deacon/extraordinary ministers blessing children during communion

[benedictgal]

Although this is an old thread, the CDWDS came out with several observations about this practice in November, 2008:

1. The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.

1. Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).

1. Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.

1. The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry”. To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.

1. In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).

Furthermore, within the context of the Mass, the only one who can impart any blessing is the priest and/or bishop, since he is the celebrant. Please see this section from Ecclesia de Mysterio:

1. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. **In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers – e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology – or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. **Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.

Thus, even though deacons are clergy, they are not supposed to be imparting blessings to people during the Mass. This falls to the celebrant (priest/bishop) to do and only at the proper time, the end of the Mass when the final blessing is given.

 

[Deacon2006]

Laity should never gesture a blessing however it is licit to always offer a one on one God Bless You saying to each other. The faculties of a deacon include the right to bless with gestures those who ask for it and to bless all the gathered when they preside at liturgical services when a priest is not present.

All celebrants, concelebrants, other priests, and deacons, that are helping at communion can bless individuals as they request it. The question of encouraging people to come forward to receive a blessing at communion time is not proper to a deacon, and should not be encouraged even by a pastor, but if it has been done or if the lay people take their own initiative to come forward then a deacon does not normally have the right to withhold a blessing from the sincere who seek comfort before God.

Pope John Paul II ask all of us to be intelligent and generous in our ministry. We should err on the side of God’s Mercy. What is accomplished when a young child or penitent man asks for a blessing and we send him on his way and say they should not have come forward for a blessing because they are a sinner or just a young child. Did Jesus ever send anyone away in these circumstances? There is always a certain group of purists out there that didn’t want the sinners to approach Jesus, and some would even try to restrain the children, but Jesus would have none of it. I doubt that the observations made by the undersecretary CDW will become enforceable directives even though the contain valuable insights into the complexity of the problem.

PAX

 

[FrDavid96]

Laity should never gesture a blessing however it is licit to always offer a one on one God Bless You saying to each other. The faculties of a deacon include the right to bless with gestures those who ask for it and to bless all the gathered when they preside at liturgical services when a priest is not present.

All celebrants, concelebrants, other priests, and deacons, that are helping at communion can bless individuals as they request it. The question of encouraging people to come forward to receive a blessing at communion time is not proper to a deacon, and should not be encouraged even by a pastor, but if it has been done or if the lay people take their own initiative to come forward then a deacon does not normally have the right to withhold a blessing from the sincere who seek comfort before God.

Pope John Paul II ask all of us to be intelligent and generous in our ministry. We should err on the side of God’s Mercy. What is accomplished when a young child or penitent man asks for a blessing and we send him on his way and say they should not have come forward for a blessing because they are a sinner or just a young child. Did Jesus ever send anyone away in these circumstances? There is always a certain group of purists out there that didn’t want the sinners to approach Jesus, and some would even try to restrain the children, but Jesus would have none of it. I doubt that the observations made by the undersecretary CDW will become enforceable directives even though the contain valuable insights into the complexity of the problem.

PAX

I spend a great deal of my ministry welcoming sinners (back) into the Church, and much effort into bringing children to Christ. I do not give blessings at Communion because this is not a licit addition to the Mass. One has nothing to do with the other. I do hope that somehow I misunderstand what you are trying to say.

 

[benedictgal]

Laity should never gesture a blessing however it is licit to always offer a one on one God Bless You saying to each other. The faculties of a deacon include the right to bless with gestures those who ask for it and to bless all the gathered when they preside at liturgical services when a priest is not present.

All celebrants, concelebrants, other priests, and deacons, that are helping at communion can bless individuals as they request it. The question of encouraging people to come forward to receive a blessing at communion time is not proper to a deacon, and should not be encouraged even by a pastor, but if it has been done or if the lay people take their own initiative to come forward then a deacon does not normally have the right to withhold a blessing from the sincere who seek comfort before God.

Pope John Paul II ask all of us to be intelligent and generous in our ministry. We should err on the side of God’s Mercy. What is accomplished when a young child or penitent man asks for a blessing and we send him on his way and say they should not have come forward for a blessing because they are a sinner or just a young child. Did Jesus ever send anyone away in these circumstances? There is always a certain group of purists out there that didn’t want the sinners to approach Jesus, and some would even try to restrain the children, but Jesus would have none of it. I doubt that the observations made by the undersecretary CDW will become enforceable directives even though the contain valuable insights into the complexity of the problem.

PAX

With all due respect, I strongly believe that your interpretation of what the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is wrong. There is no Liturgical, Theological, Doctrinal nor Dogmatic tradition associated with imparting a blessing in lieu of receiving Holy Communion. The Undersecretary for the CDWDS is not someone merely holding a desk job. He is in charge of the English-language division of the CDWDS.

Furthermore, the deacons faculties do not necessarily allow him to impart a blessing within the context of the Mass, since that purview falls to the celebrant. Ecclesia de Mysterio is an authoritative document of the Holy See which does not only come from one discastery, the Congregation for Clergy, but also from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (bearing the signature of the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

In addition. the observations that the Undersecretary noted in this official response from the CDWDS (which has a protocol number and has already appeared in Notitiae) cite canon law and other documents clearly indicating that this practice is wrong.

It is funny. Not a few people like to bring in Jesus as their means of justifying this ilicit practice. Jesus blessed people. That is true. He also forgave sinners. However, what we tend to forget is that Jesus was also a pious and devout Jew who followed the prescriptions of Temple Sacrificial worship. After all, His Father was the one who dictated to Moses just how, when and in what manner He was to be worshipped. Jesus wasted no time cleaning up the aberattions of the vendors and moneychangers who were corrupting His and His Father’s House. The part where the moneychangers and vendors set up shop in was the Court of the Gentiles, the area where the Gentiles prayed. So, to say that Jesus would have justified this practice does not hold water.

Regarding your notion of being welcoming and forgiving, the blessing that occurs at the end of Mass (at its legitimate and Traditional place) is certainly applicable to everyone, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, Bhudist, Hindu, atheist, et al. It is actually the most inclusive part of the Mass because no one is precluded from receiving it. But, it occurs at the end of Mass.

Incidentally, there is nothing to preclude someone from asking the celebrant (priest/bishop) and deacon for a special blessing after Mass.

 

[PacoG]

This is what my pastor, who is also the vicar general of our diocese, posted in the Sunday bulletin. When you read it and think about it, he makes a lot of common sense:

COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS DURING MASS

In recent times the practice has arisen in some localities of persons coming forward in the Communion procession not to receive Communion but instead to receive a personal blessing. To indicate this, some persons cross their arms over their hearts, others simply ask for a blessing.

Is this a good practice? At the time of the distribution of Communion, only those who will receive Communion should come forward. The only exception to this is parents bringing their children or persons who, while not receiving Communion themselves, are assisting someone who will.

The proper time for the blessing is at the end of Mass, when everyone receives the Lord’s blessing together.

Anyone who wishes to receive a personal blessing for him/herself or a family member is encouraged to approach the priest after Mass.

Why not come forward at Communion for a personal blessing? Beyond what has just been explained, it should be noted that:

1. Coming forward at Communion for a blessing instead of Communion distorts the meaning of the Communion rite and the Communion procession.
2. Canon Law prohibits the simulation of a sacrament. Scandal can arise (and has arisen) when someone who is prohibited from receiving Communion comes forward at Communion time. Even if the person intends only to seek a blessing, others may not know this or see what happens when the person arrives at the altar. (Examples of persons prohibited from receiving Communion would include: a visiting non-Catholic, a Catholic who has not fasted for an hour, a Catholic in an irregular marriage, a Catholic in a state of grave sin, a Catholic who has already received Communion at an earlier Mass.)
3. Everyone coming forward at Communion, including those not intending to receive Communion, would result in lengthening the time required to distribute Communion, to no benefit.

In sum, there is no need or value in entering the Communion procession unless one will receive Communion, and there are several important reasons why one should not come forward merely for a blessing.

 

[zab]

I think it is best to refrain from making statements about why we think people do what they do and stick to giving points of why we believe this practice should not be done or should continue.

 

[Miraluna]

In our Church EMHC say “May God’s peace be with you” to children (or adults that come up and are not partaking in Communion) as they place their hand on the child’s/adults shoulder. Is that along the lines of a blessing or not?

 

[zab]

In our Church EMHC say “May God’s peace be with you” to children (or adults that come up and are not partaking in Communion) as they place their hand on the child’s/adults shoulder. Is that along the lines of a blessing or not?

That is similar to what our EMHC used to be instructed to do. Now they are not to use any gestures what-so-ever. They are only to say, “God bless you”. But what is at question is whether even the the priest should be giving a blessing in the Communion line. The matter is still being studied in Rome by the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. Although we have been made aware of reasons why this practice should not be happening.

 

[benedictgal]

In our Church EMHC say “May God’s peace be with you” to children (or adults that come up and are not partaking in Communion) as they place their hand on the child’s/adults shoulder. Is that along the lines of a blessing or not?

No. I draw your attention to this section of the CDWDS statement which notes that:

1. **Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. **These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).

1. Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.

So, this section even includes the celebrant. The best interpretation that I have seen so far is from Paco’s Vicar General.

 

[zab]

While there have been some good expanations of why people should not be coming forward for a blessing in the Communion line, one thing that needs to be addressed is how people who do come forward should be treated.

 

[maryjk]

My unbaptized daughter-in-law in California goes up for a blessing in the parish my son’s family belongs to. She reacts very positively and I am convinced, although it may be illicit, that it will really help to bring her into the Church eventually. I frequently discuss Faith issues with non-Catholics and the feeling that a large Catholic Parish as opposed to the usual much smaller NC congregation is so cold and unwelcoming is almost universal.

I know its wrong. I know our parish shouldn’t do it. But they do. We have blessings during Communion.

But I have to say, I am with you, rwoehmke. My husband is not a practicing Catholic. He was Baptized as a baby, but never attended or does he currently attend Mass. Once in a while, our son can convince him to come to Mass. It normally is for some special occasion. He as always stayed in his seat during Communion. The last time, he got up and received a blessing. He has NEVER done this before.

So I know our parish shouldn’t do it. But I have to say, because it does, I received some hope that day that he will someday come back to the Church.

 

[AHapka]

Examples of persons prohibited from receiving Communion would include: a visiting non-Catholic, a Catholic who has not fasted for an hour, a Catholic in an irregular marriage, a Catholic in a state of grave sin, a Catholic who has already received Communion at an earlier Mass

A person can receive Holy Communion up to three times in one day (though admittedly the third is only in very rare situations). The second must take place in the context of Mass, so I don’t see how a person who has already received at an erlier mass would be ineligible?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In our Church EMHC say “May God’s peace be with you” to children (or adults that come up and are not partaking in Communion) as they place their hand on the child’s/adults shoulder. Is that along the lines of a blessing or not?

That should not be done.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

That is similar to what our EMHC used to be instructed to do. Now they are not to use any gestures what-so-ever. They are only to say, “God bless you”. But what is at question is whether even the the priest should be giving a blessing in the Communion line. The matter is still being studied in Rome by the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. Although we have been made aware of reasons why this practice should not be happening.

And we should not be doing or saying anything that is not called for in the documents, until the time it is called for in a document from Rome.

 

[Seatuck]

I wish folks would also pay attention to the fact that the hand that is distributing communion should not be touching people and risk profaning the eucharist. We sometimes have particles on our finger tips when distributing the Eucharist and we should not be rubbing them on peoples clothes or childrens heads. By that same token our hands should be clean and if we are touching children or others there is a risk of touching something we shouldn’t and then putting that hand back into the ciborium. Not good.

 

[HarmonyN20]

I wish folks would also pay attention to the fact that the hand that is distributing communion should not be touching people and risk profaning the eucharist. We sometimes have particles on our finger tips when distributing the Eucharist and we should not be rubbing them on peoples clothes or childrens heads. By that same token our hands should be clean and if we are touching children or others there is a risk of touching something we shouldn’t and then putting that hand back into the ciborium. Not good.

I do agree with you and you bring up a very good point. However, on the same token, when the person distributing Holy Communion hands it to someone, what is the guarantee that the recipient’s hand is clean? Would that be also not profaning the Eucharist?

 

[zab]

And we should not be doing or saying anything that is not called for in the documents, until the time it is called for in a document from Rome.

Correct, the practice should never have begun. But it began years ago and now the problem is more complex. One of the concerns is how people should be treated who come forward for a blessing whether they have been invited to or not. It seems that the practice is wide spread and has been done for years. Perhaps that is why this matter is still being studied. People visit other parishes and countries. People move from one parish to another. There will always be an issue of some non-communicant approaching in the Communion line.

 

[Seatuck]

I do agree with you and you bring up a very good point. However, on the same token, when the person distributing Holy Communion hands it to someone, what is the guarantee that the recipient’s hand is clean? Would that be also not profaning the Eucharist?

The bigger point is the particles of the eucharist brushing off on someone’s head or shoulder, no?
I don’t really have to touch people much when distributing communion.It’s usually when the person does something odd or receives in an inappropriate way that there is any touching. It is the persons responsibility to make sure that they are clean. Even if we aren’t sure that people are “clean” it does not follow that the EMOHC or Ordinary Ministers should take unnecessary risks.

 

[CradleCath]

In my parish, the priests will bless a small child who accompanies her parent up to Holy Communion. I haven’t seen adults being blessed. However, I have seen a few EMHC’s bless children, and my understanding is that they have no authority to do so.

What concerns me most about this thread, is the fact that most posting here seem to take it for granted that EMHC’s are part of the Mass. They are to be used only during
EXTRAordinary Circumstance, yet I know that many parishes actually schedule them.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

INSTRUCTION ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED
FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA
VATICAN CITY 1997

(This instruction goes into detail about the differences between the ordained priesthood & the mission of religious & laity. Scroll down to article 8 for the instruction re. EEM’s.

"2. **Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(**99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100)

This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law".

The way the Eucharist is distributed in most parishes in the US., is an abuse. Simply because the practice of using EEM’s, instead of retired priests, etc. is prevelant…it can’t be viewed as the norm. I doubt that it would hurt many of us to spend an extra 15 minutes at Mass, anyway.

At my previous parish, it was nothing to have 5-6 EEM’s in the Sanctuary at every weekend Mass, when we have 3 priests in residence & retired priests are readily available & close at hand.

 

[Deacon2006]

Getting back to what a deacon should do if someone asks for blessing.

I would bless them until I am instructed by my pastor not to do so.

I would not tell them to sit down and or give the appearance of scolding them that they are trying to subvert me into simulating a sacrament or trying to upstage the final blessing of the priest. These absurd over the top and distorted rationalizations to try and put a stop to this little practise of religious humility before God and Church seems to say more about the person offering them then a deacon blessing the one who asks.

I have seen popes, archbishops, priests all exercise their nature to bless even during the mass and at communion time. The pope sees the pragmatic necessity to offerer blessings not called for in the rubrics. Because he is intelligent and generous of spirit.

The issue of why priests and bishops have chosen not to force the people into the solutions being offered here is not my concern. However in absence of this type of directive it is prudent to bless the visibly sincere person who asks especially if the pastor or bishop has encouraged the people to come forward for blessings in their parish or diocese.

I can’t honestly believe that Jesus, the apostles or any other called on would not bless someone who came and sincerely asked for it. It takes a hard heart to demand that a bishop/priest/deacon should not bless and impart a grace upon those who acknowledge their lack of communion with the church but hunger for God all the same through the humility of asking for a blessing. If you think young children, penitents and catechumens are presenting themselves for a blessing to subvert the Communion Rite then you are delusional.

PAX