Catholic Not in Good Standing Cannot Receive a Blessing?

[benedictgal]

Since the document above is a personal letter, can you point me to a Church document that forbids going up for a blessing during communion?

I have been told more than once to go up for a blessing, which I haven’t.

Just because the letter is “private”, that does not necessarily make it completely private. The fact is that the letter bears a protocol number and, as such, an official document of the CDWDS. The protocol number is similar to a Congressional document. Furthermore, documents like this are published in Notitae, the official journal of the CDWDS, akin to the Congressional record.

TrueLight, the reason why you don’t see a rubric concerning this situation is that it does not appear anywhere in the authoritative documents of the Church such as the GIRM and the Roman Missal. Just because something is not included in the Mass, that does not give us the right to invent something and then imbed it within the Mass.

Perhaps this post from my blog will better explain this:

benedictgal-lexorandilexcredendi.blogspot.com/2010/12/why-we-form-line.html

The documents that I cite are the same ones that the document from the CDWDS cites. The CDWDS is not making new policy; it is restating what is already in the books.

 

[novusCatholic]

The CDWDS is not making new policy; it is restating what is already in the books.

benedictgal,

Could you point me to “the books”? I’m new to the Church and have a lot to learn. Could you provide links where I could learn some of this. As a layman, I may not go too deep, but I do find it interesting.

(by the way, nice blogging)

Thanks.

 

[benedictgal]

benedictgal,

Could you point me to “the books”? I’m new to the Church and have a lot to learn. Could you provide links where I could learn some of this. As a layman, I may not go too deep, but I do find it interesting.

(by the way, nice blogging)

Thanks.

Here is the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (referred to as the GIRM):

usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Here is Redemptionis Sacramentum:

adoremus.org/RedemptionisSacramentum.html

I hope this helps.

 

[ProVobis]

I also felt that, in a way, I was witnessing. By standing up with the rest of the parish, approaching the Body and Blood of Christ in reverence, and receiving a blessing, I was declaring, “I am here! I believe! I want to be in full communion with you!”

That’s certainly praiseworthy but the Final Blessing (toward the end of Mass) puts you in full communion with everyone else, whether you or they had been properly disposed for communion or not. You get the full blessings of God from the priest at that point.

That said, I (and a few others here) know the empty feeling of sitting in the pews while everyone else moves out to receive. You may encounter a lot of dirty looks and even be a source of distraction. Nevertheless rules are rules.

 

[smichhertz]

Is the scandal because folks might think they are going up for communion and might not notice they’re getting a blessing instead?

I think the scandal its referring to is in relation to divorced couples remarrying. A priest cannot be involved in any ceremony recognizing that as it gives scandal. It implies what they are doing is acceptable to the church.

It certainly doesn’t mean to imply that there is any scandal in someone receiving a blessing in the state of mortal sin.

 

[BigDave31]

Our RCIA class was encouraged to receive a blessing**** during Holy Communion

. ** I very much enjoyed it.** I can recall glancing down at the Body of Christ as I stepped up to the priest, bowed my head, and folded my arms across my chest. ** It was always a very special moment for me.**
I’ve only recently learned (here on the forum) that it is “against the rules”. It makes me feel sad for the next class, should they not have the opportunity to experience what I did.

I can agree with you. As I came into the church 4 years ago I looked forward every Sunday to recieving a blessing from the priest. It was ery special to me and I was truly blessed.