Crossed Arms in Holy Communion line

[BSHoop96]

And although as an EMHC I refuse to give blessings, many of our EMHCs do. One in particular (who is the president of our Liturgy Committee) holds a Host and makes a big Sign of the Cross with it in the air above each kid who comes for a blessing. To go to Mass in our parish when the schoolchildren attend, and see hundreds of kids getting these blessings, is a truly “aweful” sight.

While I agree with your post I am uncomfortable with the word awful as far as the children getting blessed. What is awful is that you guys (Australia) seem to be falling into that American school perspective of let’s make everybody equal and let’s not do ANYTHING to rock the boat. Yeah, that’s really preparing them for the world isn’t it? I always thought of you Aussies as so practical! One school (public) here in the NE forbade their teachers to use red ink when marking papers, even if they were writing something positive, because red ink has a negative connotation. I actually heard that on the news. That’s how ridiculous we have gotten on political correctness. Oh well, I wander…back to the subject.

Perhaps the children could all be blessed by the Priest together separately from Communion.

We do have a few in our parish that go up. The EMHCs will give them a blessing but it’s more like a hand on your forehead and a prayer such as “May God be the light in your life” or something. They do this with the children in arms and the occasional adult who isn’t aware of our priest’s feelings on it I guess. Although it IS NOT the same as a blessing by the priest. We had a big discussion about this on the last thread on this. Anyone can actually bless anyone (you sneeze…someone says “God bless”)…but again, not the same as a blessing from the priest.

 

[benedictgal]

That’s OK, you need not answer my comments. Yet no matter how many times you reiterate your own comments they are not going to magically become true.

You need to dig a bit deeper…

Evidently, you haven’t dug anywhere because you have yet to poist any authoritative document that backs up your notions. The authoritative and regulatory docuents do not have any provisions for inserting things into the Mass on anyone’s inititiative, whether that person is clergy or a layman.

Now, regarding the issue of school chlidren coming up for a blessing when they cannot communicate, I do see a big red herring there. During the 1970s-80s, when I was in school, we would have some non-Catholics enrolled. However, they, and those kids too young to receive Our Lord, remained in their places while the rest of us who were able to, went to Communion.

Yes, the Church is about including folks, but, you have to draw the line somewhere. Inclusivity doen’t mean giving someone something that is not prescribed in the Church’s rubrics. It’s not giving someone an erroneous message indicating that they’ve “participated” simply becaue they go up for a blessing. The time after the Agnus Dei is designated for the faithful to receive Holy Communion. The time after the Post-Communion is the time designated for the celebrant to impart a blessing. That is what is stated in the rubrics, plain and simple.

As for EMHCs blessing with the Body of Christ, that is completely wrong. It’s almost akin to having an EMHC lift up the monstrance (with Our Lord in the luna) and imparting a blessing. Only clergy can impart blessings in the context of the liturgy.

 

[ac_claire]

Let me tell y’all about the first time I went up for a blessing.

I was about 8 years old, give or take, when they first started the practice of people coming up in the communion line for blessings at my parish. Now I had been raised Catholic, but I was not baptised till I was 16 yrs old. (Loong story, very irregular situation). Growing up, my grandma taught me to kneel in the pew and make a spiritual communion when the rest of my cousins went up for communion. When the blessing practice started, I was excited because I finally got to go up with everyone else.

Well, I can’t tell you all the details because they’re kinda hazy now, 22 years later. But it was the first time I went up for the arms-crossed blessing, and I guess I wasn’t doing the arm position thing correctly? I don’t know. The priest didn’t know any better. I’m sure he was used to kids my age who’d just done their FHC and were still a bit nervous about receiving. At this parish in the 80’s all communion was on the tongue. Somehow he ended up putting the Host to my mouth and I received it. The whole thing happened so fast. My heart was pounding. I went back to my seat and told my grandma what happened.

She talked to the priest later and I guess they decided that with no malice or intent, no sin had been committed, and we all moved on. It was an unusual situation, but I can’t believe that I’m the only little kid that’s ever happened to.

 

[Petergee]

The BB does not control a priest’s/bishop’s actions during this point of the Mass.

It most certainly does. As you have been told repeatedly, the BB says that NO blessings may be incorporated into or added to the Mass unless they appear in the BB, and the blessing of non-communicants during the communion rite does NOT appear in the BB; and in addition the GIRM says that no-one can add another ritual to the Mass except where specifically provided as an option in the rubrics, and there is no such option for blessings at Communion.

The GIRM and the BB BIND all bishops and priests and may only be changed by express approval of the Pope. You keep ignoring these facts, but by continually pretending that they don’t exist, you prove nothing but your own stubbornness.

 

[Petergee]

While I agree with your post I am uncomfortable with the word awful as far as the children getting blessed. What is awful is that you guys (Australia) seem to be falling into that American school perspective of let’s make everybody equal and let’s not do ANYTHING to rock the boat. Yeah, that’s really preparing them for the world isn’t it? I always thought of you Aussies as so practical! One school (public) here in the NE forbade their teachers to use red ink when marking papers, even if they were writing something positive, because red ink has a negative connotation. I actually heard that on the news. That’s how ridiculous we have gotten on political correctness.

Yes, I was pointing out the idiocy of this political correctness. You seem to have missed my ironic tone; that’s why I said “aweful” in inverted commas with an E. On the one hand it is awe-inspiring to see the kids get a blessing (and in the vast majority of cases receive it very reverently); on the other hand it is “awful” because it is clearly contrary to Church law.

Perhaps the children could all be blessed by the Priest together separately from Communion.

That’s exactly what the priest does at every Mass just before the Dismissal to the children and everyone else.

We do have a few in our parish that go up. The EMHCs will give them a blessing but it’s more like a hand on your forehead and a prayer such as “May God be the light in your life” or something.

When I see a communion minister put his hand on a child’s head, and then pick up the Host with the same hand and offer it to me, I naturally feel a bit queasy. The ministers wash their hands before Communion, but can I be confident the kid’s head is clean? That’s NOT how I want to feel when I’m about to receive Our Lord. At best it’s a totally unjustified distraction.

Anyone can actually bless anyone (you sneeze…someone says “God bless”)…but again, not the same as a blessing from the priest.

In the context of a Mass, ONLY a priest can give a blessing. What these EHMCs do is a ritual action, far beyond just casually saying “God bless you”. And again, no one, not even a priest, can add extra blessings to the Mass unless specifically authorised in the texts governing the Church’s rituals.

 

[BSHoop96]

Yes, I was pointing out the idiocy of this political correctness. You seem to have missed my ironic tone; that’s why I said “aweful” in inverted commas with an E. On the one hand it is awe-inspiring to see the kids get a blessing (and in the vast majority of cases receive it very reverently); on the other hand it is “awful” because it is clearly contrary to Church law. That’s exactly what the priest does at every Mass just before the Dismissal to the children and everyone else.
When I see a communion minister put his hand on a child’s head, and then pick up the Host with the same hand and offer it to me, I naturally feel a bit queasy. The ministers wash their hands before Communion, but can I be confident the kid’s head is clean? That’s NOT how I want to feel when I’m about to receive Our Lord. At best it’s a totally unjustified distraction. In the context of a Mass, ONLY a priest can give a blessing. What these EHMCs do is a ritual action, far beyond just casually saying “God bless you”. And again, no one, not even a priest, can add extra blessings to the Mass unless specifically authorised in the texts governing the Church’s rituals.

Maybe you hadn’t noticed this because maybe you haven’t read my other posts in this and other threads discussing blessings in the communion line but…I’m on the same side you’re on…

 

[Petergee]

Maybe you hadn’t noticed this because maybe you haven’t read my other posts in this and other threads discussing blessings in the communion line but…I’m on the same side you’re on…

Yes I know. I just thought you didn’t see the irony in my “aweful” remark and would appreciate some more detail.

 

[BSHoop96]

Yes I know. I just thought you didn’t see the irony in my “aweful” remark and would appreciate some more detail.

Oh, okay, thanks.

 

[MomblessedX3]

The local Parish here announces before Mass that “If you are not Catholic or share our belief that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, you may receive a blessing instead, just cross your arms, etc.”

This is also what happens in our parish. I recently had to abstain from recieving the Eucharist and the priest told me I still should come forward for a blessing. I don’t see any problem with this. In fact it goes a long way to reaching out to those in the church that may be visiting or haven’t yet completed RCIA or made their first communion.
Also, when my children were younger (prior to their first communion) I wasn’t about to leave them in the pew while I went up for communion. They came with me. And without requesting the priests always gave them a blessing. If this weren’t okay wouldn’t they just ignore the children rather than give them a blessing???

 

[Phemie]

This is also what happens in our parish. I recently had to abstain from recieving the Eucharist and the priest told me I still should come forward for a blessing. I don’t see any problem with this. In fact it goes a long way to reaching out to those in the church that may be visiting or haven’t yet completed RCIA or made their first communion.
Also, when my children were younger (prior to their first communion) I wasn’t about to leave them in the pew while I went up for communion. They came with me. And without requesting the priests always gave them a blessing. If this weren’t okay wouldn’t they just ignore the children rather than give them a blessing???

It all depends on the parish and on the priest.

Most priests I’ve encountered DO ignore the children in the Communion line to the annoyance of some of the moms. One in particular was furious that she had to ask for a special blessing for her son and insisted that it should be automatic. Priest disagreed and felt that she shouldn’t expect this at all because it wasn’t the proper time. AFA he was concerned, if she wanted a special blessing for her son she could ask after Mass as could anyone else who wished one.

I haven’t been in a single parish where there was an invitation to come up for a blessing during Communion. Granted I haven’t been in every parish in the world but you’d expect that if the practice is as widespread as some claim I would have run into the practice at least once in the dozens of parishes I’ve been in since 1975.

 

[ibkc]

It all depends on the parish and on the priest.

Most priests I’ve encountered DO ignore the children in the Communion line to the annoyance of some of the moms. One in particular was furious that she had to ask for a special blessing for her son and insisted that it should be automatic. Priest disagreed and felt that she shouldn’t expect this at all because it wasn’t the proper time. AFA he was concerned, if she wanted a special blessing for her son she could ask after Mass as could anyone else who wished one.

I haven’t been in a single parish where there was an invitation to come up for a blessing during Communion. Granted I haven’t been in every parish in the world but you’d expect that if the practice is as widespread as some claim I would have run into the practice at least once in the dozens of parishes I’ve been in since 1975.

In another thread that was closed, someone found a YouTube video of a Q&A with Cardinal Arinze where he explains that while blessings at communion were not in the GIRM and not practiced in most of the world outside of North America, the question of whether or not to allow them was left up to the bishops. So while you may have been in dozens of parishes, you may just have never been in a diocese that allows it. It is apparently allowed in mine because I see it happening all the time.

 

[kl2613]

I am an RCIA candidate and during the weeks my class was attending the entire mass before we started getting dismissed after the Liturgy of the Word, we would all go get a blessing. The deacon who taught our Liturgy class recommeded this as a way of getting us used to going up front in front of everyone.

 

[BSHoop96]

In another thread that was closed, someone found a YouTube video of a Q&A with Cardinal Arinze where he explains that while blessings at communion were not in the GIRM and not practiced in most of the world outside of North America, the question of whether or not to allow them was left up to the bishops. So while you may have been in dozens of parishes, you may just have never been in a diocese that allows it. It is apparently allowed in mine because I see it happening all the time.

Yes, I also watched the much touted video and can’t believe you guys are pushing this as your reasoning. It was clear how he felt about it. When he said there was nothing written against it he emphasized by his voice that there was also nothing written FOR it. Even the parent asking the question (which was about children) got it which you could tell by his last question to the Cardinal which was: what do I do with my children? I don’t know why he asked that anyway as he can still keep his children with him.

This is what we have been saying. Plain and simple, there are no written rules but it was **not added **by the authority of the Church. It has an unknown origin and has spread. You should not assume it is okay. If you get an invitation, fine. But I wouldn’t assume it is okay without speaking to the priest celebrating the Mass.

Btw, I have never been in a Mass where an invitation was made either. And this summer I have been to Mass in 3 places in my state, and in California, Washington, DC and Santa Fe.

Many priests, like mine, would never deny someone a blessing if they come up, but it is not his preference at all. I know because I asked because my spouse is not yet Catholic and I wanted to check.

 

[ILUVGSUS2]

When I was going to RCIA classes, I was told when I attended mass to cross my arms and go up for a blessing. Is it improper simply because this person is already Catholic?

I heard a deacon say at a homily that one should never pass up the chance for a blessing - I assumed he meant in this case.

 

[ibkc]

Yes, I also watched the much touted video and can’t believe you guys are pushing this as your reasoning. It was clear how he felt about it. When he said there was nothing written against it he emphasized by his voice that there was also nothing written FOR it. Even the parent asking the question (which was about children) got it which you could tell by his last question to the Cardinal which was: what do I do with my children?

I think you need to re-watch that because you seem to have missed the context of the guy’s original question, as well as some of the finer points of Card. Arinze’s answers. The guy started off by saying up front that his bishop had disallowed the practice. Card. Arinze responded by saying that they had purposefully left it up to the bishops, so this guy was out of luck, basically. But he stressed quite firmly that it was up to the bishops. I too got the vibe that the Cardinal isn’t a fan of the practice, and I also understood that he said that it is not done very much outside of the US, but he said what he said. If a bishop allows it in his diocese, it’s OK to do it; if the bishop disallows it, it isn’t.

This is what we have been saying. Plain and simple, there are no written rules but it was **not added **by the authority of the Church. It has an unknown origin and has spread. You should not assume it is okay. If you get an invitation, fine. But I wouldn’t assume it is okay without speaking to the priest celebrating the Mass.

This I do agree with. Since it is apparently such a regional thing, no one should be expecting to see it in every Catholic church they attend.

 

[MomblessedX3]

In another thread that was closed, someone found a YouTube video of a Q&A with Cardinal Arinze where he explains that while blessings at communion were not in the GIRM and not practiced in most of the world outside of North America, the question of whether or not to allow them was left up to the bishops. So while you may have been in dozens of parishes, you may just have never been in a diocese that allows it. It is apparently allowed in mine because I see it happening all the time.

ibkc,
I agree with you. I have been in many different Catholic churches and have never been in one where people didn’t go up for a blessing in the communion line.

I thought maybe it was a North Western US thing, but I guess since you are located in the South that isn’t the case.

I guess if you choose not to go up for a blessing don’t go…if you do want to go for it! (not referring to you specifically but to a general 'you)

 

[BSHoop96]

ibkc,
I guess if you choose not to go up for a blessing don’t go…if you do want to go for it! (not referring to you specifically but to a general 'you)

I would repeat that it would be a good idea to ask your priest before you go up there.

I think you need to re-watch that because you seem to have missed the context of the guy’s original question, as well as some of the finer points of Card. Arinze’s answers. The guy started off by saying up front that his bishop had disallowed the practice. Card. Arinze responded by saying that they had purposefully left it up to the bishops, so this guy was out of luck, basically. But he stressed quite firmly that it was up to the bishops. I too got the vibe that the Cardinal isn’t a fan of the practice, and I also understood that he said that it is not done very much outside of the US, but he said what he said. If a bishop allows it in his diocese, it’s OK to do it; if the bishop disallows it, it isn’t.

Thank you, I don’t need to rewatch. I’m not arguing the point that they have left it to the bishops. I assume since you noticed he wasn’t a fan of it that you saw the emphasis placed on the word “FOR” when he says, nothing written against and nothing written FOR it. You are right…he is not a fan.

In a nutshell, it was not started by the magisterium of the Church. It started spontaneously and has spread throughout this country and a couple of others. They have chosen at this time not to make a huge issue out of it and are leaving it up to the bishops. They probably have bigger fish to fry at this point. However, you can tell the Cardinal obviously doesn’t promote it and he’s pretty high up the ladder isn’t he? * * So knowing all this, even if it is allowed, at this point anyway, why in the world would one want to do it? One will be blessed at the end of Mass.

 

[MomblessedX3]

So knowing all this, even if it is allowed, at this point anyway, why in the world would one want to do it? One will be blessed at the end of Mass.

In our Church one would do it because you’d have to leave the pew anyway so the rest of the people could get out. It is too tight of a squeeze to try to get around people…and I am not talking about someone who is overweight–we just have very narrow space between our pews. It is more orderly to go with the flow of traffic than it would be to go against it. It is apparent that not all Churches are the same. I am happy mine is the way it is.

And to be honest If I couldn’t recieve communion I’d take a blessing even knowing I will be blessed at the end of mass. One can’t receive enought blessings in life.

 

[ibkc]

Thank you, I don’t need to rewatch.

There’s no need to be rude.

I’m not arguing the point that they have left it to the bishops.

Good. Because that one is a dead end.

I assume since you noticed he wasn’t a fan of it that you saw the emphasis placed on the word “FOR” when he says, nothing written against and nothing written FOR it. You are right…he is not a fan.

And I agree with him on that, and I respect him immensely. But see, until Rome comes out with a definitive ruling against the practice that is binding on everyone, it’s just his opinion, and he made that clear by not making any explicit statements against it. He took pains to point out that Rome does not want to micromanage every little thing, and that this is one of those things they’re overlooking. The fact of the matter is that they are aware of the fact that it is going on, and that since for now, they prefer to let the bishops decide on it, whatever we may be reading into the Cardinal’s personal feelings on the matter are irrelevant.

In a nutshell, it was not started by the magisterium of the Church. It started spontaneously and has spread throughout this country and a couple of others. They have chosen at this time not to make a huge issue out of it and are leaving it up to the bishops. They probably have bigger fish to fry at this point. However, you can tell the Cardinal obviously doesn’t promote it and he’s pretty high up the ladder isn’t he? * * So knowing all this, even if it is allowed, at this point anyway, why in the world would one want to do it? One will be blessed at the end of Mass.

I completely agree with you that it is silly and pointless, and I have explained to my husband (who will be going through RCIA this year) why I think he doesn’t need to do it himself, and he agrees. But the thing is, for now, it is allowed in some places - perhaps a lot of places in the United States. You and I and Cardinal Arinze may not like that, but it is a fact. We can gripe about it all we want, but for whatever reason, Rome sees fit to let it go for now. You’re right, they probably have bigger fish to fry. Note that the Cardinal tells us in that Q&A that it is a very small matter, and not worth worrying about.

 

[BSHoop96]

There’s no need to be rude.

Let’s see. If I say *"No thank you, I don’t need to rewatch (the video), *I am being rude. But if you say “I think you need to re-watch that because you seem to have missed the context of the guy’s original question, as well as some of the finer points of Card. Arinze’s answers”, that is not rude.

But see, until Rome comes out with a definitive ruling against the practice that is binding on everyone, it’s just **his **opinion.

Yes, that would just be the opinion of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

I completely agree with you that it is silly and pointless, and I have explained to my husband (who will be going through RCIA this year) why I think he doesn’t need to do it himself, and he agrees. But the thing is, for now, it is allowed in some places - perhaps a lot of places in the United States. You and I and Cardinal Arinze may not like that, but it is a fact. We can gripe about it all we want, but for whatever reason, Rome sees fit to let it go for now. You’re right, they probably have bigger fish to fry. Note that the Cardinal tells us in that Q&A that it is a very small matter, and not worth worrying about.

Which may be why they haven’t written on it but you can see how they do “speak of it”. I will take the hint from the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline. My husband also, will be going thru RCIA and since we have spoken to our priest about it we know his preference. If it keeps spreading they will eventually speak of it in one way or another. Until then, we’re beating a dead horse and let’s just agree to disagree.