F
forever_always
Guest
thats okay =]
i agree with you… the Catholic Church is really structured… i think that there are people from every religion that are “unruly”… not just Protestants, not just Catholics… but everyone.
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i agree with you… the Catholic Church is really structured… i think that there are people from every religion that are “unruly”… not just Protestants, not just Catholics… but everyone.
B
buffalo
Guest
Yeah, I don’t like to feel guilty for sinning, either. I guess that’s why I try to stop. (and fail)
S
Sir_Knight
Guest
What happens when the Pastor INSTRUCTS the EMHCs to give a blessing and the priest in charge of the EMHCs, while agreeing that it is not permitted but adding that we are required to to what the Monsignor requests of us?
D
Dicerning
Guest
Its a communion line not a blessing line. I guarantee you that you wouldn’t be going up for a blessing during communion when receiving from the Pope.
T
The_Smiter
Guest
With respect, I would bow out of my position as an EMHC. If my priest instructs me to do something that is not in standing with the Church, my forst duty is to the Church, not the priest. (And I am a 4th Degree K of C, as well. I support our priests in any way I can - even if that means pointing out to them times when I believe I see abuse taking place.).
M
Merkel
Guest
Sorry but I’m CERTAIN people do go up for blessing from the Pope Benedict XVI during communion during Mass. I’ve seen it in person at St. Pete’s.
L
Lux_et_Tenebrae
Guest
This is certainly your perrogative, but if you are needed, would you refuse to serve?
Is it really wrong to place you hand on someone’s head or shoulder and say “God Bless you?”
I had asked my pastor about self-intinction, and was told to allow it. I did restrict my availability as an EMHC, rather than disobey him, but in hindsight I wouldn’t have asked—I would just nicely not allow it. I wouldn’t step down because I was asked to say “God Bless you.”
Lux
B
benedictgal
Guest
We are not required to do anything that is contrary to what the Church has prescribed. In this case, the Church has stated that these blessings are not to be imparted by the laity, as they are not the laity’s to give.
B
benedictgal
Guest
I have seen the Papal Masses broadcast on TV. Unless you have an up close and personal view (the ones who sit at the front are the members of the Curia, other cardinals, archbishops, bishops and prelates, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps (or other dignitaries) and are going to receive personally from the Holy Father, if you are at St. Peter’s, chances are you are several yards away. The only ones he will bless are the infants who come with their parents, not adults who do not receive Holy Communion, especially since the communicants must now receive kneeling and on the tongue.
CTV is very good about showing the communicants and the Holy Father. I have never seen him bless an adult person in lieu of giving them Holy Communion.
B
benedictgal
Guest
That is correct. In fact, I have had to correct quite a few Fourth Degrees when they have tried to insist on things. My father is a Fourth Degree Knight so I know what can and cannot be done in ceremonials. But, that is another topic.
Blessings should not be happening in lieu of distributing Holy Communion. This is what the document in Notitiae said:
- The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry”. To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.
- 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. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).
O
Orogeny
Guest
Funny, there were people receiving blessings during a papal Mass I attended in June 2007. They weren’t from the Pope himself (not all 30,000 of us could approach him), but it was during a Mass he presided over.
Peace
Tim
B
benedictgal
Guest
But, remember, this thread is about EMHCs and their role. Those assisting the Holy Father in the distributino of Holy Communion were either priests or deacons. Next time you are either at a Papal Mass or watch one on TV, note that there are dozens of clergy around the altar during the consecration holding up ciborria. These are to be consecrated for the distribution of the faithful. Not a one is an EMHC. In fact, at WYD, the prests and deacons accompanying their youth also assisted in the distribution of Holy Communion.
P
paperwight
Guest
Nice try at deflection, benedictgal, but it would appear that those who firmly state that the Pope is against blessings in the Communion line are wrong, but won’t admit it.
O
Orogeny
Guest
Not what I was responding to. A poster claimed that the communion line is not a blessing line and that you would never see anyone getting a blessing from the Pope. My response has nothing to do with EMHCs, it was in direct reply to that claim.
Peace
Tim
B
benedictgal
Guest
Again, those assisting the Holy Father in the distribution are members of the clergy (priests and deacons). Remember, too, that the Holy Father enjoys universal jurisdiction and, if he chooses to, manage certain things when he is the celebrant. A priest or bishop doesn’t enjoy that privilege. Thus, when the Holy See issues a ruling like it did regarding blessings in lieu of Holy Communion, we are obliged to obey it.
Furthermore, this thread treats the duties of an EMHC. It is not a matter of deflection to remember this so that we don’t veer off-topic.
C
Caesar517
Guest
This has been an informative thread, but it is starting to drift off topic.
I want to make sure I understand this correctly. According to my understanding of the documents referenced, blessings should not be given to anyone in the Communion line (including children) by either the Priest* or a EMHC.**
I want to make sure I understand this correctly. According to my understanding of the documents referenced, blessings should not be given to anyone in the Communion line (including children) by either the Priest* or a EMHC.**
- Because it would be inappropriate, as a general blessing is given shortly after communion.
B
benedictgal
Guest
That is correct because even the celebrant does not have the authority to do so. In other words, EMHCs are only commissioned to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion. They cannot impart blessings because these are not theirs to give.
C
Caesar517
Guest
In my travels across America, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a parish that did not have blessings in the Communion line. I think I’ll take some of these documents to my priest and see if he can shed some light on this.
B
benedictgal
Guest
I gave my parochial vicar and my pastor copies of the CDWDS document. My parochial vicar was quite happy. In fact, two weeks ago, I assisted him in distributing Holy Communion. We just happened to get non-communion aged kids at the same time and we both gave Holy Communion to the parents (although the kids had their arms crossed). We got funny looks, but continued. I also forwarded the document to the new administrator of the Cathedral and another priest friend of mine. Both have also stopped. In fact, the latter, unfortunately, berated his deacon for blessing someone in lieu of receiving Holy Communion (not the best approach).
The local monastery also received one of my emails and one of the priest sent me a note back thanking me.
I know that the OP asked the question and it’s been resoundingly answered. However, unfortunately, there remains a lot of confusion as to what an EMHC can and cannot do. All we are commissioned to do is to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion.
Even at that point, the numbers need to justify our usage. That has been the biggest bone of contention between my parochial vicar and myself. My pastor has no qualms about distributing Holy Communion solo during daily Mass (30 communicants at the most). My PV feels the need to have someone help him. He and I have had some knock-down drag downs about this one. What is rather interesting is that he doesn’t need any help at the local hospital chapel when he celebrates Mass (however, when the numbers are great, he will ask the deacon to assist him–perfectly fine since the deacon is the ordniary minister). However, at the parish, he gets to Mass late 99.9% of the time, delivers a 10 minute homily, and then decides that he cannot handle 30 communicants solo so he asks for help. Then, he rushes off for his lunch date, or, to listen to a popular noon-day talk-radio program.
I wrote him a lengthy letter telling him that this was not the best approach and I quoted the documents. We didn’t speak for weeks. But, he did stop. Unfortunately, he has resumed the practice. My pastor and I talked about it and he thought that an EMHC during daily Mass is unnecessary (unless Communion under both species were to be given).
In frustration, I spoke to the new administrator of the Cathedral and he agreed that an EMHC is not needed during daily Mass (unless, both species are distributed, something the Cathedral does during the week). He was at a loss as to why my parochial vicar would do such a thing if he prides himself on being faithful to the documents (celebrating ad orientum twice a week, etc).
I am not against the concept of having an EMHC. I do this at Mass. What concerns me is the fact that we are not used in the proper manner. The Church has given us parameters, but, both the clergy and the EMHCs tend to blur the line. For example, when I handled the Chrism Mass and the other diocesan liturgies, I never requested EMHCs to assist. We had a plethora of priests and deacons. That is their ordinary ministry. It is something that is proper to them. Now, for the Chrism Mass, I did have EMHCs assist in filling up the bottles of oil and geting them packaged and ready for distribution. But, this was done in the Sacristy after the oils were blessed and consecrated.
We just need to know our proper roles.
C
Caesar517
Guest
Yes, the number of EMHCs has bothered my for a long time. There is a parish near me that uses 12 EMHCs (although the drums, clapping, and leaving early bothered me just as much). 
It is a large parish, but not that large; Communion there takes five minutes and you have to keep a fast walking pace in line.
My parish uses 3 EMHCs to keep the dual-line, both species system flowing smoothly. I would very much like to see our priest and one EMHC take their time with only one line, even if it takes 20 minutes.
The most important part of our Faith is so rushed…
It is a large parish, but not that large; Communion there takes five minutes and you have to keep a fast walking pace in line.My parish uses 3 EMHCs to keep the dual-line, both species system flowing smoothly. I would very much like to see our priest and one EMHC take their time with only one line, even if it takes 20 minutes.
The most important part of our Faith is so rushed…
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