First things first, the holy water font

[dee_burk]

Once she is in RCIA it is a mute point since she will be dismissed for study after the homily.

Maybe, some parishes dont do this…in fact some of our parishes have it on Wednesday nights.

 

[FAB]

Maybe, some parishes dont do this…in fact some of our parishes have it on Wednesday nights.

If they follow the RITE properly, they are dismissed on Sundays

 

[Boulder257]

If they follow the RITE properly, they are dismissed on Sundays

I have yet to encounter a parish that does it this way. Of the six or so parishes that I have been involved in (and some of those teaching RCIA) it was taught during the week. I agree it is supposed to be done this way, but I have yet to see it.

 

[Boulder257]

discussing it as academic then the decision to be able to give a blessing is up to the local ordinary, in most cases he more than lickly leaves the decision up to his priest.
Which is the reason I instructed her to follow the practice of the parish she is attending and listen to that pastor, not the voices here.
The person who is directly involved in her pastoral care.

This is well said.

 

[paperwight66]

I understand where you are coming from in your recommendation, but I think it is highly specific to the parish. Our priest specifically recommends that those not receiving communion get in line and receive a blessing. He makes a very strong point of it. So, I would think this advice to be correct in some circumstances, but you definitely cannot say, “The Church asks those not receiving to stay in their pews.” When I have been in several Churches where this is not the case. I agree with your recommendation to talk to the pastor of the parish.

We also have a response on this thread from a deacon who says it is appropriate. No offense, but I usually go with the ordained.

It has been specifically encouraged by the Bishops of England and Wales, as they say that Communion should not be the occasion of hurt and division.

I can’t help concluding that there isn’t any official prohibition from Rome, therefore, as the Bishops of an entire country would not be so blatantly disobedient. Or to look at it another way, if Rome was bothered about it they would have called the Bishops to order long ago.

I asked the Secretary of the Liturgical Commission for the Bishops, and he said that the custom of encouraging non-receivers to come forward for a blessing dated from the Swanwick Conference in the 1970s, and that he was not aware of any instruction from Rome to cease the practice.

Quite honestly, it beggars belief that a practice that has gone on for 40 years would not have come to the notice of Rome and corrected, if it is as wrong as some posters seem to believe.

 

[Rich_C]

Quite honestly, it beggars belief that a practice that has gone on for 40 years would not have come to the notice of Rome and corrected, if it is as wrong as some posters seem to believe.

Though I have no dog in this fight, I would just say this is not a good criteria for judging things.

The English translation of the words of consecration in the Mass was recently found to be faulty enough to mandate a global change, but it took 40 years. And that was *far *bigger deal than this issue.

The Church thinks in centuries. You could live the better part of a lifetime with something that is later condemned.

But sure, in this case it sounds like you’re on solid ground.

 

[floresco]

It may be an official response, but wihout any enforcement.
I prefer to give her the pastoral reponse.
Once she is in RCIA it is a mute point since she will be dismissed for study after the homily.

You cannot give her the “pastoral response” because that will be specific for her parish. She has been told the actual universal teaching and to consult with her parish priest. He is the one responsible for “pastoral response” to her. What you do in your parish is of little relevance to her.

The OP has been given good answers to this question and your dismissive approach to those who have answered her was inappropriate.

 

[Ohana]

Yes, it is certainly fine to make the sign of the cross and use holy water.

The Church asks those not receiving Communion to stay in the pew. Everyone receives a blessing after Communion. The Communion line is not for blessings. It is for Communion.

I suggest you remain in your pew.

Since this is not a universal or approved practice in the Church, if you intend to do so you should approach the pastor before Mass and ask him if it is appropriate. The priest can also give you a blessing after mass.

No, this is not true except perhaps in this persons parish. I say go with the FAB Deacon’s answer.

At our Masses all are asked to come forward for a blessing with their arms crossed if they wish. This includes the little pre-first communion folk, babies, nonCatholic visitors etc., or the adults who feel they cannot for one reason or other - not necessarily sinfulness.

Yes to the holy water and yes to the communion blessing. Given your OCD issue though, I would see if other adults go up for this at your parish. If not, I might seek another parish! No reason to feel awkward, but you might anyway without that example.

My take is, anytime one can receive Grace, go for it!

My best to you in that lovely journey of RCIA

 

[floresco]

No, this is not true except perhaps in this persons parish.

This thread has already had posted the relevant CDW protocol. That is a document that applies to the entire Church. So, yes, it is true and no, it was not merely a description of what happens in one person’s parish.

 

[R_C]

The Church asks those not receiving Communion to stay in the pew. Everyone receives a blessing after Communion. The Communion line is not for blessings. It is for Communion.

I suggest you remain in your pew.

Yes, please don’t disrupt Communion by trying to get a “special benediction”, especially since clearly you do not have the proper disposition for Communion and therefore the best thing to do is stay sit and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion.

This is another of the many “new practices” not found in the GIRM, and innovation in the liturgy is not just wrong, it is forbidden to both laity and clergy.

 

[johnthebaptist2]

Their is nothing wrong with you Blessing yourself with Holy water,it is good,because your are showing revence after entering the church,than go and pray before our Lord,and ask him to give you the strenght to be a good and devoted catholice.
If you want the priest to bless you,ask him before Mass or After.Tell him you want his blessing,so that God will guide you to be a strong cathoilc,for their are many tempations in this world that would like for us to leave our Faith.
May God send the Holy Spirit, so that you will keep wanting to be a member of the Catholice Faith. Amen

 

[floresco]

If they follow the RITE properly, they are dismissed on Sundays

But they might not be. Someone might have pastoral reasons to ignore the instructions of the RITE.

 

[paperwight66]

This thread has already had posted the relevant CDW protocol. That is a document that applies to the entire Church. So, yes, it is true and no, it was not merely a description of what happens in one person’s parish.

Actually, I would advise anyone interested in the truth to follow up the sticky at the head of the Liturgy and Sacraments board, concerning blessings. You will see there an answer from a liturgical expert at Zenit, stating that this protocol is a private answer and does not have legal force.

It is quite erroneous to claim that it is a universal discipline.
It is a private answer, ‘with no legal force’ as the Zenit expert is quoted on the ewtn as saying.

As I’ve already pointed out, the Secretary for Liturgy for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales has stated that he knows nothing of any document from Rome forbidding the practice, which has been encouraged by the English and Welsh Bishops for the past 40 years. Do you really think he wouldn’t know? Or would tell an untruth?

 

[floresco]

Actually, I would advise anyone interested in the truth to follow up the sticky at the head of the Liturgy and Sacraments board, concerning blessings. You will see there an answer from a liturgical expert at Zenit, stating that this protocol is a private answer and does not have legal force.

It is quite erroneous to claim that it is a universal discipline.
It is a private answer, ‘with no legal force’ as the Zenit expert is quoted on the ewtn as saying.

I agree that it does not have legal force but it was not a private answer in the sense of an answer from a private individual. These guidelines were given by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments explicitly on behalf of the dicastery and signed by its Under-secretary. They are universal (applying to the whole Church) guidelines, not referring to the specific situation of an individual or area. The lack of legal force does not mean these guidelines should be dismissed or ignored.

As I’ve already pointed out, the Secretary for Liturgy for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales has stated that he knows nothing of any document from Rome forbidding the practice, which has been encouraged by the English and Welsh Bishops for the past 40 years. Do you really think he wouldn’t know? Or would tell an untruth?

Technically, the protocol did not forbid the practice. It said that it was “inappropriate” and “explicitly discouraged”. I am reasonably certain that this man is aware of the distinction.

 

[Boulder257]

Yes, please don’t disrupt Communion by trying to get a “special benediction”, especially since clearly you do not have the proper disposition for Communion and therefore the best thing to do is stay sit and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion.

This is another of the many “new practices” not found in the GIRM, and innovation in the liturgy is not just wrong, it is forbidden to both laity and clergy.

I’m confused. Your previous post #26 said you didn’t have a dog in the fight, but that in this case it appeared acceptable. Have you changed your stance on the issue or did I misunderstand?

 

[Boulder257]

Though I have no dog in this fight, I would just say this is not a good criteria for judging things.

The English translation of the words of consecration in the Mass was recently found to be faulty enough to mandate a global change, but it took 40 years. And that was *far *bigger deal than this issue.

The Church thinks in centuries. You could live the better part of a lifetime with something that is later condemned.

But sure, in this case it sounds like you’re on solid ground.

Yes, please don’t disrupt Communion by trying to get a “special benediction”, especially since clearly you do not have the proper disposition for Communion and therefore the best thing to do is stay sit and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion.

This is another of the many “new practices” not found in the GIRM, and innovation in the liturgy is not just wrong, it is forbidden to both laity and clergy.

These two responses seem to be at odds with one another. At first you say you have no dog in the fight, but in this particular instance it appears acceptable. Then in your second response you seem to be against the act. Did you change your stance on the issue or am I missing something?

 

[Boulder257]

Yes, please don’t disrupt Communion by trying to get a “special benediction”, especially since clearly you do not have the proper disposition for Communion and therefore the best thing to do is stay sit and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion.

This is another of the many “new practices” not found in the GIRM, and innovation in the liturgy is not just wrong, it is forbidden to both laity and clergy.

How is it disrupting communion to get into the same line everyone else is in and receive a blessing…smh I would argue it is more disruptive to have to step over someone staying in their pew than if they just got up and got into line with everyone else. You can still pray your spiritual communion when you return to your seat, along with everyone else, which causes less disruption.

I’ll stick with my priest and the deacon’s response on this thread as to it being acceptable for the time being.

 

[1ke]

you definitely cannot say, “The Church asks those not receiving to stay in their pews.”

Yes, you can because yes it does, what your priest does despite this notwithstanding.

We also have a response on this thread from a deacon who says it is appropriate. No offense, but I usually go with the ordained.

No offense, but I go with actual Church documents and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

 

[R_C]

How is it disrupting communion to get into the same line everyone else is in and receive a blessing

When I serve next to the priest holding a paten and someone comes forth with arms crossed, the priest is unsure whether the person wants to receive Holy Communion in the tongue or what, and my immediate gesture is to extend the communion paten under his chin.

In what should be a solemn moment of recollection and adoration (in which often times the priest says “The Body of Christ” elevating the Blessed Sacrament in his hand), the person is forced to *disrupt *this by *speaking * (something that, for instance, St. Francis de Sales recommends we do not do from the “Behold the Lamb of God” until after Holy Communion and a time of prayer) and making his personal will clear: although he is not properly disposed to receive the Holy One, he feels like getting a personal, extra-liturgical Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

Everyone receives a blessing at the end of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and those who need it should receive a blessing in the confessional with the words of absolution. The line of Holy Communion is to receive Holy Communion.

 

[FAB]

But they might not be. Someone might have pastoral reasons to ignore the instructions of the RITE.

Very possible and if so I would respect thier direction.