Does a Lay person blessing another Lay person count?

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Righteous indignation can sometimes lead us down the wrong path. I understand your frustration though.

It’s dangerous to think we have some kind of ‘power’ to perform miracles at will. Obvious issues notwithstanding (pride, ego, etc), it’s kind of like treating God like some kind of magic power that we can command at will.

The greatest saints and those who were involved in the greatest miracles were also the humblest. We see that in Scripture and in Church history.

Let’s emulate them and not people like Benny Hinn, shall we?
 
Not all “blessings” have the same purpose or value.

From New Advent
Blessing
…
“Since, then, blessings, in the sense in which they are being considered, are entirely of ecclesiastical institution, the Church has the power to determine who shall have the right and duty to confer them. This she has done by entrusting their administration to those who are in sacerdotal orders. The solitary case in which one inferior to a priest is empowered to bless, is where the deacon blesses the paschal candle in the ceremonies of Holy Saturday. This exception is more apparent than real. For in the instance referred to the deacon acts by way of a deputy and, moreover, employs the grains of incense already blessed by the celebrant. Priests, then, are the ordinary ministers of blessings, and this is only in the fitness of things since they are ordained, as the words of the Pontifical run: “ut quæcumque benedixerint benedicantur, et quacumque consecraverint consecrentur” (That whatever they bless may be blessed, and whatever they consecrate shall be consecrated).”
…
“When, therefore, laymen and women are represented as blessing others it is to be understood that this is an act of will on their part, a wish or desire for another’s spiritual or temporal prosperity, an appeal to God which has nothing to recommend it but the merits of personal sanctity. The ordinary greetings and salutations that take places between Christians and Catholics, leavened by mutual wishes for a share of heavenly grace, must not be confounded with liturgical blessings.”
 
Lorraine, In short, our pastor told us we cannot bless each other by the the sign of the cross on others. Another priest said, that is no problem.

Our pastor felt he has the extra “pop”.

I baptized a baby that had died twice, and in a a coma, 40 minutes after being baptized, she was awake like nothing happened.

Someone inferred that they doubted I did this…well, very true, I did not, but Spirit in me did.

A priest is not the only with with power from the Spirit.
 
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@trimthetree

Pop is not a good word to use. He is ordained. You are not. There is a difference.

There are certain blessings that are reserved for priests, bishops and the Pope. The “pop” you or the person who might have said it to you, is probably referring to the authority given to different members of the clergy based on their position in the Church.

I think, maybe, what you might be saying is that we can all pray over someone and God hears all of our prayers, rather than saying your blessing is the same as a priestly blessing. It sounds that God heard yours and the families prayers and God healed the child, which is wonderful.
 
Parents can bless their children- anyone can bless their meals. You can’t go around “blessing” strangers, though.
 
We bless strangers all the time at the homeless shelter…if you could tell me the difference between those who are family and those who are not.

They ask us to bless them.
 
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trimthetree said:
We bless strangers all the time at the homeless shelter…if you could tell me the difference between those who are family and those who are not.

They ask us to bless them
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I am not sure if this is what you are asking but there are different types of blessings. This is from a Q & A at EWTN:

“Every baptized person is called to be a ‘blessing’ and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more its administration is reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priest, deacons)” (No. 1669).

Priests are the ordinary ministers of blessings, asking God’s help for those people being blessed or dedicating something to a sacred service; the priest’s blessing is imparted with the weight of the Church and therefore has great value in the eyes of God. The blessing of a layperson upon another, such as a parent blessing a child, is an act of good will whereby the person implores God’s aid for the person;_ the value of this blessing in the eyes of God depends upon the person’s individual sincerity and sanctity. (Italics mine)

https://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/WHATBLES.HTM
 
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trimthetree

2h

Lorraine, In short, our pastor told us we cannot bless each other by the the sign of the cross on others. Another priest said, that is no problem.

Our pastor felt he has the extra “pop”.

I baptized a baby that had died twice, and in a a coma, 40 minutes after being baptized, she was awake like nothing happened.

Someone inferred that they doubted I did this…well, very true, I did not, but Spirit in me did.

A priest is not the only with with power from the Spirit.

When you say “the Spirit” I assume you mean the Holy Spirit…just sayin “the Spirit” could be misinterpreted to mean “the human spirit” which is the incorporeal part of man…maybe just to clarify
 
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We can be so complicated. The Holy Spirit
 
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Blessing is not about hierarchy. It has nothing to do with hierarchy. Indeed.
 
We all have the Holy Spirit (name removed by moderator). We are subordinate to the Spirit
 
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trimthetree said:
Each came with an excuse

not to baptize the baby. Not married in the church, did not go to church, no tithing, sponsors did not go to church regularly and many

more excuses,
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Yet, the laws of the Church is clear, sponsors must be practicing Catholics.

Is it that you reject the Authority of the Church?
 
I am concerened Trimthetree because your responses are sounding as if you are rejecting the authority of the Church and choosing to interpret scripture based on your own ideas.

No one says we do not all have the Holy Spirit. He comes to us at baptism and confirmation. I believe what I hear are commenters rightly disputing your comments that you are able to bless in the same way as those in Church authority, and an appearance of disliking Church doctrine, dogma and canon laws. It is true we go to Scripture but we are not Scripture alone Christians. We also must follow Tradition and the Magisterium.
 
Why do you keep mentioning that you have studied theology? Are you trying to imply that you know better and that no one can question the things you are saying?

I have studied theology, too, and what you are saying does sound more Protestant than Catholic.

Do you not see why a priest would deny Baptism in that case? It’s not “excuses”. We are baptized to have Original Sin removed, but we are also baptized into a community. When someone who is not practicing their faith starts making the rounds from parish to parish that they have no personal connection to, it comes across as the person just Church shopping and seeking a priest to stamp their “Catholic card” without requiring from them anything in return, such as belief in the faith we profess. Similarly, sponsors need to be practicing Catholics because they are mentors in the faith. Someone who is not even practicing that faith would not be able to fulfill that responsibility very well.

You might dismiss them as arbitrary “rules”, but those rules are in place for very good reasons. Certainly, we want to reach out to people and not turn people away. But it’s not unreasonable to ask for evidence of faith before dispensing the sacraments. In reality, the bar is very low. All you have to do is show up to Church for an hour a week. That’s it. And considering we receive the very Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist during that hour, we should do that with great joy. And if we don’t believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, then why are we bothering with Baptism anyway?
 
If you do not like my post, don’t answer, if you doubt, don’t answer. You guys are extremists, locked in your ways, fine, you keep to

your side of the fence I keep to mine. Nothing you can teach me.

We do not look evidence of faith…God knows us. If someone comes looking we accept them. The Pharisees needed this.

You need to read the Gospels more about His ways. You do not disagree with me. Study your church history.
 
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What about an adult blessing another adult that has an extremely low mental capacity almost like a small child?
 
I’m sure you didn’t mean it this way, but this post comes across as extremely arrogant. Anyone who disagrees with you is being dismissed with “You have nothing to teach me”? Why exactly did you start this thread? Simply because you want to inform us who are ignorant? You seem as though you are very closed off to anyone else’s point of view.

I have studied Church History. At the graduate level. I’ll grant that I need to read the Gospels more. We all do. Although, I’ve taken classes on them, too. Classes taught by priests and people with “PhDs”.

But so what? I know I still have more to learn. So do you, even if you don’t want to admit it.
 
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