J
japhy
Guest
In an attempt to quell the increasing temperature of this conversation, I will interject.
In my letter, I asked two specific questions of the CDWDS:
The CDWDS did not answer this with yes or no. They said, in general, that the “matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.” They did say, however, that the time for a blessing during the liturgy is at the end of Mass (#1) and that laypeople may not give a blessing during the Mass (#2). Furthermore, people who are not receiving Communion shouldn’t be in the line to begin with (#4 and #5).
Are there particular guidelines or restrictions from this Congregation concerning a) which ministers of Holy Communion may give these blessings and b) what forms these blessings may take?
We know from the response (#3) that laying on of hands may not be used, and that laypeople may not bless (#2).
What the CDWDS did not say is what should be done if someone presents themselves for a blessing. We know what is not to be done, and we know that people in general should be catechized not to come forward if they are not receiving Communion, but apart from that, the CDWDS has not said. It is important to recognize this.
It seems clear that anything that would give the appearing of a “blessing” should be avoided. So perhaps, if I were in that situation, I would say “I will pray for you”; it’s a neutral (but good!) statement, it does not assume, it does not overstep my boundaries as a layman. Yes, it’s not in the rubrics, but the rubrics do not cover what to do in this case, and if I were an EMHC and the situation presented itself, I would not simply dismiss the person or ignore them.
In my letter, I asked two specific questions of the CDWDS:
- Is this a custom that is within the faculty of a pastor, the local Ordinary, or a Bishops’ Conference to establish; i.e., is this custom something that can be regulated without recourse to this Congregation?
- Are there particular guidelines or restrictions from this Congregation concerning a) which ministers of Holy Communion may give these blessings and b) what forms these blessings may take?
In the response, these questions were not addressed “directly” (as in, “in response to part 1, …; in response to part 2, …”). Let me do my best to identify how their response does or does not answer my questions.
The CDWDS did not answer this with yes or no. They said, in general, that the “matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.” They did say, however, that the time for a blessing during the liturgy is at the end of Mass (#1) and that laypeople may not give a blessing during the Mass (#2). Furthermore, people who are not receiving Communion shouldn’t be in the line to begin with (#4 and #5).
Are there particular guidelines or restrictions from this Congregation concerning a) which ministers of Holy Communion may give these blessings and b) what forms these blessings may take?
We know from the response (#3) that laying on of hands may not be used, and that laypeople may not bless (#2).
What the CDWDS did not say is what should be done if someone presents themselves for a blessing. We know what is not to be done, and we know that people in general should be catechized not to come forward if they are not receiving Communion, but apart from that, the CDWDS has not said. It is important to recognize this.
It seems clear that anything that would give the appearing of a “blessing” should be avoided. So perhaps, if I were in that situation, I would say “I will pray for you”; it’s a neutral (but good!) statement, it does not assume, it does not overstep my boundaries as a layman. Yes, it’s not in the rubrics, but the rubrics do not cover what to do in this case, and if I were an EMHC and the situation presented itself, I would not simply dismiss the person or ignore them.