Children and receiving communion

  • Thread starter Thread starter LMV
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Maybe ask the priest to talk to your son one on one. He could (gently) explain why he didn’t give him a blessing at that moment, that it has nothing to do with your son not being a good kid, etc.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
Maybe ask the priest to talk to your son one on one. He could (gently) explain why he didn’t give him a blessing at that moment, that it has nothing to do with your son not being a good kid, etc.
Click to expand...
I feel like a majority of “my priest is a terrible person” threads could be resolved with simply speaking to the priest.
 
Yra, you might be right, but I feel like the majority of them (including this one) should never bother the priest, who is likely over worked and the situation is both trivial and not the priest’s fault
 
LMV said:
o attends classes for his first communion wanted to participate in communion and went up front with his arms crossed to receive a blessing he was last in line and when the father seen him he just turned his back and ignored him. My child then came sat on my lap and cried asking why he didn’t get a blessing. Is this the right thing the father did or should i make a complaint? ( i also asked the father himself after mass and he said i know i know but communion is only for those receiving communion and everyone gets a blessing during mass) i really don’t understand why anybody would ignore a child of god whom is 100% pure and sin free . Today’s reading was about bringing the children and not preventing him . Its very important for my child to lead him to God and I don’t see it right that any child should go through that. How hard was a just to show a child a little love and compassion…I’m pretty
Click to expand...
Many traditional parishes will only do communion because the entire sacrament is there to administer the Eucharist alone. From a strictly procedural standpoint, the priest shouldn’t be blessing anyone during the administration of the Eucharist.

And if anyone really wants a blessing and one is not given during administration of the Eucharist, they can always track down the priest before or after mass to receive one. 🙂
 
Last edited:
tafan2 said:
Yra, you might be right, but I feel like the majority of them (including this one) should never bother the priest, who is likely over worked and the situation is both trivial and not the priest’s fault
Click to expand...
Nah, priest should work to create community. What would be great for both the parent and child in this situation is for the priest to burst the special snowflake bubble. He needs to be the one to say that he was running out of consecrated Hosts, or needed to sneeze, or thought an EM called to him or that he really wasn’t focused on a little kid but Jesus.

The priest already quickly addressed this (I think the op was edited). And the poster among others needs to understand that blessings are nice but aren’t the focus of Mass.

The poster is dissatisfied with the answer received because she or he wants special treatment.

The priest is busy. The Communion line is not the place. The child can be blessed after Mass, if the blessing of Mass didn’t already suffice. He can perhaps go into detail about why he should be focused on Jesus in the Eucharist and not the poor, long suffering children who are not old enough to receive Communion.
 
Or, as I’ve learned recently, it will confirm that your priest is a terrible person.
 
Again, if the OP wants to know who is at fault for her child’s hurt feelings, it is the person who taught the child to expect a blessing.
 
I am sorry your child had a negative experience, but you should be aware that the practice of giving blessings to non-communicants, including children, in the communion line is controversial, and not every priest does it, nor are they required to do it.

Additionally, your child should not be making Holy Communion all about himself getting attention. It is a time to focus on Jesus Christ. Maybe teach your child to be praying instead that Jesus comes into his heart spiritually, since he’s too young to receive Communion yet.

As the priest said, everyone gets blessed at the end of the Mass and as someone else said, you can bless your child privately with some holy water.

While the priest could have maybe handled this a little more sensitively, I’m disturbed by the idea that the kid is somehow entitled to a blessing or some special attention from the priest at a time when the focus is supposed to be on receiving Our Lord, not on whether little Jason got special attention from Father in front of the congregation. This may also be why the particular priest does not want to be handing out blessings to non-communicants during communion time.
 
So does ours. Even the infants in their parents arms while the parents are kneeling at the altar rail get blessings.
 
Reminder, this priest’s actions were none of the above. He was following the norms for Communion.

Kids need to learn that sometimes there are rules, following them does not make one rude.
 
I think the same is true for my parish. We are a traditional parish with lots of huge families and lots of children running around. At the same time, there are still blessings given out even at the altar rail.

There are two things at work in my parish: first, our bishop is fine with blessings in line, so it’s a norm in our diocese and second, my pastor has a heart for children and is not going to turn a child away even if it is valid and licit for him to do so.

Not every pastor and parish is the same. And no one pastor is made better or worse according to whether or not they bless people in the communion line. You have to get to know the culture in your parish and then you will know how to act.
 
Dacinom said:
…There are priests that don’t bless, totally fine. However, this priest ISN’T one of those. …
Click to expand...
It seems like his is one who does not do blessings at Communion time, based on the OP
LMV said:
…( i also asked the father himself after mass and he said i know i know but communion is only for those receiving communion and everyone gets a blessing during mass) …
Click to expand...
From what I’m reading, it seems he’s consistent.
 
At my church the priest invites the children to come forward for a blessing along with those receiving Eucharist. We even have one family who brings their three month old daughter up to be blessed. Father Mitchell even made a point this past Sunday of encouraging the children to come forward and talked about making them feel welcome.
 
tafan2 said:
It has lead to the rather weird situation of lay Eucharistic minister giving blessings.
Click to expand...
This is why I rarely volunteer to be a Eucharistic minister. It makes me uncomfortable when people approach with their arms crossed. I believe those folks should go to the line with the priest if they desire a blessing.
 
In parishes where blessings in the line happen, the priests are careful to train the EMHCs that they CANNOT bless in line. They are to tell the person in a whisper “Father will bless you” and keep their hands on the chiborum.
 
When I was giving Communion as an EMHC, a child came up with his arms crossed.

He looked hurt because I didn’t give him a blessing. I was informed by the pastor that EMHC’s are not to give blessings.

I fault the parents for not instructing the child properly about the difference between an EMHC, and a priest or deacon.

Jim
 
Because this is such a polarizing issue where some priests are totally for it and others are 100% against it my rule is to not go up unless invited.

The priest here has told me he’s in favor of the practice and I’ve seen him bless children, but if he doesn’t say something before communion I just stay back.

I already feel awkward at Mass as a non-Catholic, the last thing I want to do is go up for a blessing and get turned away.
 
FrDavid96 said:
That isn’t the time for the priest to give blessings.
Click to expand...
The monsignor at my mom’s parish always invites people up for a blessing during communion if they aren’t in the position of receiving the Eucharist. It is a nice thing to do, especially considering many of the people don’t understand the full meaning of communion, but they do understand what a blessing is. It is a small gesture that I have actually seen have a big impact on some. I don’t think Jesus would turn away from blessing someone in that situation.

For non-Catholics, it is confusing to go to Mass at the same parish and for sometimes it to be “OK” and for other times it isn’t. It would be helpful if the congregation was given a head’s up on the protocol prior to going up and being turned away. Perhaps a laminated card in the pew, indicating the protocol for the parish?

I have seem some very embarrassed people going up with their arms crossed because that is what they were told to do previously, only to be sent on their way without a blessing. Not exactly a great way to encourage them to return for future Masses.
 
Last edited:
TheLittleLady said:
In parishes where blessings in the line happen, the priests are careful to train the EMHCs that they CANNOT bless in line. They are to tell the person in a whisper “Father will bless you” and keep their hands on the chiborum.
Click to expand...
I did not receive that instruction, which is why it makes me uncomfortable. I see other extraordinary ministers blessing people ALL THE TIME in my parish!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top