Eucharistic Ministers and Blessings

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Quaesitor said:
. . . Then when I joined RCIA last year, the few times we were not dismissed they told us to go up and receive a blessing. . . . What I don’t know is how to bring this up without making myself out to be better than they are? If someone can tell me what I should do in this situation I would really appreciate it?

Thanks
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May your journey home be a joyous one. Maybe just ask the priest what he would recommend concerning standing in line for a blessing, as that is usually the best idea.
 
My father and I have been going to classes for EMHC and were instructed that if someone asks for a blessing, we are NOT to lay hands on the person but we could say Jesus loves you (especially for a child) or The Lord bless and keep you. We won’t turn them away but we shouldn’t send him/her back to the priest or deacon.
 
Meximo said:
My father and I have been going to classes for EMHC and were instructed that if someone asks for a blessing, we are NOT to lay hands on the person but we could say Jesus loves you (especially for a child) or The Lord bless and keep you. We won’t turn them away but we shouldn’t send him/her back to the priest or deacon.
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Yup - this is what I do as well. I bend over to whisper it to the children. As they hear me say “Jesus loves you” they are looking into the ciborium at the Blessed Sacrament.
 
I’ve never really understood why this is such a complicated argument. The Priest or Bishop alone have the faculties to give a blessing in the context of the celebration of Mass. EMHC’s cannot do this during Mass if one follows what the Church teaches.

Everytime Mass is celebrated there is a blessing given near the end to everyone there, no need to walk forward to recieve it, and being closer or further away from the celebrant does not make the blessing more “affective”.

Communion lines are for those recieving Communion, hence the name “Communion” line. There is no shame in not recieving at that particular Mass, and there are all kinds of reasons why a person may not be recieving at the time.
 
FromTheAshes777 said:
I’ve never really understood why this is such a complicated argument. The Priest or Bishop alone have the faculties to give a blessing in the context of the celebration of Mass. EMHC’s cannot do this during Mass if one follows what the Church teaches.

Everytime Mass is celebrated there is a blessing given near the end to everyone there, no need to walk forward to recieve it, and being closer or further away from the celebrant does not make the blessing more “affective”.

Communion lines are for those recieving Communion, hence the name “Communion” line. There is no shame in not recieving at that particular Mass, and there are all kinds of reasons why a person may not be recieving at the time.
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What is so complicated about following the direction given by your priest/Bishop?
 
I have been an EMHC since 1975; I have had this, similar situations come up quite often.
I just say “Sorry, but I’ m not a priest,” I don’t give any further explanations. Most accept this explanation gratiously, a few give me a quick dirty look, then continue on.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
What is so complicated about following the direction given by your priest/Bishop?
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A fair question, but the same thing can be said of them with respect to the propagation of Eucharistic Ministry itself, which seems to have evolved well beyond the intended mission.

I’ve been to weekday Mass for example where there were three Eucharistic Ministers and the Priest distributing Holy Communion. There were 12 people in the pews. Where was the need for three EMHCs?

from the EWTN website: EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST
 
I’ve been to weekday Mass for example where there were three Eucharistic Ministers and the Priest distributing Holy Communion. There were 12 people in the pews. Where was the need for three EMHCs?

There were six on the schedule, but only three were able to attend:p

I know, that was uncharitable, but I couldn’t resist. :o
 
Edward_H said:
The whole EMHC blessings thing is a big lie that no one knows how to, and few want to deal with. It’s **a feel good gesture designed **to minimize the apparent distance between fully believing in the Real Presence…and everything else.

Jesus didn’t soften his speech as noted by The Evangelist in John 6.
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Desingned by whom, exactly?

-Tim-
 
ByzCathCantor said:
A fair question, but the same thing can be said of them with respect to the propagation of Eucharistic Ministry itself, which seems to have evolved well beyond the intended mission.

I’ve been to weekday Mass for example where there were three Eucharistic Ministers and the Priest distributing Holy Communion. There were 12 people in the pews. Where was the need for three EMHCs?

from the EWTN website: EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST
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True…but their use would (should) be designated by the priest and I would defer to his direction.

What I would submit is that it can be hard for the person setting up to judge how many they will need…as the amount in a daily Mass varies…as some of us are only able to get in there right before Mass starts…at that point it is too late for them to get someone else.

Not that we have had 12 people at daily Mass…but my home parish does distribute under both species. So you need at least one as we only have one priest. I myself am thankful that it is not prolonged as it’s all I can do to get there, stay for Mass, and back within my lunch hour…but that is just me.
 
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