Eucharistic Minister and blessing

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I was at Notre Dame this weekend, (awesome place by the way) and went to mass at the basillica. The gentleman in charge of the lectors said the if you were not receiving communion that you could still come forward and a communuion minister would give you a blessing. There were 3 priests at the Mass so I thought that they would give the blessing, however, the place was packed and they had several extra ordinary distributors and I saw them place there hands on peoples heads. This doesn’t seem right to me? Am I being petty or should only a priest give a blessing/ Also is there any back up for either way in the Catechism? Thanks
 
Wrigley said:
I was at Notre Dame this weekend, (awesome place by the way) and went to mass at the basillica. The gentleman in charge of the lectors said the if you were not receiving communion that you could still come forward and a communuion minister would give you a blessing. There were 3 priests at the Mass so I thought that they would give the blessing, however, the place was packed and they had several extra ordinary distributors and I saw them place there hands on peoples heads. This doesn’t seem right to me? Am I being petty or should only a priest give a blessing/ Also is there any back up for either way in the Catechism? Thanks
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During my recent training as an EMHC I have been told that I am not to put my hand on people’s heads and give a blessing. I was told that only the priest and the deacon may give a blessing during the liturgy.
 
But on a less serious note. My priest told me that an EMHC should not be blessing people. In fact he strongly dislikes the whole blessing thing at communion. His words are it is the Communion line not the blessing line. He would be more than happy to bless anyone after Mass. The line exists for people who are to recieve the Eucharist not for people to come up and get blessed. You would have never seen this in the TLM.
 
decn2b said:
But on a less serious note. My priest told me that an EMHC should not be blessing people. In fact he strongly dislikes the whole blessing thing at communion. His words are it is the Communion line not the blessing line. He would be more than happy to bless anyone after Mass. The line exists for people who are to recieve the Eucharist not for people to come up and get blessed. You would have never seen this in the TLM.
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I love to see little kids coming up with their parents and being blessed. I just feel joy in myheart seeing that.
 
This is another dorky side of the people that want to be creative and put themselves first instead of studying and obeying the Magisterium.
 
It sounds like eveyone agrees that a non ordained distributor should not be blessing people. My question now is where can I find written back up for this other than opinion? Thanks
 
Wrigley said:
It sounds like eveyone agrees that a non ordained distributor should not be blessing people. My question now is where can I find written back up for this other than opinion? Thanks
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CCC.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

CHAPTER FOUR

OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS

Article 1

SACRAMENTALS

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).173
 
Walking_Home said:
CCC.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

CHAPTER FOUR

OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS

Article 1

SACRAMENTALS

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).173
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I can see where a liberal person could see that as not very definitive ?
 
Wrigley said:

Originally Posted by Walking_Home​

CCC.
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

CHAPTER FOUR

OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS

Article 1

SACRAMENTALS

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).173

I can see where a liberal person could see that as not very definitive ?
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I agree—a liberal person will always find a loophole–and expand on it as they see fit. They will just say that the above is not clear --whether the Mass concerns ecclesial and sacramental life.
 
I find this disturbing. Our lay ministers have been told that the most they would be doing was extending their own personal blessing on someone and that that shouldn’t be confused with the Church’s sacramental blessing. I don’t see how it can not be, however, and it needs to be dropped. If the Church thinks people not rec. Holy Communion during that time need to be blessed, then they should be instructed to go to the priests’ line. I like the idea of doing after Mass.
 
I would have never thought about this (good thing I didn’t see someone in blue jeans doing itl…)

Does this mean I can brew up my own holy water?

Fred
 
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion need to refrain from giving blessings to people during the Sacrament of Communion. It is not their place to perform sacramental acts during the Eucharist. According to several Vatican Documents the only thing a EMHC may do is hand out the Host or the Cup and say the words “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ”. The y may not say anything else, use anyone’s name nor are they to extend a priestly blessing. It is just no their job. If they feel so inclined, after Mass they may go outside and yell Bless You, but not during the Eucharist. The ministers should have refrained or refused.

[edited - unsubstantiated allegations]

This is why I say it is up to us, the ordinary people in the pews to start letting our support for the priests and the Vatican come to the front. We need to even vote with our feet sometimes when it comes to the matter of EMHC’s overstepping their authority. In other words, go through Father’s line, no matter how long it takes.
Receive under one species only if absolutely necessary. We need to put the magesterium back in control of the magesterium and the priest must be back in the priesthood not the lay ministers.
 
I will pray for the end of the Extra Special Super Duper Eucharistic Ministers in the Latin rite and that they never appear in the Eastern Rite. I believe that their very existence is a “mark of the Apocalypse” as one radio personality puts it. Better, a mark of Armageddon.

CDL
 
FredM said:
I would have never thought about this (good thing I didn’t see someone in blue jeans doing itl…)

Does this mean I can brew up my own holy water?

Fred
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I’m with you Bud- crazy.
Why stop there? Why not consecrate your own Host and distribute it to yourself? Then you can hear your own confession too. And then we will pin a medal on you and call you a
Protest…😃 😃 I will be happy to call you a protest… except I am in the middle of trying to figure out how to give myself the anointing of the sick. After all, Father might be too busy and I’m part of the royal priesthood anyway so why bother Father if I can do it myself?
 
water said:
I love to see little kids coming up with their parents and being blessed. I just feel joy in myheart seeing that.
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I think it is cute too… but not proper for the communion line. It is not a procession line.
Nor should those who receive make a sign of the cross with the sacred host.
 
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