Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist giving a blessing?

[Saints_Alive]

problem solved

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Greetings All,

  Anybody can give a blessing.  I can bless my children when they leave for school.  Isaac gave special blessings to Jacob and Esau.  The problem is what the blessing means.  

  As noted above, the blessings of the priest on the congregation are those of an ordained priest acting in the person of Christ.  As a lay person, I cannot do this.  The problem with lay people giving "blessings" in Mass is that it confuses the priestly blessing in persona Christi with lay blessings, which is a big no-no.  This is why, in the context of the Mass, only the priest does the blessings.  So no EM blessings at communion, no congregation blessings on people during Mass (regardless of whether it makes you look like a Nazi :) ).

**BTW, this is why I no longer work as an EM.  I am too uncomfortable with the current practice at communion and refuse to be a party to it.  Until the Church nails this down, I won't be EMing**.

EMHCs perform an essential function to assist priests in taking communion to the sick and homebound. In my parish (with about 500 families registered, plus a nursing home and retirement community) our priests could not take communion to each sick or homebound person every week.

Although no one is required to receive more than once a year, for those who cannot get to Mass, a weekly visit and the grace bestowed by receiving Our Lord in communion is a wonderful blessing.

My husband and I do also serve at Mass as the priests need us. In my diocese we are not told to give blessings in the communion line. I very, very rarely see people walk up with their arms crossed over their chest. I know our RCIA classes are not instructed to do that. On the maybe 2 occasions in 4 years that someone has come up to me like that, I have simply smiled and after a moment they move on.

 

[superamazingman]

EMHCs perform an essential function to assist priests in taking communion to the sick and homebound. In my parish (with about 500 families registered, plus a nursing home and retirement community) our priests could not take communion to each sick or homebound person every week.

Although no one is required to receive more than once a year, for those who cannot get to Mass, a weekly visit and the grace bestowed by receiving Our Lord in communion is a wonderful blessing.

My husband and I do also serve at Mass as the priests need us. In my diocese we are not told to give blessings in the communion line. I very, very rarely see people walk up with their arms crossed over their chest. I know our RCIA classes are not instructed to do that. On the maybe 2 occasions in 4 years that someone has come up to me like that, I have simply smiled and after a moment they move on.

 

[superamazingman]

EMHCs perform an essential function to assist priests in taking communion to the sick and homebound. In my parish (with about 500 families registered, plus a nursing home and retirement community) our priests could not take communion to each sick or homebound person every week.

Although no one is required to receive more than once a year, for those who cannot get to Mass, a weekly visit and the grace bestowed by receiving Our Lord in communion is a wonderful blessing.

My husband and I do also serve at Mass as the priests need us. In my diocese we are not told to give blessings in the communion line. I very, very rarely see people walk up with their arms crossed over their chest. I know our RCIA classes are not instructed to do that. On the maybe 2 occasions in 4 years that someone has come up to me like that, I have simply smiled and after a moment they move on.

 

[dconklin]

I don’t know if this is correct or not. I am a Eucharistic minister and I do not give a blessing all I say is “Peace be with you” That way I don’t bless and I give the general greeting to all that is in my line.

I would be curious as to what others do and say.

Thanks Geneane

I lean in and tell them (usually small children) that “Jesus loves you.” As I lean over I carefully allow them to see Jesus in the ciborium.

 

[thistle]

I don’t know if this is correct or not. I am a Eucharistic minister and I do not give a blessing all I say is “Peace be with you” That way I don’t bless and I give the general greeting to all that is in my line.

I would be curious as to what others do and say.

Thanks Geneane

If you are an EMHC you are NOT a Eucharistic Minister. The priest is the Eucharistic Minister.

 

[Elizium23]

Hmm, if you are going to lift words from another part of the liturgy, it does not seem wise to take a greeting used by only a bishop (“Peace be with you”).

Personally, it does not seem wise to make up any kind of wording for this non-blessing, as it smacks of “adding to the liturgy” which nobody is to do “upon his own authority”. But perhaps you should at least defer to the authority of your pastor or bishop in this regard.