EMHC giving blessings

[helplesspilgrim]

Hi, i’m not catholic but my wife is and i regularly attend with her at several parishes. Even though i am not catholic I do believe in the real presence. As such i’m uncomfortable with the idea of EMHC but realize it is supposed to be done out of nessecity (though i think this is over used). My question is: are EMHC allowed to give a blessing in the communion line? I’ve seen this repeatedly and it makes me feel uncomfortable. For distinction he blessing is making the sign of the cross on someones forehead, like a priest would. I’ve seen this at multiple parishes. Thanks.

 

[Seatuck]

Hi, i’m not catholic but my wife is and i regularly attend with her at several parishes. Even though i am not catholic I do believe in the real presence. As such i’m uncomfortable with the idea of EMHC but realize it is supposed to be done out of nessecity (though i think this is over used). My question is: are EMHC allowed to give a blessing in the communion line? I’ve seen this repeatedly and it makes me feel uncomfortable. For distinction he blessing is making the sign of the cross on someones forehead, like a priest would. I’ve seen this at multiple parishes. Thanks.

No they aren’t but unfortunately they haven’t been instructed formally on this, yet.

 

[Cristiano]

Lay people are forbidden from giving blessings during Mass. People might debate over and over about ordained people but there should be no disagreement when it comes to the laity. If you search CAF you will find a quote from RS that makes the point very clear. There is also a document form the CDWDS that addresses blessings in the communion line, a search on CAF will yield a PDF file.

 

[helplesspilgrim]

Thank you for the rapid reply, i felt the need to ask becuase the behavior seems ubiquitous, in addition to a general disregard for dropped hosts (which i have seen several times as well) isn’t there a rubrics for dropped species? They usually just pick it up real quick and put it in their pocket, then the communion line walks all over the area.

 

[benedictgal]

Here is the citation from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

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.

**2. 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). **

**3. 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).

I hope this helps.

 

[TheMc]

Here is the citation from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

I hope this helps.

Aww… beat me to it.