Crossed Arms in Holy Communion line

[monicatfp]

Yes. I have seen however the EMHC’s taking it upon themselves to ‘bless’ the children who ended up in their lines.

I have even seen… …seen… …a EMHC give Benediction… … with the Host over the head of a child.

Only Priests can bless and only Priests can give Benediction.

Other people beside a priest can bless please see: BLESSING FOR YOUR HOME
Adapted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy
National Conference of Catholic Bishops © 1988, pp. 297-301

 

[paperwight]

Fergal, do you never say ‘God bless you’ to anyone? Or pray that God will bless someone?

 

[DavidW]

I did it this past Sunday and I won’t do it again unless I am instructed to do it in RCIA this fall. The priest was rather clearly surprised by it, he whipped out a quick blessing and I moved on back to the pew.

I had read, I’m sot sure where exactly but in more than one place and I thought here at least once, that this was acceptable. And Fr. Corapi talks about it in one of the talks I have on my DVR as a sign of humility by a guy, but I think I was taking that story out of context. A church sponsor also suggested it at one point a few weeks ago.

In any event, the priest obviously didn’t expect it. And it disrupted his concentration and the flow of what he was doing enough that I felt something was wrong and quickly decided not to do it again. This thread reinforces that decision. I wasn’t trying to do anything out of order or wrong and I am perfectly willing to wait for communion until next year. I’ll go back (already have, actually) to sitting or kneeling in the pew in prayer.

 

[HoosierGal]

When I was in RCIA and went to Mass, I nearly always went up to receive a blessing from the priest or deacon if he was doing my pew line, or a prayer from the Eucharistic Minister otherwise. I just crossed my arms over my heart as others have indicated instead of holding out my hands to receive. The biggest reason I did this instead of staying in my pew was so that everyone else in the pew didn’t have to crawl over me to get in line and then get back to their seat. It was just simpler for everyone involved to have everyone getting up and getting in line. The children who are too young to receive also get a blessing, as do non-Catholic spouses/friends of receiving Catholics. Its just the norm at my parish, I have no idea if its “by the book” correct or not but I just assumed it was.

 

[jmcrae]

I was thinking that when i attend a catholic mass that i would go up for a blessing now im not so sure. I am thinking about conversion but some of the replys havent been very friendly . Why should it be wrong to want a blessing.

It’s not wrong to want a blessing. The normal time would be some time outside of Mass, when the priest isn’t doing anything else. I have often just walked up to priests who were standing there waiting for someone to come and talk to them at a social function, or else just waiting in the hallway between Masses, and requested a blessing from them. They are always more than happy to do it.

I would also say that if the priest encourages you to receive a blessing at Mass, it’s up to you whether you want to do that or not - you are free to do it if he invites you to. We Catholics are not “people of the book” - what the priest wants to do (within reasonable limits, of course), the priest can do, and the book, though it is important, is not the boss.

But if it’s not the custom to do this at your parish, then just remain in your place, and ask for a blessing at another time.

 

[Lepanto]

There is nothing wrong with wanting a blessing. Blessings impart graces from God! But before you enter the communion line for a blessing, consider these points:

1. The “communion line” is called just that because it’s for communions. It’s not a “blessings line.”
2. The entire congregation gets a blessing five minutes after communion at the dismissal.
3. Many erroneous practices are taught in RCIA. Go by the official Church documents (in this case the GIRM and Sacramentum Redemptionis), not necessarily what your well-intentioned but wrong RCIA instructor might say. If your instructor says that it’s part of the Mass, politely challenge him to show you the official Church documentation that says so.
4. This is an abuse that has only arisen in some regions, and only within the last few decades. It is NOT an approved, organic development of the liturgy and it has no liturgical pedigree. (An approving priest does not make it legitimate.)
5. Blessings in the communion line add to the confusion of who can bless whom, and add to the time necessary for those actually receiving communion. Increasing the number of EMHCs and then having them bless people is problematic.
6. People who receive such blessings do so because they can’t receive communion. But why can’t they receive communion? Communion line blessings are a disincentive for rectifying the reasons why they can’t receive communion in the first place. Such people should do what they need to do in order to regularize their situation so that next time they CAN start to receive the Eucharist, e.g., conversion to the faith, sacramental confession, etc. It is dangerous to view such blessings as some sort of consolation prize.
7. Traditionally, people who did not receive communion (but before rectifying the impediment) are supposed to make a spiritual communion from their pews. Here is an example:
   ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/blsac4.htm

 

[mullenpm]

To Burdock:

It is not wrong to want a Blessing, but as some responders have said - we all get the Blessing of the Priest at the ending of the Mass.

Please don’t give up on your conversion because of your perceived feeling of the “unfriendliness” of the responses because I am sure that was not the intent.

Your will find our Church to be a loving and friendly place, so please join us.

 

[HoosierGal]

I found this interesting. Its from Catholic Exchange dot com (link at the end)

The Church provides specific instructions for the Mass. They are primarily found in the Roman Missal and the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM). The instructions do not provide for the blessing of non-communicants during the distribution of Holy Communion, but neither do they prohibit such a blessing.

While the Church does not specifically prohibit priests from blessing non-communicants during the distribution of Holy Communion, neither does she provide for it. In general, if something is not provided for in the liturgical rubrics, it is not envisioned. At the same time, because the Church has not addressed the matter specifically, some individual bishops have provided instructions to guide the faithful in their dioceses. The larger context of the liturgy of the Eucharist within the Mass provides principles to apply to the question of blessing non-communicants.

The distribution of Holy Communion takes place in the midst of the liturgy of the Eucharist — where bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of our Lord. The liturgy of the Eucharist leads to the reception of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic prayers invite the faithful to the banquet of Christ.

The rubrics provide for the faithful to come forward in procession to receive Communion (cf. GIRM, nos. 44; 160). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on the Liturgy describes processions as “a sign of the pilgrim Church.” In particular, the Communion procession “is an action of the Body of Christ. At Christ’s invitation, extended by the priest acting in Christ’s person: Happy are they who are called to his supper, the members of the community move forward to share in the sacred meal, to receive the body and blood of Christ which is the sign and the source of their unity.” This highlights two important points: the purpose of the Communion procession is to receive the body and blood of Christ, and the procession itself signifies the unity of the Church.

Finally, the Church provides for all persons to receive a blessing at the end of Mass (cf. GIRM, no. 90).

One reason given for the blessing of non-communicants is the discomfort that non-communicants might feel at being left in the pews. A blessing seems to be a way to welcome and provide for those who cannot receive Communion. This desire to provide for everyone is good. However, sometimes providing for everyone can diminish the importance of pointing to the greatest good — in this case, Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

It is important to note that even if a priest or deacon made the pastoral decision to bless non-communicants, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not do so. Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMs) are commissioned to assist specifically with the distribution of Holy Communion. There are times during the liturgical year when the laity assist in specific acts of blessing — the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday and the blessing of throats on the feast of Saint Blase. These are clearly indicated in the Book of Blessings. However, blessing in the name of the Church is not the normal function for laypersons.

In particular, EMs should not provide a blessing with the Eucharist (also called Benediction). Blessing with the Eucharist is reserved to an ordained minister, as the Rite of Exposition and Benediction indicates: “It is not lawful, however, for [non-ordained persons] to give the blessing with the sacrament” (no. 91). Giving a blessing with the Host is not proper to the role of a layperson and blurs the distinction between the ordained and non-ordained priesthood.

At the same time, the situation may arise in which a non-communicant presents himself to an EM for a blessing. Anticipating this possibility, an EM can consult his diocese’s instructions for EMs and then respond to the person accordingly. In the absence of such guidelines, one solution would be for an EM to make no gesture but say to the person, “God bless you.” Such a solution allows the EM to respond in charity and maintain the orderly and reverent character of the Communion procession without moving beyond the scope of his duty.

Some people consider giving an appropriate gesture of blessing to a child who cannot yet receive Communion to be a separate situation (The gesture might be one such as the sign of the Cross on the forehead). For example, Father Peter Stravinskas, who is well known for his strict adherence to liturgical law, notes that the Holy Father himself blessed a baby after giving the child’s mother Communion. This took place during a televised Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 19, 2003. Father Stravinskas noted that children not old enough to receive Communion understandably accompany their parents in the Communion line. Given this reality and the Pope’s example, he said that it is for a priest or deacon to affirm the children by providing them a blessing. However, he added that non-Catholic adults and Catholics who may not receive Communion should not come up for a blessing at Communion time. Father Stravinskas said that Communion time is for receiving Communion, and that all will receive a blessing at the appropriate time: the end of Mass.

On the other hand, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput suggests that blessings during Communion are not appropriate. He recommends a return to the practice of spiritual communion:

“Both children and adults can make a spiritual communion. They may come forward with their arms crossed and bow before the Eucharist. Then the priest, deacon or extraordinary minister could say to them kindly, “Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart.” This is not a blessing, but an invitation to worship, so no gestures are made.

“This spiritual communion would more authentically carry out the spirit of the liturgy. Being faithful to the truths of the sacramental celebration allows all of us, young and old, to enter more deeply into worship” (“Communion Procession Offers Opportunity to Teach Reverence.” Denver Catholic Register, 12 Feb. 2003). The rest of this article can be found online.

In the absence of instructions from the Holy See or the Bishops’ Conference, the blessing of non-Communicants remains a pastoral matter addressed at the local level. A bishop may provide instructions for his diocese, or he may entrust the matter to the discretion of the pastors of his diocese.

United in the Faith,
Peter Balbirnie
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith

LINKY

 

[Aramis]

This morning while viewing the Daily Mass on EWTN I noticed that several people in line approached the Priest who was distributing Holy Communion with their arms crossed in front of them.

The Priest touched their heads with the Sign of the Cross, but they did not receive Holy Communion.

I don’t understand this. What took place?

One other thing to be aware of: This is not universal.

In some parishes, it’s one arm. In others, non-communicants to not come forward.

It also is outside the norms of the GIRM, as lay posture is only vaguely addressed in the GIRM for most things.

Further, the normative posture for Byzantines is to receive with arms crossed across one’s chest…

 

[KathyW926]

out of curiousity (as I’m working up to going up in the communion line for a blessing, I currently pray while everyone else goes up as I am just in the beginning stages of my conversion) how are their arms crossed?

I always keep my head bowed in prayer while everyone else goes up. Under different circumstances, I probably would peek, but I truly do enjoy my time of prayer while the communicants go up…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I got up the courage to go to Mass. I always sat in the back, dreading the moment when someone would shout out “IMPOSTER!” and show me the way out. Of course, that never happened, but my anxiety remained. Then I started RCIA in September and was encouraged to go up for a blessing. Like yourself, I still remained in the pew and waited. Finally, with the support of a Catholic friend, I went up for the blessing. It was a truly wonderful, welcoming experience and I’m surprised it doesn’t happen in all parishes. It was a precious prelude to the BIG event — Easter Vigil, 2008, when I was confirmed (I had been baptized in a nondenominational church 10 years previously) and received the Eucharist for the first time. Now I have to tell you that God provides the courage even through our fears, and I pray that you’ll find this curiosity of yours will eventually lead you to the blessing. You are on a glorious journey and like all trips, it takes just one little step at a time.

p.s. I love the Mass and now go every morning before I go to work.

Be blessed!

 

[GloriaDeiPatris]

Good grief!!!

To deny anyone, however disposed, a simple “God bless you” is exactly the kind of uncharitable legalistic scrupulosity Christ railed against.

My wife and I enjoy a mixed marriage (she is Lutheran) and I’ve had enough of a time explaining to her, and others, why they are not allowed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church. I wouldn’t even begin to advise her - or anyone - against accepting a blessing.

No matter how we may feel about the legitimacy of the Mother Church and the…questionable beliefs and practices of some other denominations, I can tell you from experience that some people view Catholics as being a stuck-up and anal-retentive old-boy network. Compared to the warm welcome given at other churches, I’m not surprised. In fact, some people are so stuck on splitting hairs with regard to policies and procedures, that they appear very much like modern-day Pharisees.

One characteristic of Catholicism is our obedience to church authority. Grumbling and nitpicking simply don’t fit this profile. Neither does second-guessing our betters. Our beloved clergy bears an increased burden of accountability for its actions, as indicated in Scripture. So let’s let them deal with it. I can’t imagine our beloved Master, on the day of reckoning, possibly chastising one of His shepherds for being too charitable in His name.

Only clergy can bless people? Perhaps in a formal manner while wearing a stole and acting as a vicar of Christ. Correct me if I’m wrong…the line starts over there! Someone, anyone, please quote me where the CCC prohibits anyone else from saying “God bless you.”

This reminds me of the debate over whether the Pope should kiss the ground. Please don’t let’s be niggardly with our blessings. Christ said, “Love one another,” not “Make the Communion line more expeditious.”

He also said that we should be recognized by our love for one another…

Peace be with you all!

 

[tiffinwood]

I am a EMHC at my parish (very large, over 2,000 families). We have been instruced not to make the sign of the cross which only the priest or deacon can do. We instead place our hand on the person’s head and say God Bless you and your family.

 

[Lepanto]

Good grief!!!

To deny anyone, however disposed, a simple “God bless you” is exactly the kind of uncharitable legalistic scrupulosity Christ railed against.

My wife and I enjoy a mixed marriage (she is Lutheran) and I’ve had enough of a time explaining to her, and others, why they are not allowed to receive Communion in the Catholic Church. I wouldn’t even begin to advise her - or anyone - against accepting a blessing.

No matter how we may feel about the legitimacy of the Mother Church and the…questionable beliefs and practices of some other denominations, I can tell you from experience that some people view Catholics as being a stuck-up and anal-retentive old-boy network. Compared to the warm welcome given at other churches, I’m not surprised. In fact, some people are so stuck on splitting hairs with regard to policies and procedures, that they appear very much like modern-day Pharisees.

One characteristic of Catholicism is our obedience to church authority. Grumbling and nitpicking simply don’t fit this profile. Neither does second-guessing our betters. Our beloved clergy bears an increased burden of accountability for its actions, as indicated in Scripture. So let’s let them deal with it. I can’t imagine our beloved Master, on the day of reckoning, possibly chastising one of His shepherds for being too charitable in His name.

Only clergy can bless people? Perhaps in a formal manner while wearing a stole and acting as a vicar of Christ. Correct me if I’m wrong…the line starts over there! Someone, anyone, please quote me where the CCC prohibits anyone else from saying “God bless you.”

This reminds me of the debate over whether the Pope should kiss the ground. Please don’t let’s be niggardly with our blessings. Christ said, “Love one another,” not “Make the Communion line more expeditious.”

He also said that we should be recognized by our love for one another…

Peace be with you all!

I don’t understand.

You mentioned your Lutheran wife. Since you “wouldn’t even begin to advise her - or anyone - against accepting a blessing”, do you also advise her - or anyone - that it’s OK to receive communion?

You say “One characteristic of Catholicism is our obedience to church authority,” yet you are advocating disobedience in the bulk of your post.

The CCC is not the document that governs blessings and liturgical practices. (The documents that do have already been mentioned in this thread.)

 

[maize]

i was at mass the other week and a lady told me that i could go up and get a blessing even though im not catholic, because thats what another gentleman does, but it didnt feel right for me to do so. i always just pray while everyone goes up for communion. glad i trusted my instinct. im always the only person that doesnt go up for communion anyways, i wonder if everyone is that good?

 

[Lepanto]

i was at mass the other week and a lady told me that i could go up and get a blessing even though im not catholic, because thats what another gentleman does, but it didnt feel right for me to do so. i always just pray while everyone goes up for communion. glad i trusted my instinct. im always the only person that doesnt go up for communion anyways, i wonder if everyone is that good?

maize,

Thank you for coming to Holy Mass, thank you for trusting your instinct by honoring our disciplines (despite receiving incorrect advice from a well-intentioned parishioner), and thank you for making a spiritual communion from your pew.

I pray that some day you will be able to receive Jesus’ body and blood with us as a Catholic.

 

[mullenpm]

Maize, I am so happy that you trusted your instincts and stayed in the pew and prayed. I started this thread because I saw people at a Mass on EWTN approach the Priest with arms crossed and I wondered what it meant.

I am happy that I asked this question but I am amazed at how large the thread has become and I have learned a great deal from the comments.

Now, you say that you are the only one who is in pews during distribution of Holy Communion and you wondered if everyone else was just “so good.”

You already said that one man just went for the blessing. So there you have it. And I wonder why this elderly gentleman would do this?

 

[Fortuna]

Only a priest or a deacon, and it should not happen anyway. Blessings at that point are not part of the liturgy.

I don’t know how they do things in your part of Texas but in my part I was told by the head of RCIA that I could cross my arms in the Communion line to receive a blessing. After Mass, Father was pleased that I had done so.

I was also told that those who have not been able to go to confession are allowed to do this.

Why would you think it is not appropriate at any time let alone at liturgy?

God Bless-Fortuna

 

[Lepanto]

I don’t know how they do things in your part of Texas but in my part I was told by the head of RCIA that I could cross my arms in the Communion line to receive a blessing. After Mass, Father was pleased that I had done so.

I was also told that those who have not been able to go to confession are allowed to do this.

Why would you think it is not appropriate at any time let alone at liturgy?

God Bless-Fortuna

Please see post #46, above.

 

[Fortuna]

Please see post #46, above.

If we can not trust the RCIA, then there is a bigger problem than just not being able to get a blessing int he communion line. Why is it you say this and are you a priest or practicing Catholic?

There are so few people at our church that I am certain I am not holding up the line for anyone.

If one cannot receive a blessing in church then where? No one at our church receives blessings after Mass. The Father is outside greeting the parishioners.
God BLess you, (here’s mine for you) Fortuna

 

[Fortuna]

To Burdock:

It is not wrong to want a Blessing, but as some responders have said - we all get the Blessing of the Priest at the ending of the Mass.

Please don’t give up on your conversion because of your perceived feeling of the “unfriendliness” of the responses because I am sure that was not the intent.

Your will find our Church to be a loving and friendly place, so please join us.

If the only thing I can count on is the RCIA and what my priest tells me and now I am told that I can’t count on that, then I may as well go back to the Anglican church I came from.

This is precisely why people leave or do not join the Catholic church. People who are bitter and do not want to follow Vatican II have an axe to grind instead of opening their eyes and hearts to the Vatican that is trying to open up the church in modern times.

I mean really, all this bruha over a blessing in the communion line.

I will take this matter to my RCIA rep. and if need be my priest.

Thank you for your support.

God bless - Fortuna