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floresco
Guest
The letter was an official statement on the behalf of the CDW. That means it was a Church document. It contained guidelines rather than binding rules, but it was NOT merely somebody’s opinion.
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Brendan_64
Guest
I’d agree with that. It now seems to have become the norm though for those not receiving Communion (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) to join the line and go up for a blessing.
It is a tricky one though. What is a priest to do when someone presents themselves in the Communion line for a blessing? Tell them to go away?
I think the trouble with this starts with poor catechesis when people are children. For school children it is difficult to sit behind and be isolated from your peers at a school Mass. For non-Catholic children at a Catholic school being isolated from the rest of their class mates by not being able to go up could be problematic, so they go up for a blessing. Then this becomes seen as the norm for anyone not taking Communion at Mass and I can see why it might be seen to be important for non-catholic teachers to lead their predominantly Catholic class up towards Communion (or Catholic teachers who may not feel they are in a state of grace).
On one hand we have the issue of people treating the Communion line as just a routine, something you do automatically when you attend Mass (to receive Communion routinely, or a blessing if they can’t) and on the other hand we don’t want people holding back from receiving the sanctifying grace of the Eucharist when they are in a proper state to receive it.
My advise to anyone who isn’t Catholic or who hasn’t made their First Communion (as well as, of course, Catholics who feel they are not in a state of grace) is to sit in the pews, kneel and say a prayer to Our Lord giving thanks for the sacrifice he offered up for us.
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kdkkdt
Guest
The Wesleyan church I attended and was a member of baptized by immersion.
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Brandall
Guest
I’m a non Catholic and like going forward and receiving a blessing. It’s a really nice touch and is greatly appreciated.
What’s really lost in all this is that a woman, that self admittedly “is a little OCD” and has asked this question. The answers have turned from support to arguing over the fine print. Yes, there are things that people will argue about in an internet forum and not be so argumentative in real life but is all of this helping or harming? She has mentioned that she feels the “strong need” to get in line and get a blessing. She also mentioned that she is being helped in this journey by a couple that are friends. It seems logical that they have told her to go forward to get this blessing and it is something practiced there.
She has come here looking for support and has gotten chapter 30485 of “Lets Argue Over The Minutiae”. Maybe she won’t run as fast as she can after reading these replies and petty arguments since she already has a connection with the church. However, if she did, I couldn’t say that I would blame her.
KDKDDT, like you, I’m not in full communion with the church. Every Sunday mass, I go forward for a blessing and it is wonderful. It is a practice that has not been discouraged at my church and it has been enjoyed. Last week, I got that blessing from a priest that had been one for 58 years. He reminded me of my departed father and getting that blessing was even more special. Please go forward and get a blessing. The holy water font is for anyone, whether baptized or not. Since you have been baptized, you can reflect on what that meant, what it means and what it will mean as you go forward. God Bless!
What’s really lost in all this is that a woman, that self admittedly “is a little OCD” and has asked this question. The answers have turned from support to arguing over the fine print. Yes, there are things that people will argue about in an internet forum and not be so argumentative in real life but is all of this helping or harming? She has mentioned that she feels the “strong need” to get in line and get a blessing. She also mentioned that she is being helped in this journey by a couple that are friends. It seems logical that they have told her to go forward to get this blessing and it is something practiced there.
She has come here looking for support and has gotten chapter 30485 of “Lets Argue Over The Minutiae”. Maybe she won’t run as fast as she can after reading these replies and petty arguments since she already has a connection with the church. However, if she did, I couldn’t say that I would blame her.
KDKDDT, like you, I’m not in full communion with the church. Every Sunday mass, I go forward for a blessing and it is wonderful. It is a practice that has not been discouraged at my church and it has been enjoyed. Last week, I got that blessing from a priest that had been one for 58 years. He reminded me of my departed father and getting that blessing was even more special. Please go forward and get a blessing. The holy water font is for anyone, whether baptized or not. Since you have been baptized, you can reflect on what that meant, what it means and what it will mean as you go forward. God Bless!
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kdkkdt
Guest
I haven’t been scared off
I am admittedly confused by all the different answers, as well as a lot of terms and phrases used that I am unfamiliar with, having not heard them since I was a young child.As it turns out, I had another question that I felt was best answered by my new friend’s husband. Though my husband has known these folks for 30-something years I only met them last year and have really only had interaction with the wife. I worked up my courage and sent him a text with my question. He answered and then, out of the blue, sent a second reply stating “During communion, you can either remain in the pew, or you can go forward in the communion line with your arms crossed over your chest with your palms touching below your collar bone, then bow in front of the priest and receive a blessing from him.”
I know very little about the church I will be attending and then, only what I have been told by my new friend. Among the few things I do know is that the priest is a very busy man with obligations in many places. As I am just starting this journey but don’t feel like I am in a true crisis - more like happy to be making this journey at last and only a little scared - I feel it’s best that I don’t pester him much, but rather allow him to spend his time with those facing major issues that need attending to right now. I’m sure I’ll get to know him as time goes on. I also know that there is a bit of a language barrier when dealing with others at the church; I’m sure this obstacle will be overcome in time.
For now I will be reaching out to multiple sources, this forum, my new friends, what is written, to learn what I need to learn as I need to learn it. I have no doubt that the Lord will reveal to me the answers I need, it’s my job to watch for, listen to, and learn from those answers.
I am an educated person, but tend to speak plainly. I apologize if my plain speaking offends anyone.
Thanks to each of you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
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Brendan_64
Guest
You make a fair point.
To answer her questions.
Can she bless herself with holy water? Yes.
Can she go up to receive a blessing? Yes.
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dee_burk
Guest
Yeah :extrahappy: That fear has been resolved for you with no help from us. Its always best to ask those that know your parish. I hope you have a wonderful Mass experience and will return to our forums with more questions that we can debate the answer of.I haven’t been scared off
As it turns out, I had another question that I felt was best answered by my new friend’s husband. Though my husband has known these folks for 30-something years I only met them last year and have really only had interaction with the wife. I worked up my courage and sent him a text with my question. He answered and then, out of the blue, sent a second reply stating “During communion, you can either remain in the pew, or you can go forward in the communion line with your arms crossed over your chest with your palms touching below your collar bone, then bow in front of the priest and receive a blessing from him.”
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floresco
Guest
I am so pleased that you were not scared off by the debate. It is pretty common for forum interactions to take on a life of their own like this and go way beyond the original question that sparked them. Please feel free to ask about any terms you do not understand. You can send me a personal message if you are not comfortable with posting your questions. (I am sure that others will make the same offer.)I haven’t been scared off
It is great that you have friends who can tell you how things work in your parish. I know what you mean about being reluctant to ask the priest. I feel the same way, especially before I have gotten to know him.
You probably do not need to worry about the blessings during Communion debate at this stage of your journey. Your friends have explained how it works in your parish and that is all you need to know for now. Some day you may be interested in understanding the issue in greater depth and people can present their arguments for you then.
Please do not let anything you see on this forum trouble you or interfere with your process of settling in to the Church.
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Boulder257
Guest
You are very wise. Glad you haven’t been scared off. I am sorry that we have turned your simple question into a debate and I for one, apologize profusely for my involvment in that. May God bless you.I haven’t been scared off
As it turns out, I had another question that I felt was best answered by my new friend’s husband. Though my husband has known these folks for 30-something years I only met them last year and have really only had interaction with the wife. I worked up my courage and sent him a text with my question. He answered and then, out of the blue, sent a second reply stating “During communion, you can either remain in the pew, or you can go forward in the communion line with your arms crossed over your chest with your palms touching below your collar bone, then bow in front of the priest and receive a blessing from him.”
I know very little about the church I will be attending and then, only what I have been told by my new friend. Among the few things I do know is that the priest is a very busy man with obligations in many places. As I am just starting this journey but don’t feel like I am in a true crisis - more like happy to be making this journey at last and only a little scared - I feel it’s best that I don’t pester him much, but rather allow him to spend his time with those facing major issues that need attending to right now. I’m sure I’ll get to know him as time goes on. I also know that there is a bit of a language barrier when dealing with others at the church; I’m sure this obstacle will be overcome in time.
For now I will be reaching out to multiple sources, this forum, my new friends, what is written, to learn what I need to learn as I need to learn it. I have no doubt that the Lord will reveal to me the answers I need, it’s my job to watch for, listen to, and learn from those answers.
I am an educated person, but tend to speak plainly. I apologize if my plain speaking offends anyone.
Thanks to each of you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
For the other posters, I am not going to continue in the debate for the sake of the OP. If we really need to continue this discussion lets do it in a dedicated thread. I for one, don’t really see a need to continue the discussion further as it seems nobody is going to be changing any minds.
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kdkkdt
Guest
It won’t.
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R_C
Guest
Nobody in this life is perfect, we are all sinners in need of guidance. If this guidance is not given to us in the form of a clear instruction to be followed by virtue of obedience, then I believe it is to be sought in our sacred inheritance, the practices followed for centuries by our predecessors in Holy Mother Church.
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kdkkdt
Guest
No need to apologize, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
I understand that there is a big difference between the Catholic church of the 1960s (my childhood church experience) and today’s Catholic church. I love most of the new but cherish some of the old and insist on holding on to them. I’m talking about the simple things, not the major ones.
An example: The first time I attended mass as an adult was in the early 90s, with my dad. Dad didn’t say a word as I took an extra long time getting ready, trying to get my head covering (mantilla) just right. You might imagine my shock to walk in the church and find that I was the only one wearing one. That began the big debate in my head - wear one or don’t wear one? I realized that if I felt more comfortable wearing one and that I am not breaking any church laws by wearing one, why shouldn’t I? Wearing a head covering makes me feel more comfortable, more at home, so I can concentrate on the important stuff, so wear one I will.
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floresco
Guest
We must be around the same age, but I converted as adult so do not have any memories of the Church from 60s. I think you are right about the new/old tension in the Church. (and on this forum
)Another dynamic that is has been affecting this particular discussion comes from basic personality differences. Some people are more emotionally oriented and others are more intellectually oriented. The first group is coming from the perspective of asking, “How does the Mass make people feel? Will this practice make people feel welcome or rejected?” The other group is asking, “What does the Mass mean? What is the significance of its various parts? How does this practice convey the meaning of the Mass?” As you can see, these are all legitimate questions, but different people give them different levels of importance just because of the kind of people they are.
I’m really glad that you can handle these disagreements. Some people are too uncomfortable with them to benefit from forum discussions. But, since you are not put off, you will be able to use the forum as a resource for rediscovering the Church.
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Boulder257
Guest
The bolded is very wise. I have never heard it expressed in such a way, but it truly does explain alot of the disagreements.We must be around the same age, but I converted as adult so do not have any memories of the Church from 60s. I think you are right about the new/old tension in the Church. (and on this forum
Another dynamic that is has been affecting this particular discussion comes from basic personality differences. Some people are more emotionally oriented and others are more intellectually oriented. The first group is coming from the perspective of asking, “How does the Mass make people feel? Will this practice make people feel welcome or rejected?” The other group is asking, “What does the Mass mean? What is the significance of its various parts? How does this practice convey the meaning of the Mass?” As you can see, these are all legitimate questions, but different people give them different levels of importance just because of the kind of people they are.
I’m really glad that you can handle these disagreements. Some people are too uncomfortable with them to benefit from forum discussions. But, since you are not put off, you will be able to use the forum as a resource for rediscovering the Church.
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R_C
Guest
Indeed…! It is something that I’ve found often when trying to learn about discerning God’s will…and how do we bring together emotions and reason in order to understand what is it that we are called to do…still trying to learn how to balance these two!
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SteveGC
Guest
Some helpful advice I’ve heard regarding this, when contemplating the significance of feelings in our faith:
Emotions are at the service of Joy, not the other way around. Joy is not an emotion. It can be expressed through the emotions, but it does not emanate from them. Knowledge leads to Joy. Knowledge of God. Not how we feel about God, but what we come to understand about Him.
“…know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free” (Jn8:32)
If we try to live out our faith through emotions, we will continually seek out moments of inspiration, which are rare. When they don’t arrive, we tend to force them artificially and are thus not driven by authentic devotion to God, but rather our feelings. Sadly, IMO, the modern church has emphasized emotions and passions over knowledge and intellect, and it often is reflected in modern liturgical events.
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