CDWDS response regarding blessings during Communion procession

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LGloria120 said:
I find this conversation very confusing. I am a Catholic who is seeking an annulment from a previous marriage, so I can not receive communion. Previous to my husband attending mass with me, I took my two children every week. My husband is a former Baptist and is currently an RCIA candidate who will become a member of the church soon. It was encouraged, by the parish priest, that we take our children up for a blessing in preparation for the first communion of our daughter as well as my husband. Our parish priest explained that we must set an example for our children, participate, and come forth and bow to the Body of Christ. Although the blessing is a bonus, I bring my children forward for their benefit, but also so I may show my love and respect for the Lord.
Why is this so offensive to some Eucharistic ministers on this site? Are they not prepared to say “God bless you” as well as administer communion. We say it to strangers when they sneeze. Why is it so uncomfortable to say it to a brother or sister in faith?
I don’t understand the push by some Eucharist ministers on this site to exclude transitioning Catholics, those in the process of becoming full members of the church, or those choosing to be an example for their children. It’s hard enough to feel a “belonging” by people in these situations. Does this exclusion need to be perpetuated by those who handle “Our Lord” during mass? Why are these Eucharistic ministers complaining about say, “God bless you”?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
LGloria
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Gloria, I might just add to FrDavid96’s response what my pastor told me.

He said “it’s a communion line, not a blessing line” and he added that he thought the practice caused confusion and added there is no comparison between receiving a blessing instead of communion. His suggestion was to say a “spiritual communion” or a prayer for unity or something while in the pew until one can receive communion.

I believe it’s a rather misguided attempt to make people feel included. Also, you should not feel awkward about not going up when everyone else is. There are many reasons, at any given time, why one would not receive. It does not make you “not belong”.

Rather than feeling that the people on here are being uncharitable maybe you could see it as their attempt to help you and your family get “in line” with the Church.

I was in your position while waiting for an annulment and my husband is also in RCIA. I didn’t feel right about the blessings so I asked my pastor. Apparently he’s a bit more traditional than yours. 😉 In any case, I’m happy for you!
 
LGloria120 said:
I find this conversation very confusing. I am a Catholic who is seeking an annulment from a previous marriage, so I can not receive communion. Previous to my husband attending mass with me, I took my two children every week. My husband is a former Baptist and is currently an RCIA candidate who will become a member of the church soon. It was encouraged, by the parish priest, that we take our children up for a blessing in preparation for the first communion of our daughter as well as my husband. Our parish priest explained that we must set an example for our children, participate, and come forth and bow to the Body of Christ. Although the blessing is a bonus, I bring my children forward for their benefit, but also so I may show my love and respect for the Lord.
Why is this so offensive to some Eucharistic ministers on this site? Are they not prepared to say “God bless you” as well as administer communion. We say it to strangers when they sneeze. Why is it so uncomfortable to say it to a brother or sister in faith?
I don’t understand the push by some Eucharist ministers on this site to exclude transitioning Catholics, those in the process of becoming full members of the church, or those choosing to be an example for their children. It’s hard enough to feel a “belonging” by people in these situations. Does this exclusion need to be perpetuated by those who handle “Our Lord” during mass? Why are these Eucharistic ministers complaining about say, “God bless you”?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
LGloria
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This thread started as an enquiry as to what an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is permitted to do. We are NOT ALLOWED to bless people while distributing Communion because we do not possess the facility to bless with the context of the Mass. per this item in the letter:
Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; can. 1169
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It is a matter of adhering to the teachings and the rubrics in obedience. The truth is, before one receives all the Sacraments of Initiation, one is excluded. This has nothing whatsoever to do with an EMHC whose only job is to help distribute Communion. We get put on the spot when people present themselves for something we are not authorised to give.

When I was in RCIA, I was taught to remain in the pew. It was agony. I desired Jesus in the Eucharist with every fibre of my being and I was so close, but yet, so far. After Baptism,when I was finally able to go up and receive, the experience was so so very special. Not only can I now receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, but now I was in Communion with Christ and the Church Militant (the living), and the Church Suffering (those in Purgatory) and the Church Triumphant (the Saints). It is far more than just belonging to the people attending Mass at your one church.

The fact of the matter is that before, I was not in full communion. I was excluded from receiving the Eucharist. Pretending that I wasn’t by going up for a blessing at Communion would not make it so. Truly, it made the inclusion after receiving the Sacraments of Initiation so much more sweet.
 
LGlori120, I forgot to mention this…five minutes or so after communion EVERYONE is blessed by the priest at the end of Mass. 🙂
 
How does one come by a copy of this official publication “Notitae”? Is there a website? A subscription? Where do you find back copies? Just curious Thanks
 
romanholiday said:
How does one come by a copy of this official publication “Notitae”? Is there a website? A subscription? Where do you find back copies? Just curious Thanks
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Sorry…I’m not very good at this and don’t know how to link it.
There is a post by “Japhy” titled “CDWDS response regarding blessings during communion procession” from December 8, 2008. You can search for it. In post #16 he puts a PDF file to make it easier to read the letter. Maybe someone else can tell you an easy way to get to it. I know you can search for it. You can also go to all the posts Japhy has posted.
 
japhy said:
Simply because I don’t have the permission (as far as I am aware) of the signer to show it. However, after looking at other letters which have been posted online (such as at Adoremus), I will reveal his identity.
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This is a quote of post #7 from this thread. I think that’s what someone recently asked about. I don’t know how to make the image show in the post, but one may click on the link below.

forums.catholic-questions.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4690&d=1228783198
 
romanholiday said:
How does one come by a copy of this official publication “Notitae”? Is there a website? A subscription? Where do you find back copies? Just curious Thanks
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Very good question; I’d like to know this as well.
 
Digitonomy said:
Very good question; I’d like to know this as well.
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From my understanding the Notitae is the official publication of the CDWDS. You could probably google it. However, since the posters just received this answer a couple of months ago it may not be published yet. I have no idea how often that is done.
 
BSHoop96 said:
From my understanding the Notitae is the official publication of the CDWDS. You could probably google it. However, since the posters just received this answer a couple of months ago it may not be published yet. I have no idea how often that is done.
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It was published this month. In fact, Adoremus said that it was already included in Notitae. I called the USCCB to see about getting a subscription to it, but, even they could not help.

Check this out in Adoremus:

www.adoremus.com

click on to Church documents and then click on to Vatican Documents. Japhy’s letter is the first one there. It is listed under new ruling on Communion.
 
benedictgal said:
It was published this month. In fact, Adoremus said that it was already included in Notitae. I called the USCCB to see about getting a subscription to it, but, even they could not help.

Check this out in Adoremus:

www.adoremus.com

click on to Church documents and then click on to Vatican Documents. Japhy’s letter is the first one there. It is listed under new ruling on Communion.
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I think you mean adoremus.org. The above link re-routed me to godspy.com.

Here’s the direct link to the letter in question: adoremus.org/0209CDW_Blessing.html
 
Linda_Marie said:
The truth is, before one receives all the Sacraments of Initiation, one is excluded.
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Not entirely true. We do not exclude our young people from Eucharist simply because they have not yet been confirmed.

Chris
 
benedictgal said:
It was published this month. In fact, Adoremus said that it was already included in Notitae. I called the USCCB to see about getting a subscription to it, but, even they could not help.

Check this out in Adoremus:

www.adoremus.com

click on to Church documents and then click on to Vatican Documents. Japhy’s letter is the first one there. It is listed under new ruling on Communion.
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Thanks BG, I knew you would know…should have just asked you in the first place. 😉
 
rkrispies said:
Not entirely true. We do not exclude our young people from Eucharist simply because they have not yet been confirmed.

Chris
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I think you understood what she was trying to say though. Our children have been baptized in the church. An adult is baptized and confirmed at the same time. No non-Catholic can just walk in and receive communion. Not honestly anyway.
 
rkrispies said:
Not entirely true. We do not exclude our young people from Eucharist simply because they have not yet been confirmed.

Chris
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Yes,you are correct. Sorry. I was speaking about adult converts from either other Christian denominations, other religions or no religion at all.

To me, this issue is one of obedience. If the Church says we do it this way; we do not protest and say No, we think it is better done that way. There are good reasons for the Church’s directions. These instructions are not arbitrary.

In the early Church, the catechumenate for pagan converts was much longer and they actually had to leave after the Liturgy of the Word. They were not even permitted to be present for the Consecration of the Eucharist, much less go up for a blessing instead of receiving Communion. This great Mystery was only for those who were fully initiated into the Church.Talk about feeling excluded! By contrast, the Church’s current discipline in this matter is much more relaxed.

I’ve given a copy of the Notitiae to our Liturgy committee. I don’t expect anything much to happen quickly. They said that they would probably have to take it to the Archbishop for further instruction. It is not easy to change something that the people have gotten used to doing, even if it is an abuse.
 
Thanks for all your (name removed by moderator)ut. From what I have gathered the respondents think I am “misguided in my attempt to be included”, “disobedient” according to some formal publication that only clergy are familiar with, and ignorant to the fact that there is a blessing at the end of each mass.

I think I will stay off of this site from now on. I’m glad I did not seek the advise of those on this site before deciding to return to the church, or I most likely wouldn’t have.

For those who wished me well, thank you. As for the rest of the advisers, thanks for opening my eyes.
(No need to respond, I won’t be back)
 
benedictgal said:
It was published this month. In fact, Adoremus said that it was already included in Notitae. I called the USCCB to see about getting a subscription to it, but, even they could not help.
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One sometimes wonders if anyone at the USCCB has ever read a copy of Notitiae, let alone subscribed.:rolleyes:
 
LGloria120 said:
Thanks for all your (name removed by moderator)ut. From what I have gathered the respondents think I am “misguided in my attempt to be included”, “disobedient” according to some formal publication that only clergy are familiar with, and ignorant to the fact that there is a blessing at the end of each mass.

I think I will stay off of this site from now on. I’m glad I did not seek the advise of those on this site before deciding to return to the church, or I most likely wouldn’t have.

For those who wished me well, thank you. As for the rest of the advisers, thanks for opening my eyes.
(No need to respond, I won’t be back)
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LGloria, I really am sorry that you feel that way. However, it is not your fault. It is the fault of those who decided to invent a practice that is not legitimate and pass it off as though it were okay. What happened to you is precisely why the Church had to come out with this document and other declarations regarding what can and cannot be done insofar as the liturgy is concerned.

Sadly, as Redemptionis Sacramentum notes, when such abuses occur:
[6.] **For abuses “contribute to the obscuring of the Catholic faith and doctrine concerning this wonderful sacrament”.14 **Thus, they also hinder the faithful from “re-living in a certain way the experience of the two disciples of Emmaus: ‘and their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him’”.15 For in the presence of God’s power and divinity16 and the splendor of His goodness, made manifest especially in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, it is fitting that all the faithful should have and put into practice that power of acknowledging God’s majesty that they have received through the saving Passion of the Only-Begotten Son.17
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[7.] Not infrequently, abuses are rooted in a false understanding of liberty. Yet God has not granted us in Christ an illusory liberty by which we may do what we wish, but a liberty by which we may do that which is fitting and right.18 This is true not only of precepts coming directly from God, but also of laws promulgated by the Church, with appropriate regard for the nature of each norm. For this reason, all should conform to the ordinances set forth by legitimate ecclesiastical authority.
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[8.] It is therefore to be noted with great sadness that “ecumenical initiatives which are well-intentioned, nevertheless indulge at times in Eucharistic practices contrary to the discipline by which the Church expresses her faith”. Yet the Eucharist “is too great a gift to tolerate ambiguity or depreciation”. It is therefore necessary that some things be corrected or more clearly delineated so that in this respect as well “the Eucharist will continue to shine forth in all its radiant mystery”.19
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[9.] Finally, abuses are often based on ignorance, in that they involve a rejection of those elements whose deeper meaning is not understood and whose antiquity is not recognized. For “the liturgical prayers, orations and songs are pervaded by the inspiration and impulse” of the Sacred Scriptures themselves, “and it is from these that the actions and signs receive their meaning”.20 As for the visible signs “which the Sacred Liturgy uses in order to signify the invisible divine realities, they have been chosen by Christ or by the Church”.21 Finally, the structures and forms of the sacred celebrations according to each of the Rites of both East and West are in harmony with the practice of the universal Church also as regards practices received universally from apostolic and unbroken tradition,22 which it is the Church’s task to transmit faithfully and carefully to future generations. All these things are wisely safeguarded and protected by the liturgical norms.
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So, the fault does not necessarily lie with you; rather, it lies with the folks who keep perpetuating a bad practice in an effort at trying to maintain a false sense of inclusivity.

The bottom line is that, as the CDWDS document states, the line is only for those who are receiving Holy Communion. I am sorry if you believe that this might be cold and unfeeling; however, as the prayer after the Agnus Dei notes, “happy are those who are called to His supper.” We are called to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord, not a blessing which will come shortly thereafter, a blessing that will apply to and include all present.
 
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