Eucharistic Minister and blessing

[LeahInancsi]

I need some help here. I’m an EMHC and trying to think of something to say to people wishing to receive a blessing. While I don’t want to attempt to give them a “real” blessing, I like to say something to them to pacify them that is nice and soothing without being a blessing.

Any suggestions?

 

[palmas85]

I need some help here. I’m an EMHC and trying to think of something to say to people wishing to receive a blessing. While I don’t want to attempt to give them a “real” blessing, I like to say something to them to pacify them that is nice and soothing without being a blessing.

Any suggestions?

You could tell them that you are not a Priest and that the Priest gives the blessings That is nice and educational as well.

See it was so simple.

 

[LeahInancsi]

You could tell them that you are not a Priest and that the Priest gives the blessings That is nice and educational as well.

See it was so simple.

That’s not what I had in mind. Seems a little rude in a long communion line when the priest is at the opposite end of the church and the ushers are directing them to go in a specific direction.

What kind of nicety could I say to them as a lay person.
Like “May God be in your heart…”. Any suggestions for a finish would be appreciated.

For those of you who don’t like EMHC’s, the 1pm Mass at my parish is the Mass for you. We’re down to four EMHC’s instead of ten because everyone’s too lazy to contribute.

 

[palmas85]

That’s not what I had in mind. Seems a little rude in a long communion line when the priest is at the opposite end of the church and the ushers are directing them to go in a specific direction.

What kind of nicety could I say to them as a lay person.
Like “May God be in your heart…”. Any suggestions for a finish would be appreciated.

For those of you who don’t like EMHC’s, the 1pm Mass at my parish is the Mass for you. We’re down to four EMHC’s instead of ten because everyone’s too lazy to contribute.

I didn’t think you’d go along with it but it is true and it is educational, you’re not a Priest, you can’t give blessings and the people should be aware of that, don’t you think? I mean one of the biggest problems in the Church today is a genaral lack of knowledge about the faith itself. If you don’t tell them then who will and how will they learn? I think you should strike a blow for education and let the people know. It’s not at all rude. Little humbling for you maybe and the other, how should we say, not so lazy people? But definitely not rude. And you already tell them the most important thing anyway don’t you, when you say Body of Christ?

Only 4 Extraordinary Ministers, my my what a shame, oh well so much for full and active participation by the laity eh? .

 

[CRW]

I need some help here. I’m an EMHC and trying to think of something to say to people wishing to receive a blessing. While I don’t want to attempt to give them a “real” blessing, I like to say something to them to pacify them that is nice and soothing without being a blessing.

Any suggestions?

As an EMHC I say; “May our Lord Bless and keep you always.”

 

[Walking_Home]

I need some help here. I’m an EMHC and trying to think of something to say to people wishing to receive a blessing. While I don’t want to attempt to give them a “real” blessing, I like to say something to them to pacify them that is nice and soothing without being a blessing.

Any suggestions?

---

Just tell them the truth----only the priest is to give a blessing.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I didn’t think you’d go along with it but it is true and it is educational, you’re not a Priest, you can’t give blessings and the people should be aware of that, don’t you think? I mean one of the biggest problems in the Church today is a genaral lack of knowledge about the faith itself. If you don’t tell them then who will and how will they learn? I think you should strike a blow for education and let the people know. It’s not at all rude. Little humbling for you maybe and the other, how should we say, not so lazy people? But definitely not rude. And you already tell them the most important thing anyway don’t you, when you say Body of Christ?

Only 4 Extraordinary Ministers, my my what a shame, oh well so much for full and active participation by the laity eh? .

I apologize for not making it clear that I’m not trying to give a blessing. All I want to do is say something very nice to them as they approach me in the communion line and do not want to receive. I fully realize I’m not a priest!

Four EMHC’s (two of which on the chalice) and a priest for over 500 people. How long does communion take in your church? How many EMHC’s are there?

 

[palmas85]

I apologize for not making it clear that I’m not trying to give a blessing. All I want to do is say something very nice to them as they approach me in the communion line and do not want to receive. I fully realize I’m not a priest!

Four EMHC’s (two of which on the chalice) and a priest for over 500 people. How long does communion take in your church? How many EMHC’s are there?

Well, I attend the indult here in San Diego which usually has around 400 or so, give or take a few, depending on whether or not it is the 7:30 or 9:00 Mass. Yes we have two, it got way too crowded having just one, and it looks to me like they may need to go to three, receiving kneeling and on the tongue,(note I point this out because it does take a bit longer when kneeling) with two Priests distributing, the Celebrant and a second Priest who hears confessions prior to Mass. No Extraordinary Ministers at all. None. Zero.

Communion normally runs between 15 and 20 minutes.

At the Cathedral where I normally go for daily Mass I would guess that Communion runs between 10 and 15 minutes, but you do have some there who receive kneeling and who genuflect prior to receiving, and no I’ve never seen anyone trip, fall or run into one of them either. I suppose a lot of them are tourists from places where that is the norm. I would say the Cathedral runs somewhere between 100-150 or so for a daily Mass and well over 600 for Sundays. They usually utilize 3-4 Extraordinary Ministers and the Priest. They don’t normally offer the Chalice.

At the Parish. daily Masses will normally have about thirty people or so and 4-6 Extraordinary Ministers, Priest and Deacon, no Chalice and communion is done in less than 2 minutes. On a vigil or Sunday, maybe 600-800 or so, Chalice, 7-13 Extraordinary Ministers, Priest and 2 Deacons. Normally. Communion runs between 10 and 15 minutes.

The point that I am trying to make is, if they approach you, looking for a blessing it is because they think you can give them one. They think, as do many others apparently, that an Extraordinary Minister is roughly equivalent to the Priest, and they need to be educated this is not the case… They need to realize that you guys are only supposed to be used as needed not as a routine thing and that you have no authority to confer anything on them at all. If they don’t realize that, then no matter what you say to them, they will think it is a blessing

And for you to leave them with that impression is just wrong.

 

[PerkyCurlz]

The point that I am trying to make is, if they approach you, looking for a blessing it is because they think you can give them one. They think, as do many others apparently, that an Extraordinary Minister is roughly equivalent to the Priest, and they need to be educated this is not the case…

Our priest used to say something to the effect of, “For those not receiving Communion, feel free to come forward for a blessing.” Thankfully, he has stopped saying this. You wouldn’t believe the confused looks I would get from people when I would tell them, “Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart” instead of “blessing” them.

Now to get the bishop to pass on to the priests the direction from the Vatican about EMHC’s purifying the vessels…

 

[LeahInancsi]

Our priest used to say something to the effect of, “For those not receiving Communion, feel free to come forward for a blessing.” Thankfully, he has stopped saying this. You wouldn’t believe the confused looks I would get from people when I would tell them, “Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart” instead of “blessing” them.

Now to get the bishop to pass on to the priests the direction from the Vatican about EMHC’s purifying the vessels…

That is my point. Until my priest stops asking people to come forward for a blessing, what can I say to them when they approach me in the communion line? In your example, you said “Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart”.

I’m not trying to argue whether or not the practice is right or wrong.