For EMHC's

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Annabelle_Marie

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I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
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If you are forced in this situation I think you have found a good solution, to smile and say Jesus loves you, or may Jesus bless you, without touching or any other gesture. You are quite right not to make an issue of it in such cases.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
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that works and sounds fine. The one thing if you know the parents of the child and feel comfortable doing so you may speak to them it could be a good teaching time for them to have with the child.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
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If it were me I would try my best to explain very quickly to them that you can’t give them a blessing or simply point them to the priest in a cheerful and friendly way without drawing to much attention. failing that I would try to do so after Mass or mention it to the parent(s) again after Mass.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
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E.M.H.C. are in a tough position. The Communion line is not the place to explain the reasoning why you are not permitted to bless.
As others have said, you handled it well.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
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Annabelle Marie, if I am wrong, forgive me but accept my opinion in this. You are a lay person, period. Obviously you can not give a priestly blessing but why couldn’t you say “May Jesus Bless You and touch the child.” You are giving a blessing as a lay person. You can give your children a parental blessing every night as a parent and kiss them. You do not become a priest because you are distributing the Body,Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ to the people and you do not scorn a priest blessing because you give a lay person’s blessing even if you touch the child. This is my humble opinion and reasoning on the subject.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
I have a question. I don’t want to hear about why we don’t need EMHC’s or anything like that. I know that we aren’t suppose to have blessings at communion but in our parish it is said before Mass that those who want to come up for a blessing can. Now I don’t have to deal with the issue as an EMHC because so far I’ve been distributing the precious blood.

However, on occasion I will have one or two children come up and present themselves to me before their parent and tap their chest with their arms crossed, looking for a blessing. I don’t want to start a tug of war in the communion line nor do I want to break concentration from what I am doing. What should I do? I have been saying something like “Jesus loves you” but not touching or them in anyway as I don’t want to be appearing to give them a blessing that only a priest can do.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
When that happens with me, I flip the purificator in my hand to cover the chalice, drop to one knee to be at their level if they are small (keeping the chalice well elevated), smile and say “I pray that God blesses you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” as I make a big sign of the cross using both hands holding the chalice.

Usually the little kiddie will try to cross themselves with a look of awe one their faces and/or a big smile. Then I stand up. Often times their parent’s eyes are just a touch glassy at this point. This process is condoned by both my pastor and my bishop.

I really couldn’t care any less about those who feel I am committing some form of grave injustice.
 
Theophorus said:
If it were me I would try my best to explain very quickly to them that you can’t give them a blessing or simply point them to the priest in a cheerful and friendly way without drawing to much attention. failing that I would try to do so after Mass or mention it to the parent(s) again after Mass.
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:rolleyes:
 
I would discuss this matter with the priest. He can then take steps to stop this. The Holy See have clearly stated this is wrong.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
I would discuss this matter with the priest. He can then take steps to stop this. The Holy See have clearly stated this is wrong.
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Oy…I don’t want to get caught up in this battle as most of the diocese uses this practice. Not sure its a battle that I want to fight…

And although one person suggested pointing them to a priest…that is basically impossible…for several reasons…we have one priest…and sometimes these children have just been to him…or if I’m on the side without the priest…it’s too cramped and confusing to point the children to the priest.

Our priest is a good priest and has done a lot to bring our parish around…they went through a period of time when they had no steady priest… But a priest can only do so much…especially when they are worn out from being the only one for our growing parish.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
Oy…I don’t want to get caught up in this battle as most of the diocese uses this practice. Not sure its a battle that I want to fight…

And although one person suggested pointing them to a priest…that is basically impossible…for several reasons…we have one priest…and sometimes these children have just been to him…or if I’m on the side without the priest…it’s too cramped and confusing to point the children to the priest.

Our priest is a good priest and has done a lot to bring our parish around…they went through a period of time when they had no steady priest… But a priest can only do so much…especially when they are worn out from being the only one for our growing parish.
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The priest only has to make an announcement at Mass, not fight any battles. That would be inappropriate anyway. His verbal announcement could be backed up with a corresponding announcement in the weekly bulletin. This may need to be done for several consecutive weeks until the message starts to sink in.
 
ElToro said:
:rolleyes:
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Children tend to be more intelligent than you give them credit for. But of course pretending to bless them with the chalice and making their parents come over all emotional, that’s what Mass is really all about.
 
I do not make gesture and I simply smile, look at the people, and suggest to them to receive the Spirit of Jesus Christ in their hearts, this is what spiritual communion is about. At that point it time it is not up to me to explain the details or to do anything else.
 
Thankfully I haven’t had this happen often. It is just not a practice in our parish. But if a child comes up who isn’t prepared to receive, I simply ignore them. Many parents bring their younger children up with them instead of leaving them alone in the pew, so it is common to overlook them. No one has stood in front of me demanding a blessing either. I think in the situation the OP described (children tapping their chests or pointing to themselves) a simple “Jesus loves you” is good. A protestant friend often says “May you love Jesus more than anyone else” which is a excellent thought. May be too long for the communion line though…
 
I use the ‘Jesus loves you’ line but never when I was the PBlood distributor. If it did I would hold the cup before them - though not offering it to them - and say Jesus loves you - signifying he shows his love with that is in the cup.

When I distribute the PBody I lean down towards them to tell them Jesus loves them and they can see into the ciborium. They seem very amazed.
 
Newbie2 said:
Reason I was asking is that I’m not entirely convinced that what the OP was doing was giving a blessing.
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Perhaps he’s not. I gained the impression that the OP is trying not to but is in the end giving one. It really needs the priests to say only come up in the Communion line for Communion. OK as a parent I can understand not leaving a child alone in the pews but parents can teach their children to do nothing if they come up with them. One of the problems we have is that many priests do bless and at least don’t stop EMHCs from blessing. We don’t get the catechesis we’re entitled to receive.
 
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