Going up for a Blessing when not in full communion

[Sonshine28]

Since I have read and heard conflicting reports on this, I need to ask for an updated answer. I am currently going through RCIA and in an “irregular” marriage because my husband is awaiting an annulment. The deacons and priests at our parish have encouraged us to go up to receive a blessing during communion but I have read that this practice has been discouraged. Personally, I like the practice but I do know that we only go to the priest, not the Extraordinary Ministers. It is good to at least get close to the Eucharist even if you can’t yet receive it. It also keeps traffic flowing.

What say ye? I am perplexed. Our RCIA director is a deacon and he’s the one that said we should go up for a blessing. Our parish parochial vicar also said so.

Thanks so much,
Gayle

 

[agnes_therese]

What say ye? I am perplexed. Our RCIA director is a deacon and he’s the one that said we should go up for a blessing. Our parish parochial vicar also said so.

Thanks so much,
Gayle

Those are exactly the people you need to listen to.

 

[smichhertz]

Since I have read and heard conflicting reports on this, I need to ask for an updated answer. I am currently going through RCIA and in an “irregular” marriage because my husband is awaiting an annulment. The deacons and priests at our parish have encouraged us to go up to receive a blessing during communion but I have read that this practice has been discouraged. Personally, I like the practice but I do know that we only go to the priest, not the Extraordinary Ministers. It is good to at least get close to the Eucharist even if you can’t yet receive it. It also keeps traffic flowing.

What say ye? I am perplexed. Our RCIA director is a deacon and he’s the one that said we should go up for a blessing. Our parish parochial vicar also said so.

Thanks so much,
Gayle

Hiya Gayle,

This is actually a major controversy among Catholics that you’re wading into. Basically, there’s nothing in the rubrics that gives permission for this. Since Vatican II explicitly forbids priests from changing the liturgy, some see a priest blessing someone during Communion during the liturgy as a liturgical abuse. That’s where the whole controversy comes from. Basically it boils down to: if it’s not expressly permitted, is it allowed?

Here’s my take: It’s not up to you, it’s up to the priest. If he’s decided that this is an acceptable thing than you should do it and not concern yourself too much with it.

In any case, I hope you find that helpful!

 

[dee_burk]

When i was in RCIA our deacon told us this as well, i was the only one in the class that didnt go up for a blessing. The deacon told me several times i could and i kept saying it isnt really approved to do so. He would just shrug like “ok, whatever”

Any how, if you feel comfortable doing so and your priest approves go ahead but just remember if you visit another area for Mass it may not be ok there.

 

[DaveBj]

This practice leads to the problem of lay EMsHC being put into the position of having someone standing in front of them with his/her arms crossed. At our parish they go ahead and give them a blessing, which is something that is definitely NOT allowed.

 

[pianistclare]

All great answers. As far I know, it’s not supposed to be done, but many pastors allow it/encourage it.
I guess it depends on whether or not you are comfortable with it, as Dee said.
Some people believe that they are getting blessed “with” the Eucharist…and not by the priest himself, so I think that’s where most people have trouble with it. Viewing the Body of Christ not as the True Presence, but rather a sacramental. To me…and this is just my opinion…I would feel like my blessings are derived from assisting at Holy Mass. Indeed not even people that are already Catholic are required to receive at every Mass, and they certainly derive blessings from Mass. If I were in RCIA I would wait until I could genuinely receive to go up. Again, this is only my opinion, if I were in this position.
And remember also, that everyone present gets a beautiful blessing at the end of Mass.
Anxious to see what others says about this, I do believe that your Deacon desires the best for you, and is not purposefully leading you into error.
Remember, that when you enter the Sanctuary, you are indeed close to the Eucharist. Christ is present in the Tabernacle.
God bless you on your journey!

 

[casslean]

Here’s my take: It’s not up to you, it’s up to the priest. If he’s decided that this is an acceptable thing than you should do it and not concern yourself too much with it.

This. I spent way more time and energy worrying about this issue than was prudent or necessary. Ultimately, I trust my priest; he tells me I can go forward for a blessing, and I follow his instruction.

To avoid the issue of lay EMHCs giving blessings, all RCIA candidates and catechumens are told to be sure to get into the “priest’s line” when the congregation goes forward for Communion.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Has anyone noticed that for years there has been a “Sticky” right at the top of this forum?

[thread=543513]UPDATE: Receiving “blessing” instead of communion…[/thread]

tee

 

[tee_eff_em]

And, not to put too fine a point on it, and said in all love and charity:

I am currently going through RCIA

There is a reason you do not present yourself for communion. **You are not in full comminon with the Church. **

:twocents:
tee

 

[otjm]

Has anyone noticed that for years there has been a “Sticky” right at the top of this forum?

[thread=543513]UPDATE: Receiving “blessing” instead of communion…[/thread]

tee

I don’t intend to tilt with forum rules. However, the note was from 2007, and there are 7 more years where this practice has been going on, so either the matter is not one which Rome wishes to pursue vigorously, or one which may have been modified since them.

All that aside, the note speaks to non-Catholics not approaching for a blessing; and someone in RCIA who has not yet joined the Church is not a Catholic; but if they die while in RCIA, they are accorded a Catholic funeral.

Just an observation.

 

[Sonshine28]

All that aside, the note speaks to non-Catholics not approaching for a blessing; and someone in RCIA who has not yet joined the Church is not a Catholic; but if they die while in RCIA, they are accorded a Catholic funeral.

Just an observation.

Actually, that happened in our RCIA class. One of our catechumens who was converting from the Episcopal tradition suddenly died while working in Mexico. He did have a Catholic funeral and we all went even though many of us hadn’t met him. That’s where our priest specifically told everyone there who wasn’t Catholic to please come up to receive a blessing during Communion. He knew there were many there who would be Episcopalian. Until then, I had stayed back in the pew during Communion.

Thank you all for your feedback. It’s helpful. I wouldn’t dare go up for a blessing in another Catholic Church unless I had foreknowledge of their practices.

 

[Sunbreak]

If your priest allows it, then I don’t see a problem with you going up for a blessing. The practice in general has been discouraged though, but there are still some holdovers from the 70s that insist on doing this. It was started in the touchy feely kumbaya singing days so that someone’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt by exclusion. In the early days of the Church, catechumens were dismissed from the Eucharistic portion of the Mass. Only those “in communion” would participate in this part.

 

[pianistclare]

If your priest allows it, then I don’t see a problem with you going up for a blessing. The practice in general has been discouraged though, but there are still some holdovers from the 70s that insist on doing this. It was started in the touchy feely kumbaya singing days so that someone’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt by exclusion. In the early days of the Church, catechumens were dismissed from the Eucharistic portion of the Mass. Only those “in communion” would participate in this part.

My pastor was a child in the 70’s. I doubt the touchy feely crowd influenced him.

 

[ProVobis]

If your priest allows it, then I don’t see a problem with you going up for a blessing. The practice in general has been discouraged though, but there are still some holdovers from the 70s that insist on doing this. It was started in the touchy feely kumbaya singing days so that someone’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt by exclusion. In the early days of the Church, catechumens were dismissed from the Eucharistic portion of the Mass. Only those “in communion” would participate in this part.

Or the practice started as everyone was being more or less “pressured” into the communion lines, knowing that they were not properly disposed?

Just a guess on my part.

 

[benjohnson]

Or the practice started as everyone was being more or less “pressured” into the communion lines, knowing that they were not properly disposed?

I can say that’s been my experience in Catholic Mass until just a few years ago - when I would respectfully stay in my pew, I would get the “what’s wrong with this weirdo” look.

Nowadays, I’m one of a several people who stay back so it’s not so strange.

 

[DaveBj]

I can say that’s been my experience in Catholic Mass until just a few years ago - when I would respectfully stay in my pew, I would get the “what’s wrong with this weirdo” look.

Nowadays, I’m one of a several people who stay back so it’s not so strange.

When I am not disposed, I stay in my pew, and I have never sensed that I was being looked at crosseyed because of it.

On the larger topic at hand, it is my opinion that the two relevant topics (non-disposed people going through the communion line for a blessing, and lay EMsHC giving blessings) now fall into the same category as hand-holding during the Our Father and individuals imitating the priests’ hand positions during prayers – horses that have long since escaped the corral and will not be captured and put back into it.

 

[pianistclare]

When I am not disposed, I stay in my pew, and I have never sensed that I was being looked at crosseyed because of it.

On the larger topic at hand, it is my opinion that the two relevant topics (non-disposed people going through the communion line for a blessing, and lay EMsHC giving blessings) now fall into the same category as hand-holding during the Our Father and individuals imitating the priests’ hand positions during prayers – horses that have long since escaped the corral and will not be captured and put back into it.

Well, there’s a lot of truth to that. Once you permit something, it’s very hard for the laity to not view it as “taking something away from them”.
Funny. When the ordained try to be less legalistic, people think they’re not doing enough to lead, and when they decide to knuckle down and enforce rubrics, folks them of clericalism.

 

[ProVobis]

When I am not disposed, I stay in my pew, and I have never sensed that I was being looked at crosseyed because of it.

On the larger topic at hand, it is my opinion that the two relevant topics (non-disposed people going through the communion line for a blessing, and lay EMsHC giving blessings) now fall into the same category as hand-holding during the Our Father and individuals imitating the priests’ hand positions during prayers – horses that have long since escaped the corral and will not be captured and put back into it.

Good thing God didn’t make us like cattle.