Crossed Arms in Holy Communion line

[guanophore]

Our pre-Communion kids do that in this Parish and it is a lovely sight to see. My daughter lines up with me and goes ahead of me to receive her blessing. It gets them used to the Communion line and hey, gets them used to going to the Priest instead of the EMHC’s. Now let the bashing begin…

There should be no “bashing”. EMHC’s are not authorized to give such a blessing, and have no business pretending to do so. This is egregiously out of order.

 

[Phemie]

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.

And the person so blessed could have received the same thing from the person sharing his/her pew without going up in the Communion procession.

 

[mullenpm]

Fortuna, I don’t understand where you said that no one at your church receives a blessing because the Priest is outside talking with parishioners.

Do you not pay attention to the Mass; the last thing Father does (excepting saying the Mass is ended) is to bless everyone; this blessing is certainly broad enough to include everyone. Do you want an individual blessing?

:hug3:

 

[KathyW926]

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

I’m also dismayed by the negative responders in this thread. As a recent convert, I love the rituals, but at first was terrified that I would do something “wrong.” I couldn’t even concentrate during Mass on Jesus because of my anxiety and carefully watching what everyone else was doing so I could do it the “right” way. Now I find out that even though RCIA and my priest encouraged me going for a blessing, that was WRONG??? Yikes. Well, fortunately, I don’t go to Mass anymore worrying about whether or not I’m doing something wrong… I go to receive Christ. Amen to you all and God bless.

KathyW

 

[guanophore]

In the Byzantine tradition, one goes to Communion with arms crossed.

This is true, but the OP witnessed this on EWTN, which, by and large, televises Mass from the Latin Rite.

 

[Lepanto]

I am always saddened and apalled at the brazenness of people who do whatever they want in the Mass just because they feel like it – as if the Mass was their personal plaything.

From Vatican II’s document Sacrosanctum Concilium, article 22.3:

"Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority."

The bottom line: people who promote communion-line blessings are in blatant violation of Vatican II.

Here is the link to the Sacrosanctum Concilium:
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

 

[Fortuna]

I am always saddened and apalled at the brazenness of people who do whatever they want in the Mass just because they feel like it – as if the Mass was their personal plaything.

From Vatican II’s document Sacrosanctum Concilium, article 22.3:

"Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority."

The bottom line: people who promote communion-line blessings are in blatant violation of Vatican II.

Here is the link to the Sacrosanctum Concilium:
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

With all due respect, Who are you?

What are your credentials that you can judge what a preist does in his own parish subject to the instruction of his Bishop?

It appears to me, IMHO, that you are very negative and not keeping in the spirit of the intentions of the Catholic Church.

1. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain [28] . Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.
2. Transmissions of the sacred rites by radio and television shall be done with discretion and dignity, under the leadership and direction of a suitable person appointed for this office by the bishops. This is especially important when the service to be broadcast is the Mass.
3. 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
4. To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence.
5. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.
6. The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator [38], they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.
7. The two parts which, in a certain sense, go to make up the Mass, namely, the liturgy of the word and the eucharistic liturgy, are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship. Accordingly this sacred Synod strongly urges pastors of souls that, when instructing the faithful, they insistently teach them to take their part in the entire Mass, especially on Sundays and feasts of obligation.

I see nothing in the link you provided that suggests that one may not stand in line to bless our Lord and ask for His blessing.

I go for blessing not for myself so much as to bless the Lord that brought me back to the church. I think to say that anyone comes to Mass with the mind that it is their “personal plaything” is arrogant and disrespectful of all Catholics everywhere. Frankly, I am “Appalled” at your lack of compassion.

If I were to partake in the Eucharist then I could see that it may be a problem. Some people make it virtually impossible for Christians to come to the Catholic Church or any church for that matter.

God Bless you and enlighten you -Fortuna

 

[paperwight]

Well done, Fortuna! Brilliant post.

 

[mullenpm]

Fortuna, This is the second time that I read your posts wherein you more or less say that you do not go to Mass to receive the Holy Eucharist, but to get a personal blessing; and yet, you critize anyone who finds that particular ritual not in keeping with our Mass.

Why do you not go to Mass to receive the Holy Eucharist? That is the main part of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

A blessing by a priest surely must pale in comparison.

If you are not a Catholic, please do not critize our Liturgy.

 

[BSHoop96]

“May the Lord bless you always”

Sounds exactly like a blessing to me.

Anyone can bless someone. Just as you say “God bless you” when someone sneezes. It’s just not the same as when a priest blesses you and perhaps this is what the poster meant?

 

[BSHoop96]

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.

Everyone is blessed at the end of Mass.

 

[BSHoop96]

With all due respect, Who are you?

What are your credentials that you can judge what a preist does in his own parish subject to the instruction of his Bishop?

It appears to me, IMHO, that you are very negative and not keeping in the spirit of the intentions of the Catholic Church.

1. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain [28] . Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.
2. Transmissions of the sacred rites by radio and television shall be done with discretion and dignity, under the leadership and direction of a suitable person appointed for this office by the bishops. This is especially important when the service to be broadcast is the Mass.
3. 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
4. To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence.
5. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.
6. The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator [38], they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.
7. The two parts which, in a certain sense, go to make up the Mass, namely, the liturgy of the word and the eucharistic liturgy, are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship. Accordingly this sacred Synod strongly urges pastors of souls that, when instructing the faithful, they insistently teach them to take their part in the entire Mass, especially on Sundays and feasts of obligation.

I see nothing in the link you provided that suggests that one may not stand in line to bless our Lord and ask for His blessing.

I go for blessing not for myself so much as to bless the Lord that brought me back to the church. I think to say that anyone comes to Mass with the mind that it is their “personal plaything” is arrogant and disrespectful of all Catholics everywhere. Frankly, I am “Appalled” at your lack of compassion.

If I were to partake in the Eucharist then I could see that it may be a problem. Some people make it virtually impossible for Christians to come to the Catholic Church or any church for that matter.

God Bless you and enlighten you -Fortuna

Fortuna, I’m sorry that what Lepanto is telling you upsets you but he is right. Pease remember that RCIA is often taught by lay people, who with all the best intentions in the world try their best and sometimes make mistakes.

I will repeat this and I apologize for those who have already read it as I have told it several times in other discussions

My spouse is converting to the church and I told him he could receive a blessing. But something was nagging at me…after all we all receive a blessing at end of Mass so I talked to my priest about it.

He said the practice of coming up for a blessing during communion started spontaneously and has an unknown origin. **that is to say that the church (magisterium) did not institute this practice, **however it has become a common practice in most catholic parishes in this country.

He went on to say that while he would never refuse a blessing to someone, however, it was a “communion” line and not a “blessing” line. He also said he would talk about it more in RCIA. So he deals with the issue as he instructs people. Hopefully it spreads. Anyway, now my spouse receives the blessing at the end of Mass with everyone else.

 

[Pro_Domina]

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?

It is a new practice, but actually a wrongful one.
Who ever stands up in the Communion line is morally obligated
to recieve Holy Communion. Because if you stand up and don’t recieve you just commited a sin of scandal. Now if you stay seated, people don’t have a right to judge with all security of why you did not recieve. I know this seems extreme, and I’ll admit almost unheard of, but it is Catholic doctrine.
I know this because I find myself assisting several masses every once in a while but can only recieve 2 times in a day, yet I did not want to scandalize anyone because I am person of a decent reputation.

 

[Lepanto]

With all due respect, Who are you?

What are your credentials that you can judge what a preist does in his own parish subject to the instruction of his Bishop?

It appears to me, IMHO, that you are very negative and not keeping in the spirit of the intentions of the Catholic Church.

1. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain [28] . Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.
2. Transmissions of the sacred rites by radio and television shall be done with discretion and dignity, under the leadership and direction of a suitable person appointed for this office by the bishops. This is especially important when the service to be broadcast is the Mass.
3. 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
4. To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence.
5. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.
6. The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator [38], they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all.
7. The two parts which, in a certain sense, go to make up the Mass, namely, the liturgy of the word and the eucharistic liturgy, are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship. Accordingly this sacred Synod strongly urges pastors of souls that, when instructing the faithful, they insistently teach them to take their part in the entire Mass, especially on Sundays and feasts of obligation.

I see nothing in the link you provided that suggests that one may not stand in line to bless our Lord and ask for His blessing.

I go for blessing not for myself so much as to bless the Lord that brought me back to the church. I think to say that anyone comes to Mass with the mind that it is their “personal plaything” is arrogant and disrespectful of all Catholics everywhere. Frankly, I am “Appalled” at your lack of compassion.

If I were to partake in the Eucharist then I could see that it may be a problem. Some people make it virtually impossible for Christians to come to the Catholic Church or any church for that matter.

God Bless you and enlighten you -Fortuna

What in your long post justifies adulterating the COMMUNION line for other purposes? Please cite the exact line.

By your logic, if I wanted to do use the COMMUNION line just to walk around and get some exercise during Mass, would that be acceptable too?

Let me just repeat, from Vatican II’s document Sacrosanctum Concilium, article 22.3:

“Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.”

How much simpler can it be?

 

[geraldffff]

It is a new practice, but actually a wrongful one.
Who ever stands up in the Communion line is morally obligated
to recieve Holy Communion. Because if you stand up and don’t recieve you just commited a sin of scandal. Now if you stay seated, people don’t have a right to judge with all security of why you did not recieve. I know this seems extreme, and I’ll admit almost unheard of, but it is Catholic doctrine.
I know this because I find myself assisting several masses every once in a while but can only recieve 2 times in a day, yet I did not want to scandalize anyone because I am person of a decent reputation.

that’s interesting in our diocese we stand and remain standing till after communion is finished. The Bishop ordered this years ago. This seem incompatible with what you are saying.

 

[BSHoop96]

It is a new practice, but actually a wrongful one.
Who ever stands up in the Communion line is morally obligated
to recieve Holy Communion. Because if you stand up and don’t recieve you just commited a sin of scandal. **Now if you stay seated, people don’t have a right to judge with all security of why you did not recieve. **I know this seems extreme, and I’ll admit almost unheard of, but it is Catholic doctrine.
I know this because I find myself assisting several masses every once in a while but can only recieve 2 times in a day, yet I did not want to scandalize anyone because I am person of a decent reputation.

People should never be judging you AT ALL. There are many different reasons one might not be receiving Communion. It’s not anyone’s business. They shouldn’t be paying any attention to who goes up to receive and who doesn’t. Good grief!

 

[jmcrae]

that’s interesting in our diocese we stand and remain standing till after communion is finished. The Bishop ordered this years ago. This seem incompatible with what you are saying.

There is no specific posture required at this time - a lot of people sit, if they are not receiving Holy Communion.

 

[geraldffff]

People should never be judging you AT ALL. There are many different reasons one might not be receiving Communion. It’s not anyone’s business. They shouldn’t be paying any attention to who goes up to receive and who doesn’t. Good grief!

I found an explanation of a prayer posture helpful in understanding the insistence we should not do certain things. I agree it’s not anyones business unless some person is making a blatant and intentional mockery of the liturgy. I’m glad to have the young lady with the multicolored hair to lead us in song. I’m not going to “judge” her put i certainly have a problem with it.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/orans_posture.htm

 

[BSHoop96]

I found an explanation of a prayer posture helpful in understanding the insistence we should not do certain things. I agree it’s not anyones business unless some person is making a blatant and intentional mockery of the liturgy. I’m glad to have the young lady with the multicolored hair to lead us in song. I’m not going to “judge” her put i certainly have a problem with it.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/orans_posture.htm

I am so glad you put that link. People using the gestures of the priest is a pet peeve of mine! He did a good job of explaining without being critical.

 

[geraldffff]

I am so glad you put that link. People using the gestures of the priest is a pet peeve of mine! He did a good job of explaining without being critical.

I have pet peeves also but i have come to realize the more I focus on them and what others are doing the less i focus on trying to be like Jesus. During the sex scandal it occurred to me that i was in the wrong group but i looked around and realized the Church is Holy in spite of some some flawed people in Her.