Crossed Arms in Holy Communion line

[ibkc]

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.

No, I wasn’t trying to be rude. I was simply suggesting that you re-watch it, because it seemed to me you had missed his larger point. I don’t see how that is rude. In fact I was trying very hard to be polite and matter-of-fact.

Neither of us care for the practice and we both think the Cardinal dislikes it as well. We actually aren’t disagreeing on much beyond how much importance should be put on subtexts we read into the Cardinal’s tone vs. what he actually said. I can agree to disagree on that.

 

[benedictgal]

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.

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

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.

Japhy and another poster have already written to Cardinal Arinze. I, too, am preparing a letter. The more the faithful write to get some clarification on this, perhaps the Congregation will set forth something in writing.

Now, I am having some technical difficulties in getting the video feed, as I still have dialup. However, I still maintain my position on the issue.

I take my cue from the invocation that the celebrant recites just prior to Holy Communion:

Behold the Lamb of God. Behold He who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are those who are called to the supper.

In the context of the worship of Ancient Israel, the sacrifice was not complete until the priest ate the victim. In the case of the Mass, the prayer of the New Israel, the Church, the same holds true. Furthermore, in Ancient Israel, there was such a thing as a communion sacrifice where not only the priest, but the people who offered up the victim, partook of the sacrificial meal. Furthermore, in the case of the Passover, everyone who was supposed to, partook of the pashcal lamb.

Mind you, the invocation invites the faithful to receive and eat, not receive a blessing. The reason we form a line is to be fed the Living Bread come down from Heaven, not to receive a blessing in lieu of partaking in the sacrificial banquet.

The problem is that we live in an age where we think that we are entitled to receive something. We line up prior to the rooster crowing outside of BestBuy to receive a $50 gift card the day after Thanksgiving. We line up and camp out for concert tickets to see Hannah Montana. We all feel entitled to get something. Unfortunately, this kind of attitude has spilled into the Mass.

It is not that I am trying to be insensitive to those who cannot receive Our Lord. The problem is that we no longer stress the importance of remaining in our pews to make a spiritual communion so that we can have a profound union with the Lord until such time as we can receive Him in Holy Communion.

Furthermore, everyone gets a blessing at the end of Mass. The only time that multiple blessings occur is during ritual Masses like those for a wedding.

 

[janw]

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.

I didn’t have any idea it was not the norm. We were told in rcia to go up for a blessing. I thought it was a great idea as above post, it was awful that everyone had to crawl over you going down and again coming back to their seats. I also saw this on ewtn. It also gives me another chance to bow to our Lord at the mass. I’m sorry to hear that its the wrong thing to do as it made us feel a little more a part of the church even though we were not confirmed yet.

 

[anon52328184]

i would ask the priest at the parish you attend how they feel about it.
i also was told at a catholic church i attended before i was confirmed that you could cross your arms and walk up and receive a blessing.

i know what you mean about people crawling all over you.

at least when you approach the priest during the service, you feel more like you have participated in the whole service.

 

[janw]

This excerpt is from the book, " 7 Secrets of the Eucharist " by Vinny Flynn; Introduction by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.; published by MercySong, Inc. in collaboration with Ignatius Press, pg. 12-13:

"Pope Benedict XVI also discusses this issue of how to receive, emphasizing that, instead of arguing about whether it’s better to receive kneeling or standing, in the hand or on the tongue, we need to focus on the spirit of reverence with which the early Fathers of the Church received Communion.

"First urging priests to ‘exercise tolerance and to recognize the decision of each person,’ he goes on to ask everyone ‘to exercise the same tolerance and not to cast aspersions on anyone who may have opted for this or that way of doing it.’ What is important is reverence:

“It is quite wrong to argue about this or that form of behavior. We should be concerned only to argue in favor of…a reverence in the heart, an inner submission before the mystery of God.”

Notes, Sources and References, page 111-112:

" ‘It is quite wrong to argue about this or that form of behavior.’ Pope Benedict XVI, God is Near Us, p. 71. The pope goes on to urge that instead of arguing about the outer forms or rituals of receiving Communion, we 'should be concerned only to argue in favor of a ‘reverence in the heart, an inner submission before the mystery of God who puts himself into our hands.’

“He admonishes us ‘not to forget that not only our hands are impure but also our tongue and also our heart and that we often sin more with the tongue than with our hands.’ He explains that, by coming to us in Communion, ‘God takes an enormous risk…allowing not only our hand and our tongue but even our heart to come into contact with him. We see this in the Lord’s willingness to enter into us and live with us, within us, and to become from within the heart of our life and the agent of its transformation’ (p.71)”

Now this sounds like something I believe our Loving God would like.:clapping: :yup: We do need rules, but as with all things, in moderation. “The greatest of these is Love”

 

[Lepanto]

We were told in rcia to go up for a blessing.

I’m sorry to say this – but what your RCIA teacher told you about this is absolutely incorrect.

No RCIA teacher has the authority to add, delete, or alter the rubrics of the Mass.

 

[Petergee]

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.

I have been in several churches with narrow pews like that, and the done thing is that those not receiving Communion step out into the aisle to let the communicants out and in and then resume their seats. All very orderly and reverent.

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.

One can’t receive the Eucharist enough times in life either, but the Church’s rule is that we may not receive it more than once per day.
Just like the Church’s rule, as stated in the GIRM and the BofB, is that blessings should not be given during Communion.

I take it that Cd Arinze is saying that although it is unauthorised and liturgically illicit, he does not consider it widespread enough or a serious enough abuse to bother making a formal and universal explicit condemnation of the practice at this time. No doubt he is conscious of all the criticism the Church cops for being “too authoritarian” for all the very necessary directives it issues for more important matters.

 

[Cristiano]

…
One can’t receive the Eucharist enough times in life either, but the Church’s rule is that we may not receive it more than once per day. …

That it is not correct! You can receive communion a second time but only if you participate to the Mass, and even more if you are in immediate danger of death. This has been discussed ad nauseam in these forums.

 

[kyria]

I want to share a story. On Sunday there sitting in front of me was a little boy of approximately 20months. At the beginning of the first part of mass, he kept trying to get his mother’s attention and was asking her about when he could go up and receive a blessing. He appeared very excited about this prospect and wanted reassurance from his mother that he wouldn’t miss out. When the plates were given around for the offering money (sorry I don’t know what we actually call this), the little boy ran up the aisle excitedly thinking it was time to go up for the blessing.

All of last week the words that were flowing through my head were “Let the children come to me”. When I saw that child and his enthusiasm to go up and receive a blessing, my heart melted because all I could think of was, how so lovely that this little child, so innocent, wanted to run up the aisle and go to Christ. He might be too young to understand that, but his joy was so lovely to witness. Put a smile on my face all through mass.

Could you imagine how Christ would feel if we stopped little children from coming to Christ and told them you have to wait until you are older to officially receive the Eucharist? This child at 20months has enthusiasm, and because we have the ability in our Parish for children to receive a blessing before the appropriate age of First Communion, we have an opportunity to allow children to go up to Jesus, an opportunity to give them something to look forward to and keep that enthusiasm of being Catholic and a loved child of God.

I am no longer worrying whether receiving a blessing is cocher with teaching or not. All I see are Christ’s words "let the children come to me’.

I was 34 yrs old before I came to Christ in my heart. As a Mother I will support anything that assists children coming to Christ at a much earlier age then I did.

The children are our future, and we have a duty to ensure that we do not put anything in place that stops our children from coming to Christ, no matter how young they are or how old. And if going up and receiving a blessing makes the children feel part of Christ’s love and family, this mummy is all for it.

If you wish to not go up for a blessing then don’t. But please don’t stop my children and others children from embracing something that gives opportunity to “come to Christ” and to continually look forward to coming to Christ more often and in deeper ways.

 

[ac_claire]

I want to share a story. On Sunday there sitting in front of me was a little boy of approximately 20months. At the beginning of the first part of mass, he kept trying to get his mother’s attention and was asking her about when he could go up and receive a blessing. He appeared very excited about this prospect and wanted reassurance from his mother that he wouldn’t miss out. When the plates were given around for the offering money (sorry I don’t know what we actually call this), the little boy ran up the aisle excitedly thinking it was time to go up for the blessing.

All of last week the words that were flowing through my head were “Let the children come to me”. When I saw that child and his enthusiasm to go up and receive a blessing, my heart melted because all I could think of was, how so lovely that this little child, so innocent, wanted to run up the aisle and go to Christ. He might be too young to understand that, but his joy was so lovely to witness. Put a smile on my face all through mass.

Could you imagine how Christ would feel if we stopped little children from coming to Christ and told them you have to wait until you are older to officially receive the Eucharist? This child at 20months has enthusiasm, and because we have the ability in our Parish for children to receive a blessing before the appropriate age of First Communion, we have an opportunity to allow children to go up to Jesus, an opportunity to give them something to look forward to and keep that enthusiasm of being Catholic and a loved child of God.

I am no longer worrying whether receiving a blessing is cocher with teaching or not. All I see are Christ’s words "let the children come to me’.

I was 34 yrs old before I came to Christ in my heart. As a Mother I will support anything that assists children coming to Christ at a much earlier age then I did.

The children are our future, and we have a duty to ensure that we do not put anything in place that stops our children from coming to Christ, no matter how young they are or how old. And if going up and receiving a blessing makes the children feel part of Christ’s love and family, this mummy is all for it.

If you wish to not go up for a blessing then don’t. But please don’t stop my children and others children from embracing something that gives opportunity to “come to Christ” and to continually look forward to coming to Christ more often and in deeper ways.

Yeah, that’s real sweet, but ultimately meaningless. The children going up for a blessing aren’t going to Jesus (or being prevented from going up to Jesus if they don’t go up) any more than if they stayed in their seats and prayed. It distorts and dilutes the meaning of the communion procession. We’re going up to receive Jesus as he commanded, not just going up to get whatever we can get because we want to be involved. It’s the communion line.

If you can’t receive communion, you need to do whatever you need to do (like go to Confession) to properly dispose yourself so that next time you can receive communion. If you can’t receive because you’re too young, then you need to wait in the pew and make a spiritual communion.

 

[Appleby]

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…

That is what I did when I was awaiting baptism and confirmation; the only difficulty being that the people who did go up got annoyed at having to step over me to get back to their seats.

In our parish we have both the body and the blood on offer and if you do not wish to receive the Cup, you approach with crossed arms.

 

[kyria]

Yeah, that’s real sweet, but ultimately meaningless. The children going up for a blessing aren’t going to Jesus (or being prevented from going up to Jesus if they don’t go up) any more than if they stayed in their seats and prayed. It distorts and dilutes the meaning of the communion procession. We’re going up to receive Jesus as he commanded, not just going up to get whatever we can get because we want to be involved. It’s the communion line.

If you can’t receive communion, you need to do whatever you need to do (like go to Confession) to properly dispose yourself so that next time you can receive communion. If you can’t receive because you’re too young, then you need to wait in the pew and make a spiritual communion.

Ok tell me then what did Jesus command with regard to the children.

This is what I see Christ commanding.

Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk 10:14)

Would you please care to quote something from scripture that wants us to stop children going up for a blessing?

I am sorry you feel it is meaningless. It isn’t to me. Because I saw a child with enthusiasm and joy and innocence and a desire to be included in the community of Christ. If it were meaningless, I wouldn’t have sat with a smile on my face during mass watching this child. Might be meaningless to you, but I have a hunch it wasn’t meaningless to Christ for he said to let the children come to him and not stop them.

Why do you say the Children going up aren’t going up to receive Jesus? Aren’t the priests representing Christ?

Can I ask you something? how does people going up to receive a blessing impact on you yourself?

Thankyou

 

[pnewton]

Can I ask you something? how does people going up to receive a blessing impact on you yourself?

That’s the thing that I have always wondered. Are they afraid they will get out of Church a minute later or something? And yes, Jesus is more really present at the altar in the hands of the priest than in the pew making spiritual communion. That is what we Catholics believe.

 

[a_cermak]

The thing I wonder about is that this practice has spread so rapidly, it seems like real, organic growth. My understanding of organic growth is that it starts at the bottom (like private confession did in Ireland) and then is recognized by the authorities perhaps decades later as a good thing when the practice has borne good fruit.

Maybe that’s why the Vat has declined to condemn this practice, instead perhaps they’re waiting to see if it has any bad effects.

 

[Appleby]

The thing I wonder about is that this practice has spread so rapidly, it seems like real, organic growth. My understanding of organic growth is that it starts at the bottom (like private confession did in Ireland) and then is recognized by the authorities perhaps decades later as a good thing when the practice has borne good fruit.

Maybe that’s why the Vat has declined to condemn this practice, instead perhaps they’re waiting to see if it has any bad effects.

Well I see a lot less to fuss about in this practice than I do in the extremly irritating interruption of the Mass to shake hands with people around me. In my parish people are extremely unfriendly to begin with (its a cultural thing apparently) and they only show any kind of Christian love to people they already know. To strangers they shrink away and behave as if we have cooties, and some will back off and not allow anybody else to touch them at all. I have been seated in the same place for nearly two years and I am still invisible except during this time when people approach me with reluctance and get it over with as quickly as possible. Communing with Christ by coming up for a blessing is a lot more reverent than trying to deal in the pew with people who really do not want to shake your hand.

 

[MomblessedX3]

Ok tell me then what did Jesus command with regard to the children.

This is what I see Christ commanding.

Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk 10:14)

Would you please care to quote something from scripture that wants us to stop children going up for a blessing?

I am sorry you feel it is meaningless. It isn’t to me. Because I saw a child with enthusiasm and joy and innocence and a desire to be included in the community of Christ. If it were meaningless, I wouldn’t have sat with a smile on my face during mass watching this child. Might be meaningless to you, but I have a hunch it wasn’t meaningless to Christ for he said to let the children come to him and not stop them.

Why do you say the Children going up aren’t going up to receive Jesus? Aren’t the priests representing Christ?

Can I ask you something? how does people going up to receive a blessing impact on you yourself?

Thankyou

AMEN KYRIA!!!

I loved your story and I so very much agree with you that we shouldn’t be preventing children from staying enthusiastic about the importance of Church and all its aspects. In fact it is our job as Christians to keep our children involved and I believe getting them into the structure and routine of the communion line they will be so much more eager for it.

I loved your posts and your insight. May Christ always be with you and your family.

 

[MomblessedX3]

The thing I wonder about is that this practice has spread so rapidly, it seems like real, organic growth. My understanding of organic growth is that it starts at the bottom (like private confession did in Ireland) and then is recognized by the authorities perhaps decades later as a good thing when the practice has borne good fruit.

Maybe that’s why the Vat has declined to condemn this practice, instead perhaps they’re waiting to see if it has any bad effects.

What bad effects could it realistically have?

 

[a_cermak]

Some here seem to think it will trivialize receiving Communion. I can’t imagine it, Communion being such an important part of the Mass and all.

 

[pnewton]

What bad effects could it realistically have?

The argument is usually that since this particular action is not in the GIRM, it should not be done. It is a good argument. However, I still believe that sometimes really great things come from being a little more pastoral and a little less legalistic. No doubt there the fear of many abuses that have occured in the past and still occur leave a negative taste in many.

But this is such a beautiful and innocent gesture, I can’t see the harm. For those that dread any change arising from the masses, let me remind you that even a broken clock is on time twice a day.

 

[Cristiano]

…Would you please care to quote something from scripture that wants us to stop children going up for a blessing?..

This sounds like a sola scriptura comment to me. Would you allow your child to go to the altar after the priest has consecrated the host and before he communicates himself. I think that there are better moments to teach children about being next to God (e.g. Adoration).

…Why do you say the Children going up aren’t going up to receive Jesus? Aren’t the priests representing Christ?..

Spiritual communion is not sharing into His divinity as we do when receiving communion. Are we teaching the kids to worship priests or do we teach them what In Persona Christi is about? I think that this could creating confusion in the understanding of communion and if that it is true that it is poor catechesis.