Confused about EMHC blessings

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OrbisNonSufficit

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Hey everyone. Recently, I’ve been reading couple of things about Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and some people tend to be quite opposed to practice where EMHC bless people who come to Communion line. At first, I was kind of shocked because at my parish, or rather in my country afaik, EMHC all do this. However, now that I’m reading about it more, our EMHC’s bless this way;

They put thumb onto someone’s forehead, make little cross with it and say “May the Lord bless you”. Now this is obviously not Eucharistic benediction, neither is it any similar to how Priests bless. I should also add that when dealt with same situation in Communion line, Priests (and Deacons) bless the same way.

In practice, small kids who are too young to receive Holy Communion usually go to receive their blessing- either alone, to be blessed, or sometimes with their parents who are receiving (I understand they could just be left sitting in Church, but if those kids come they usually receive those blessings). It’s not norm at all, but some people unable to receive Eucharist because they are not properly disposed, catechumens and most importantly, Altar Servers who help distribute Communion (they don’t distribute it themselves ofc) who are not properly disposed to receive Eucharist that day get those blessings.

Is it still illicit to bless people like this? When I converted to Catholicism, Priest showed us that we can bless each other this way (it has something to do with our baptism and if I’m correct) even as laity and it’s pretty common to get blessed when parting ways like this by my friends, am I allowed to do this too?

So to sum up my questions:
  1. Can EMHC bless like this?
  2. Can laity bless like this?
  3. Is it alright for Deacon or Priest to bless like this in Communion line?
 
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No one, not even priests or deacons, should give a blessing at this time. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion most certainly should not.
 
TomH1 said:
No one, not even priests or deacons, should give a blessing at this time. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion most certainly should not.
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Are you a bishop? If not, why do you think you have the authority to make this statement?
 
I see. They are not blessing the communicants though- they only bless those unable to receive Eucharist. Does that change anything or not at all?

If I became EMHC, should I obey local tradition, or not? Former would be going against Canon Law, second would be probably scandalizing people from my Parish who I love dearly. I guess I’d just have to talk it out with Priest.
 
I really do not understand those who come up for a blessing. The mass will be over shortly and everybody will be blessed at dismissal.
 
paperwight said:
Are you a bishop? If not, why do you think you have the authority to make this statement?
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Forgive me, but even laity can help other laymen with their questions. I asked and received a good answer, which is probably in accordance with TomH1’s best knowledge. Why would that be only reserved to Bishops? I thought anyone can help others with their superior knowledge when other party lacks it, and most certainly when other party asks for it.
 
I’m not a huge fan of this practice, but as an EMHC I tend the do the cross on the forehead and “God bless you”. Go with the flow. Everyone is going to be blessed at the end of mass anyway so what’s the point, it just slows things down…but like orans position during the Our Father, it’s not a hill to die on.
 
paperwight said:
Are you a bishop? If not, why do you think you have the authority to make this statement?
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Is such a sarcastic tone really necessary to move this conversation along?

No, I’m not a bishop. Indeed, I’m not ordained. Would you pose such sarcastic questions to any statement I made about the Church?

I’m afraid I don’t have a bishop to cite but I can cite the Under-Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Fr. Anthony Ward, SM) who said on 22nd November 2008 that this practice was illicit for sacred ministers and forbidden by the laity, which includes EMHCs.
 
I remember that it was some kind of feeling special as kid, as feeling part of the crowd that went for Eucharist. It’s probably not right, as we should be focused on Lord though. Nowadays when I’m Altar Serving, usually EMHC turns towards me and if I signalize I can not receive that day, he blesses me this way. Otherwise I would not receive such blessing.
 
Laity can bless people who are under our authority, basically a parent can bless their children.

EMHCs cannot bless in the Communion line.

Others will post the documents, determine if you want to speak to your priest about it.
 
TheLittleLady said:
determine if you want to speak to your priest about it.
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I’m not sure. Priest does not probably hold any authority to change that, as it’s something of a country-wide custom and I wouldn’t want him to antagonize all the people for it, and I’m not even sure he’d share my concern. I’m kind undecided at this point, I might mention it to him without pressuring him so he gets to decide himself without feeling any pressure.
TheLittleLady said:
Laity can bless people who are under our authority, basically a parent can bless their children.
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May be off-topic question, but the thing I do with my friends when we part ways and say “May Lord bless you” and make little cross on each other’s forehead, is that illicit too? Priest kinda told us that at baptism, we often receive cross on our forehead with sacred oil(s) (not sure if that’s Chrism or not) and that this “blessing” is basically connected to that.
 
A problem can arise. I dont WANT my small children receiving a blessing that is not correct. And I often have one in my arms. It really disrupts MY reception of communion. I approach, bow, tounge out… and someone who has no spiritual authority over my child is “blessing” them. Many times the child cannot even understand the words as they are infants. Just stop… please! Stop groping my babies as I’m trying to recieve my Lord!
 
I had no idea that saying “May God bless you” could be so offensive, or that the situation would need to studied ahead of time so as to not say it to someone I have no right to say it to. I say it a lot, as a way of saying goodbye and wishing someone well when I part from them, whether they’re a checkout clerk or a friend at church. I have a hard time NOT saying it. If I say “may God bless you” instead of simply “God bless you”, the fact that I use the word “May” at the very beginning, isn’t that sort of a prayer from me to God that God would bless them? If I mean it that way, then how can it be wrong to pray that God would bless somebody? Just because the person happens to overhear my prayer that God will bless them, does that in any way make it wrong? I really do hope I’m conveying some good upon them from God when I say it, but if I don’t, then the person simply knows that I really care that God would bless them, which is a very nice thought to pass on to somebody. Is it really doing any harm? Maybe I should replace the phrase by something like “I’ll be praying that God blesses you”. Maybe there is something I’m not getting here, but when I hear God bless you, I know I’m loved by both the person who said it and by God.
 
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I understand that, but we also make little cross on each other’s forehead. I’m just being a bit cautious/curious about that.

Original question has much more importance anyway.
 
At my parish, which seems to be a very traditional ordinary form mass, during mass we were told as candidates/catechumens to go kneel at the altar rail with our arms crossed and receive a blessing from the priest during communion. We do not have a permanent priest but have a group that rotates throughout the year. Each one always blessed us with no issues.

Is this not typical? Looking back on it, it is kind of silly since we all get the blessing at the end of mass.
 
When acting as a EMHC I do not give a blessing, I say “May God bless you” I don’t make the sign of the cross on the forehead and very rarely touch the child. If I do it is on the upper arm.

I am well aware I have no ability to confer a blessing in the way a priest or deacon can. However all of the laity can wish for God’s blessing for someone.
 
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Horton said:
When acting as a EMHC I do not give a blessing, I say “May God bless you” I don’t make the sign of the cross on the forehead and very rarely touch the child. If I do it is on the upper arm.

I am well aware I have no ability to confer a blessing in the way a priest or deacon can. However all of the laity can wish for God’s blessing for someone.
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Yes, “May God Bless you” isn’t a blessing, but a prayer that any lay person can pray to one another.
 
Would you be so kind as to provide a link to the source that you have cited?
 
PeterT said:
Yes, “May God Bless you” isn’t a blessing, but a prayer that any lay person can pray to one another.
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Is making cross on someone’s forehead changing category of such prayer or not at all?
 
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