EMHCs: what do you do when people approach you in the communion line for blessings?

[zab]

I am sorry, but under the guidelines establsihed by the Holy See, I cannot give you a blessing. But, we invite you to receive the final blessing, which will be given to all of us, at the end of this Mass.

That is saying an awful lot for someone who is not authorized to do anything except distribute Communion. Again, saying “God bless you” is not imparting a blessing. Instruction should be given at another time, not taking up time for each case in the Communion line. You and I differ on what should be said to these individuals. I will follow the directive of my pastor until he receives further instruction.

 

[emeraldcoast]

That is saying an awful lot for someone who is not authorized to do anything except distribute Communion. Again, saying “God bless you” is not imparting a blessing. Instruction should be given at another time, not taking up time for each case in the Communion line. You and I differ on what should be said to these individuals. I will follow the directive of my pastor until he receives further instruction.

Why not have the priest simply state the truth in the matter before Communion so that an EMHC doesn’t have to do the explaining or basically look like a jerk for not giving a blessing. Another option, is to have the guidelines clearly stated in the weekly bulletin.

God Bless!!

 

[Lepanto]

Why not have the priest simply state the truth in the matter before Communion so that an EMHC doesn’t have to do the explaining or basically look like a jerk for not giving a blessing. Another option, is to have the guidelines clearly stated in the weekly bulletin.

God Bless!!

What you suggest are very good (and needed actions), but this thread, per the opening post, pertains to how EMHCs can best deal with this common liturgical abuse when they are approached for a blessing in the communion line.

 

[PhyllisA]

I would hope and pray that EMHC’s are not giving a blessing or even mocking one.

Lay people are not to give blessings.

Pope Benedict the Sixteenth before his Papal Installation answered this question saying only Deacons, Priests, and Bishops may confer blessings in any situation although he pointed out that a blessing during the Mass is redundant since the Mass it self is a blessing.

Is this Pope Benedict’s “own” opinion?

Phyllis

 

[benedictgal]

Is this Pope Benedict’s “own” opinion?

Phyllis

Given that he is Peter and has the Petrine Ministry, even though he may give an “opinion” that is the weightiest of all and should not be treated lightly nor dismissed. He is, after all, the Pope and has universal jurisdiction.

 

[FrDavid96]

Given that he is Peter and has the Petrine Ministry, even though he may give an “opinion” that is the weightiest of all and should not be treated lightly nor dismissed. He is, after all, the Pope and has universal jurisdiction.

I think what Phyllis is asking is: Is that the Pope’s own opinion, or someone’s interpretation of his opinion?

If it’s documented, I for one would very much like to see it, and I think that all of us participating here would benefit from the same.

 

[PhyllisA]

Given that he is Peter and has the Petrine Ministry, even though he may give an “opinion” that is the weightiest of all and should not be treated lightly nor dismissed. He is, after all, the Pope and has universal jurisdiction.

Re: EMHCs: what do you do when people approach you in the communion line for blessings?

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Quote:
Originally Posted by benedictgal
Given that he is Peter and has the Petrine Ministry, even though he may give an “opinion” that is the weightiest of all and should not be treated lightly nor dismissed. He is, after all, the Pope and has universal jurisdiction.

I think what Phyllis is asking is: Is that the Pope’s own opinion, or someone’s interpretation of his opinion?

If it’s documented, I for one would very much like to see it, and I think that all of us participating here would benefit from the same.

Thank You Fr. David, for stepping for us laity who do not know how to speak for themselves.

And no,i am not taking this lightly and i am not trying to be disrespectful.

I really don’t know how to address this, but when i read it, it just seems and i felt, that we, as the laity of the church, are being dismissed of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may have received in response to and as a result of our Catholic teachings and beliefs throughout our childhood and adult life.

I am not saying we are “The Holy,” but i do feel we do have some gifts that could be recognized in the light of Christ.

Your Friend In Christ,

Phyllis :byzsoc:

 

[benedictgal]

Thank You Fr. David, for stepping for us laity who do not know how to speak for themselves.

And no,i am not taking this lightly and i am not trying to be disrespectful.

I really don’t know how to address this, but when i read it, it just seems and i felt, that we, as the laity of the church, are being dismissed of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may have received in response to and as a result of our Catholic teachings and beliefs throughout our childhood and adult life.

I am not saying we are “The Holy,” but i do feel we do have some gifts that could be recognized in the light of Christ.

Your Friend In Christ,

Phyllis :byzsoc:

First of all, I did not mean to come off as dismissive. From my own personal experience, I have seen where folks (not necessarily here, but in person) disregard the Holy Father’s statements as just opinion, even though what he wrote as the former Joseph Cardnial Ratzinger is now coming to pass now as Pope Benedict.

I think we need to step back a minute. Yes, each of us has gifts from the Holy Spirit, but, not all of us are called to exercise them in the same manner. The priest and bishop, by the very nature of the degree of Holy Orders conferred upon them, have the authority and the faculty to impart blessings during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Only they can confect the Holy Eucharist and only they can hear confessions and administer the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick. The bishop possesses the fullness of the priesthood. Only he can ordain priests, consecrate altars, dedicate churches and consecrate the Holy Oils at the Chrism Mass. He is also the ordinary minister of Confirmation, but, RCIA makes allowances for the priest celebrating the Easter Vigil to confirm the newly baptized and initiated.

As lay faithful, we share in the common priesthood of Christ, but, this is very different and distinct from the ordained priesthood. We can only exercise it within the parameters given by the Church, as she administered by Peter (the Pope). Special allowances have been made for the laity to serve as readers and as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. But, the key and operative word here is “extraordniary”. Such service should come under extraordinary circumstances. Furthermore, all that we are allowed to do is assist in the distribution of Holy Communion when a genuine need arises, nothing more, nothing less.

It is not that the Church is refusing to recognize the gifts. She recognizes the gifts, but, each must be used in the appropriate manner. To paraphrase St. Paul, we can’t all be the feet and we can’t all be the eyeball, nor can all of us be the head or the little pinky finger. Each of us has a part to play in exercising the gifts that the Holy Spirit gave us. Let the priests and the bishops then exercise that which truly pertains to them, especially where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is concerned.

 

[BlessedRosary3]

We were told in the Extraordinary Ministry training class to make the sign of the cross in front of them and say something along the lines of, “May God bless you!”

 

[Aramis]

The Archdiocese of Anchorage says that EMHC’s should, if such present, trace a cross on their forehead (The same gesture as is used in the Ritual of Baptism by the family and godparents), but say nothing aloud.

I was uncomfortable even with that.

 

[BlessedRosary3]

I’d be uncomfortable with actually touching them - not because of the physical action, but because I don’t have the same standing as a Deacon or Priest.

 

[FrDavid96]

The Archdiocese of Anchorage says that EMHC’s should, if such present, trace a cross on their forehead (The same gesture as is used in the Ritual of Baptism by the family and godparents), but say nothing aloud.

I was uncomfortable even with that.

The other side of that is to ask “what if the person in line is unconfortable with it”? Personally, I don’t like people touching me if they haven’t been invited. A handshake is a mutual invitation and there are other times when circumstances make it perfectly acceptable (like a hand on the shoulder if I’m grieving for example). But I don’t want anyone touching my forehead unless I invite the person to do so.

This little subtopic of making the cross on the forehead illustrates exactly what the problem is with people getting a quasi-blessing at that time. The Church has not approved it as a part of the Mass, and when individual persons or communities try to come up with some “solution” well-meaning though they may be, there is often much more to this than meets the eye.

That’s why we should all be doing no less and no more than what the Church has said we should do during the Mass. When we follow this simple principle, we are at least confident that we cannot be in the wrong.

As I always tell people: “Show it to me in the Sacramentary and I’ll do it or at least consider it*. If it isn’t there, it won’t be done.”

• I’ll consider it if it’s optional, or do it if it’s required.

 

[emeraldcoast]

As I have stated in an earlier post, our children attend a Catholic School and do receive a blessing at Communion. I have read what is written on this post from both sides of the fence.

Today another blessing was done that I am questioning. This one is troubling me because of how and when it was done. Today, the children were all going to Confession. I expected my child would just wait in the Chapel while the Catholic Children went to confession. The non-Catholic children were told to go into the Confessional and ask for a blessing from the priest by the Headmistress. To me this seems very out of step with respecting the Sacrament like with what was said here with going to Communion. Going up to the Alter should only be for those that can receive. Going into the Confessional should be for those that can recieve the Sacrament. The priest did not know if my son was Catholic or not. This was not a priest that my son knows. I am assuming that extra priest came to help with the school confessions. The priest started with a wonderful opening to my son to share with him his sins. My son quickly stop him and told him he was not Catholic and asked for a blessing. I really don’t think that the priest expected non-Catholic kids in the Confessional asking for a blessing. Was it appropriate to have the non-Catholic kids ask for a blessing , any help with this situation would be helpful.

Happy Advent!

 

[PhyllisA]

IMHO i don’t see anything wrong with it, they’re just giving God’s blessings to a person. Kinda like wishing someone well, happy birthday, Merry Christmas etc…

Phyllis @};-

As I have stated in an earlier post, our children attend a Catholic School and do receive a blessing at Communion. I have read what is written on this post from both sides of the fence.

Today another blessing was done that I am questioning. This one is troubling me because of how and when it was done. Today, the children were all going to Confession. I expected my child would just wait in the Chapel while the Catholic Children went to confession. The non-Catholic children were told to go into the Confessional and ask for a blessing from the priest by the Headmistress. To me this seems very out of step with respecting the Sacrament like with what was said here with going to Communion. Going up to the Alter should only be for those that can receive. Going into the Confessional should be for those that can recieve the Sacrament. The priest did not know if my son was Catholic or not. This was not a priest that my son knows. I am assuming that extra priest came to help with the school confessions. The priest started with a wonderful opening to my son to share with him his sins. My son quickly stop him and told him he was not Catholic and asked for a blessing. I really don’t think that the priest expected non-Catholic kids in the Confessional asking for a blessing. Was it appropriate to have the non-Catholic kids ask for a blessing , any help with this situation would be helpful.

Happy Advent!

 

[FrDavid96]

As I have stated in an earlier post, our children attend a Catholic School and do receive a blessing at Communion. I have read what is written on this post from both sides of the fence.

Today another blessing was done that I am questioning. This one is troubling me because of how and when it was done. Today, the children were all going to Confession. I expected my child would just wait in the Chapel while the Catholic Children went to confession. The non-Catholic children were told to go into the Confessional and ask for a blessing from the priest by the Headmistress. To me this seems very out of step with respecting the Sacrament like with what was said here with going to Communion. Going up to the Alter should only be for those that can receive. Going into the Confessional should be for those that can recieve the Sacrament. The priest did not know if my son was Catholic or not. This was not a priest that my son knows. I am assuming that extra priest came to help with the school confessions. The priest started with a wonderful opening to my son to share with him his sins. My son quickly stop him and told him he was not Catholic and asked for a blessing. I really don’t think that the priest expected non-Catholic kids in the Confessional asking for a blessing. Was it appropriate to have the non-Catholic kids ask for a blessing , any help with this situation would be helpful.

Happy Advent!

It shouldn’t be done in the confessional. Nothing wrong with a spiritual conversation, nothing wrong with the priest giving a blessing. But this is yet another example of the mentality that everyone “has to be doing something,” and worse, we have to give the appearance that everyone is doing the same thing. There’s just no value to it, no legitimate purpose for it, and it causes confusion, as it did in this case.

People need to stop thinking that they can “improve” on the Sacraments, and improve on how the Church administers the Sacraments. This right here is the root of the problem; people who feel that they know better than the Church how something should be done, or what should be done.

Like grandpa always said “if it aint broke, don’t fix it!”

 

[benedictgal]

IMHO i don’t see anything wrong with it, they’re just giving God’s blessings to a person. Kinda like wishing someone well, happy birthday, Merry Christmas etc…

Phyllis @};-

Actually, it is wrong. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has already issued a statement saying that, inasmuch as this matter is currently under attentive study, such blessings should not be occuring during the reception of Holy Communion.

To look at this as merely some sort of greeting is, in my opinion, to have missed the whole issue. The line is only for those who are disposed to receive Holy Communion, not a blessing.

I do not want to sound harsh, but, the problem is that issues like this are exactly what Redemptionis Sacramentum warned about when the document said that:

For the Sacred Liturgy is quite intimately connected with principles of doctrine,25 so that the use of unapproved texts and rites necessarily leads either to the attenuation or to the disappearance of that necessary link between the lex orandi and the lex credendi.26

[11.] The Mystery of the Eucharist “is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured”.27 On the contrary, anyone who acts thus by giving free rein to his own inclinations, even if he is a Priest, injures the substantial unity of the Roman Rite, which ought to be vigorously preserved,28 and becomes responsible for actions that are in no way consistent with the hunger and thirst for the living God that is experienced by the people today. Nor do such actions serve authentic pastoral care or proper liturgical renewal; instead, they deprive Christ’s faithful of their patrimony and their heritage. For arbitrary actions are not conducive to true renewal,29 but are detrimental to the right of Christ’s faithful to a liturgical celebration that is an expression of the Church’s life in accordance with her tradition and discipline. In the end, they introduce elements of distortion and disharmony into the very celebration of the Eucharist, which is oriented in its own lofty way and by its very nature to signifying and wondrously bringing about the communion of divine life and the unity of the People of God.30 The result is uncertainty in matters of doctrine, perplexity and scandal on the part of the People of God, and, almost as a necessary consequence, vigorous opposition, all of which greatly confuse and sadden many of Christ’s faithful in this age of ours when Christian life is often particularly difficult on account of the inroads of “secularization” as well.31

The fact that this practice has caused a lot of confusion and some misguided ideas only serves to further make the point raised in RS.

 

[emeraldcoast]

It shouldn’t be done in the confessional. Nothing wrong with a spiritual conversation, nothing wrong with the priest giving a blessing. But this is yet another example of the mentality that everyone “has to be doing something,” and worse, we have to give the appearance that everyone is doing the same thing. There’s just no value to it, no legitimate purpose for it, and it causes confusion, as it did in this case.

People need to stop thinking that they can “improve” on the Sacraments, and improve on how the Church administers the Sacraments. This right here is the root of the problem; people who feel that they know better than the Church how something should be done, or what should be done.

Like grandpa always said “if it aint broke, don’t fix it!”

Thank you, Father David. Alright, so now what do I do?

Happy Advent!

 

[benedictgal]

Thank you, Father David. Alright, so now what do I do?

Happy Advent!

I would inform the “headmistress” that my child will not be participating in any quasi-liturgical practices that are not sanctioned by the authoritative documents of the Holy See. In other words, unless a practice, be it liturgical or sacramental, does not have recognitio from Rome, it should not be employed.

No one has the right to invient sacramental/liturgical practices, even if they have the best of intentions. The reality is that there do exists divisions between the Church and other ecclesial communities and religions. There are certain things that are restricted only to Catholics, such as the reception of the sacraments.

it is not that the Church is being insensitive, but, this is a reality that is often ignored for the sake of promoting some false sense of inclusivity.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you, Father David. Alright, so now what do I do?

Happy Advent!

Wow, that’s a tough one. Without trying to “give advice” perhaps I can make a few points, and ask a few questions.

1. It shouldn’t be done (ok, that’s a given).
2. It was probably started because this headmistress (or someone before her, or someone suggesting to her) feels that your children are being “left out” and would be somehow “insulted” by not being able to go into the confessional like “everyone else”. Is that truly the case? If they don’t feel “left out” but truly understand the situation, does she realize this? Has anyone ever tried to explain to her that it isn’t necessary? Has anyone ever brought up the subject and asked her outright why it’s being done? Has anyone ever spoken to the pastor (or the regular priest-confessors) about this? If I read your post correctly, he/they seems to be just as puzzled by this as anyone else. Perhaps the priest can speak to the headmistress and explain things to her. Maybe it was the pastor’s idea in the first place, and no one ever explained to him that it’s not necessary, and the children aren’t being “left out.”

Of course, becoming Catholic would solve the whole dilemma:thumbsup: (had to get that one in–but you did ask)