Can I recieve a blessing.

[FAB]

My mistake, but my second point still applies:

I’ve read your response to BG. Can you please provide documentation?

The documentation is at the begining of the Canon

 

[FAB]

Translation:
Rome says no, people still don’t listen.

Just because everyone else is being disobedient, should we be?

It’s not being disobedient, in so much that the people do have a voice in the church. Various movements have been started by the people then reviewed by the magisterium and theologians and eventually adopted. the doctrine of the church does not only come from top down, it comes from the bottom to the top. Why do you think there are so many voices such as CA.

There is also always communication between Rome and the various bishops councils around the world as well as between the pope and his bishops.
I am certain that there are those reviewing this practice. the opinion is one based on doctrine yes, but the people need to be nourished by the Spirit, often this blessing is that nourishment. the practice in my humble opinion bears fruit, and that can’t be all bad.

 

[TheMc]

The documentation is at the begining of the Canon

Can you be more specific, or at least copy & paste the section? Thanks.

 

[TheMc]

It’s not being disobedient, in so much that the people do have a voice in the church. Various movements have been started by the people then reviewed by the magisterium and theologians and eventually adopted. the doctrine of the church does not only come from top down, it comes from the bottom to the top. Why do you think there are so many voices such as CA.

There is also always communication between Rome and the various bishops councils around the world as well as between the pope and his bishops.
I am certain that there are those reviewing this practice. the opinion is one based on doctrine yes, but the people need to be nourished by the Spirit, often this blessing is that nourishment. the practice in my humble opinion bears fruit, and that can’t be all bad.

The church is not a democracy.

**You are still missing the point. **
The Holy Father, through his office that handles liturgy and sacraments, has said that blessings should not be given during communion time. It may be approved in the future, but right now, it’s not, and should not be done.

In the original letter (from the american to Rome) it specifically asks:
Is this a custom that is within the faculty of a pastor, the local Ordinary, or a Bishops’ Conference to establish?

And they still answer that blessings should not be given. They also not that:

This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.

So while it may be approved in the future, it is still not approved at the current time, in fact, it is explicitly discouraged.

 

[Ashurie]

But then makes any RCIA teaching wrong, while I was in RCIA, we were told we could - and the priest accepted it. Also the priest I approached about starting RCIA said I could do that. Then the priest in my new parish has no problem with it either.

 

[TheMc]

But then makes any RCIA teaching wrong, while I was in RCIA, we were told we could - and the priest accepted it. Also the priest I approached about starting RCIA said I could do that. Then the priest in my new parish has no problem with it either.

Yes, in that respect, your RCIA teacher and priest was wrong. I’m not saying that this is easy to accept, because this is something many people have been accustomed to, but nevertheless, it is still wrong, no matter how many people do it.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

But then makes any RCIA teaching wrong, while I was in RCIA, we were told we could - and the priest accepted it. Also the priest I approached about starting RCIA said I could do that. Then the priest in my new parish has no problem with it either.

A blessing at communion time is heavily discouraged by the CDWDS. However, enough bishops (and according to this thread, even Cardinals) do it that its not going away anytime soon.
It’ll only stop when the local bishops decide to put a stop to it. Until then, its hard to convince people its the wrong thing to do when the bishop comes for confirmation and invites people forward to receive a blessing.

I will say that its a great invention to avoid people receiving the Eucharist when they shouldn’t…

 

[PacoG]

As a baptised christian but not a confirmed Catholic yet can I recieve a blessing instead of communion? If I can do I need to cross my arms over my chest to let the priest know I cannot take communion?

Unlike the others on this forum, I offer you a better alternative. The Act of Spiritual Communion is a more effective and traditional means of asking Our Precious Lord to come into our hearts when we cannot receive communion. Here are a couple of forms:

The Traditional Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

An Act of Spiritual Communion
By Cardinal Merry dal Val
At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen.

 

[boijombe]

Wow, I didn’t realise that this topic was such a hot potato. I just assumed that there would be a standard answer and opinion,so I’m glad I asked. Thanks PacoG for the prayers I will learn them and say them to myself at church when others go up for communion.

 

[laszlo]

As a baptised christian but not a confirmed Catholic yet can I recieve a blessing instead of communion? If I can do I need to cross my arms over my chest to let the priest know I cannot take communion?

Everyone who is present receives blessing at the end of the Mass.

The blessing instead of communion is bad, and officially rejected practice:

• the Holy Eucharist is not the same level as a blessing
• only priest can bless

 

[FAB]

The church is not a democracy.

**You are still missing the point. **
The Holy Father, through his office that handles liturgy and sacraments, has said that blessings should not be given during communion time. It may be approved in the future, but right now, it’s not, and should not be done.

In the original letter (from the american to Rome) it specifically asks:
Is this a custom that is within the faculty of a pastor, the local Ordinary, or a Bishops’ Conference to establish?

And they still answer that blessings should not be given. They also not that:

This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.

So while it may be approved in the future, it is still not approved at the current time, in fact, it is explicitly discouraged.

Even though the Church is not a democracy, it also does not operate in a vacuum. There are pastoral councils made up of the laity on each level of the church who assist in advising the clergy about practices in the Church. Decisions are made all the time based on these consultations.

I went back again and read the letter, please make not of the following:

This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.

For the present, therefore, this Dicastery wishes to limit itself to the following observations/QUOTE]

The matter is under study, there has been no definitive answer given, Observations, the 5 points which are under the previous mentioned study.

To say this is a final answer is very misleading, to say that bishops, priest and deacons who give blessings are somehow not following an edict of Rome would also be in error.

For pastoral reasons the blessings are given. This is just as a ligament reason to do so as are these observations.

 

[VeronicaPorres]

A priest in our parish told us not to approach during communion for a blessing. He explained everyone will receive a blessing at the end of mass.

If many in a particular parish are doing so, you could consider it, but as someone earlier stated, only approach the priest for a blessing.

 

[stephraim]

Book of Blessings, no. 28. Because some blessings have a special relationship to the sacraments, they may sometimes be joined with the celebration of Mass. This book specifies what such blessings are and the part or rite with which they are to be joined; it also provides ritual norms that may not be disregarded. No blessings except those so specified may be joined with the eucharistic celebration.

 

[TheMc]

Wow, I didn’t realise that this topic was such a hot potato. I just assumed that there would be a standard answer and opinion,so I’m glad I asked. Thanks PacoG for the prayers I will learn them and say them to myself at church when others go up for communion.

[whisper] There is a standard answer, but no one really accepts it[/whisper]

 

[Cristiano]

I tend to agree with the idea of consistency with the letter from the CDWDS. Having said that, I think that we should also consider four points that are critical.

1- The Bishops follow apostolic succession and that grants them a lot of authority to teach and foster pastoral care
2- The blessing during Mass is a disciplinary matter
3- The Church strongly supports and encourages the concept of spiritual communion as a possible source of graces
4- The Church rites are based on a lot of outward signs and that could include spiritual communion

If my Bishop were to make a clear statement that clergy and/or EMHCs are to give blessings during communion I would choose to obey him. I would also consider stop serving as an EMHC. However, while such a clear statement is absent I strongly support alignment with the CDWDS.

I also think that we are not the Bishops and we are not to question the validity of the pastoral care decisions of each individual Bishop. Even if I do not like it I consider this as a minor disciplinary issue that appears to bring a lot of division among the faithfuls and I think that we should stop arguing and being more concerned with the unity of the Church through proper catechesis. I think that quoting the same documents over and over has become an exercise in futility, while a more theological explanation within the context of the mass would help the newcomers that keep asking the same question.

 

[TheMc]

I went back again and read the letter, please make not of the following:

This matter is presently under the attentive study

Oh great… “pastoral reasons”… [roll eyes]

Under attentive study? Just because it’s under study does not mean their ruling is any less obligatory to follow. The CDWDS just said this: “We’re looking at the issue right now, but unless you hear otherwise, it’s still not allowed.”

And note that one of the major things “observes”:

T]he Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing

See that? “The church’s discipline has already made clear”. That means: “This never should have started, and this ruling is not anything new”.

FAB, Why is this so difficult for you to accept? Anyone who reads this document with honesty can clearly see that you should not give or receive blessings during communion time. It is as clear as day. Why can’t you accept this?

 

[FAB]

Oh great… “pastoral reasons”… [roll eyes]

Under attentive study? Just because it’s under study does not mean their ruling is any less obligatory to follow. The CDWDS just said this: “We’re looking at the issue right now, but unless you hear otherwise, it’s still not allowed.”

And note that one of the major things “observes”:

T]he Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing

See that? “The church’s discipline has already made clear”. That means: “This never should have started, and this ruling is not anything new”.

FAB, Why is this so difficult for you to accept? Anyone who reads this document with honesty can clearly see that you should not give or receive blessings during communion time. It is as clear as day. Why can’t you accept this?

Why roll eyes for pastoral reasons, Christ mission was pastoral, care for the people, do what is needed to bring them to God, It is the basses of what we are!

I read the letter honestly, It clearly pointed out that the practice is under study. The question is why are so willing to accept a letter which is clearly offering opinion and not setting doctrine and is not a ruling. the letter did not come from a council asking for clarification, it came from an individual.

 

[TheMc]

Why roll eyes for pastoral reasons, Christ mission was pastoral, care for the people, do what is needed to bring them to God, It is the basses of what we are!

Yes, Christ was pastoral, and being pastoral is good, but using the excuse of being “pastoral” to be disobedient is bad. That happens a lot today. That’s all I’m saying.

I read the letter honestly, It clearly pointed out that the practice is under study.

It did say it was under study. But it didn’t stop there. It still said that according to the church’s past teaching, this is not to be done. That means that it is being studied, but unless we hear otherwise, we still shouldn’t do it.

The question is why are so willing to accept a letter which is clearly offering opinion and not setting doctrine and is not a ruling. the letter did not come from a council asking for clarification, it came from an individual.

I believe you are failing to understand how the CDWDS works. This is not simply an opinion.

When the CDWDS replies to letters, they are binding, and are published in a publication called the noterae (spelling?). Yes, it came from an individual, Fr. Anthony Ward, to be specific, but this letter carries the weight of the holy father’s authority in the area of liturgy.

Why do you think this is simply an opinion? If all it does is offer opinions, what is the point of having a CDWDS?

 

[laszlo]

Even though the Church is not a democracy, it also does not operate in a vacuum. There are pastoral councils made up of the laity on each level of the church who assist in advising the clergy about practices in the Church. Decisions are made all the time based on these consultations.

This councils should work in this way:

The pastoral councils committees make recommendations, submit it to the pastor. The pastor rejects whatever he thinks is inappropriate, and submits the rest to the bishop. The bishop rejects whatever he sees inappropriate, and submits the rest to th Apostolic See. The Apostolic See admits, whatever they see acceptable. The recommendation becomes legal.

Th recent pratice is: every liturgical committee or priest starts whatever the want, without any permission, and claim that if the rejection (of the pastor, of the diocese, of the Apostolic See) was not effective, than this is their God given democratic right, to form the liturgy to their image. This is wrong, the ‘You will be like God, know good and evil’ principle. .

 

[benedictgal]

What we seem to forget is that this granting of permission goes beyond the scope of what the bishop can do because it entails adding something to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The bishop cannot simply invent something and imbed it into the Mass. This would entail an adaptation to the GIRM. Such needs to be done by way of a process that involves the entire national episcopal conference and then recognitio by the Holy See.

Here is what the CDWDS does:

PURPOSE AND POWERS

**It deals with everything that belongs to the Apostolic See concerning the promotion and regulation of the liturgy and in the first place, the sacraments. (PB art. 62).

Promotes liturgical pastoral activity in all that concerns the preparation and celebration of the Eucharist, the other sacraments and sacramentals (PB art. 64), and the celebration of Sundays and the feasts of the liturgical year and the Liturgy of hours.**

Here are the specifics of what it does:

THE ceremonies

Prepares studies aimed at increasing the depth of the liturgy, especially the texts - in particular editiones typicae - and rites. Encourage initiatives for training and preparation for the clergy, and also of the laity in the liturgy.

Review and confirm the translation of liturgical books and their adaptations lawfully prepared by the Bishops’ Conferences (PB art. 64 § 3).

Promotes and protects the liturgical and canonical discipline of the sacraments and sacramentals, especially with regard to their valid and licit celebration; It grants pardons and dispensations in the matter beyond the powers of the diocesan bishops (PB art. 63, 68).

Edited compilation, correction and interpretation of texts and of liturgical rites, the approval of details and timetables of their Masses and the Liturgy of the Hours of the particular Churches, and the institutions that enjoy this right (Article PB. § 64 2) the rules concerning the cult of holy relics, the confirmation of heavenly patrons and the granting of the title of Minor Basilica (PB art. 69).

He is interested in issues relating to the liturgical feasts of obligation, of prayers and devotions for Christian people, and their compliance to rules and fees that liturgy (PB art. 60 and Can. CIC 1246 § 2).

Promotes the work of bodies to the liturgy, acknowledges and approves the statutes of the associations of this type of an international nature, working with the appropriate committees or institutions for music, song or the 'sacred art (PB art. 65).

More information follows in the next post.