont attend a church, you can just ignore the fact that having an abortion, or using birth conrtol etc. is a sin…
I think these are people who don’t know the difference between guilt and shame.

If you don’t know the difference, then you are stuck with these choices: either ignore your sins (so as to attempt to evade both guilt and shame), refuse to believe that God could ever love you, or only allow yourself to believe God totally loves you from the moment you are absolved until the moment you are aware that you have sinned again. Some people can keep up hoping that this time, by God’s grace, I won’t fall!, but in the end, that’s a pretty grim life. It is bound to ruin one’s spiritual life, sooner or later.

Bad catechesis, particularly the modelling of a wrong understanding of guilt and shame, can do that. I think it is one of the devil’s most effective attacks, in our present times.
 
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