Going up for a blessing

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JoyToTheWhirled

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At Mass, I keep being gently encouraged by different people, usually catechists, to go up in the communion line with my arms across my chest for a blessing. Now, I have no issue with this as an idea, blessings are great, obviously, but personally, I only want to make that walk when I’m about receive Jesus for the first time. The idea of being that close, only to walk away again is really quite hard. I appreciate I am probably a bit odd (wouldn’t be the first time!) But would kind of like to know how odd I am, and if my misgivings are not allowed.
 
My 2 cents.

Blessings are always good. I have done that very occasionally when I was unworthy of receiving Jesus. Some other times I just stayed in the pew. Most often, I receive Jesus. I am an on-the-tongue girl. I believe that more reverent.

Don’t worry. Either attitude is acceptable. Either go for the Blessing, or remain in the pew.

If you look in the little missalette in the pews, I think you’ll find a prayer you can say, that is beautiful and appropriate.

Blessings,
Stephie
 
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You are not odd. In some parishes, no one will encourage you to go up for a blessing with your arms crossed. So it is okay, stay in the pew until your first communion. 😎

If you are having a trouble feeling in the way or smooshed, what you can do is get up when your row gets up, but when you get to the aisle, step backwards in the line to let them all pass, then slide back into the pew. Unless the usher is a young man just starting, he should know to let you do this so you don’t accidental stomp on his foot.
 
I think this is something where you have to do what’s comfortable. Personally.I would not go up for a blessing–either I’m receiving communion and I go up or I’m not receiving communion and I stay in my pew. But I have had a surprising (to me) number of people in RCIA tell me that going up for a blessing was incredibly meaningful to them while they were waiting to enter the Church, that they appreciated the blessing, felt accepted, and had hope and strength to continue with the process. I can’t argue with their views.
 
Not odd at all. I never went up to receive blessings either before I made my profession or since when I am not in a state to receive. Personally I really wish more people would follow your example, but I strongly suspect the culture that encourages everyone to go up isn’t going away anytime soon.
 
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Alright. This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. Everyone gets a blessing at the end of Mass, Catholic or not.
It’s my opinion ( just my opinion folks) that this practice of everyone going up in an effort to make people feel included waters down instruction and does a lot to cripple RCIA inquiries. I mean, if a person can attend Mass and do EVERYTHING that the Catholics in the family do…what’s the incentive to convert? People are content to just follow along. My feeling is that we wait for something, (like waiting for a bride or a groom as an act of love in the context of saving it for marriage) it makes the eventual event sweeter and more beautiful.
I never encourage it but priests are so desperate to appear welcoming. This, the jokes at Mass during homilies…all in the same category for me. Looks desperate.just my 2 cents.
I know it’s a very widespread practice.

God bless the OP. You seem a very inspired person. You are a great gift to us who take so much for granted at times. ❤️
 
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Go up if you want to receive a blessing. Do not go up if you don’t want a blessing. Otherwise, ignore all the noise.

My only hresitation is that some Byzantine Catholics actually offer themselves to receive communion in that posture – arms crossed, but that should be of no matter to you.
 
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If you don’t want to do it, I would not do it. I liked doing it when I was in the process of being confirmed (as an adult). I hated sitting there when everyone else went up. I was a baptized Catholic after all. I took the blessing as if it was from Christ - I think that’s right, maybe not, but I think so. I also felt like part of the community that way. But to me that is a pretty personal decision. I have no problem with someone sitting it out. In fact, that may be more common than going up. I remember feeling a bit weird about ALWAYS getting my blessing, like clockwork. The priest didn’t seem to care; he was cool with it. He got used to it.
 
You are not odd. The important thing to remember here is to make your own decisions, and not do what “different people” tell you to do.
 
I go up for a blessing, and the other woman doing the RCIA often goes up as well. However I was never told I had to, or in fact told that I could by anyone other than another parishioner, I do it as it’s the closest thing to being able to receive that I can currently do, I always thank God that I can receive that blessing afterwards as well.
 
The instructions given from the office of divine worship is that those receiving should go up, others remain in the pew and receive the final blessing.
 
I sat in the pew during communion for two years before I was brought into the Church. It really made me appreciate communion and what all it means. When I could finally go up to receive it was that much more special. I’m like you. So, your approach doesn’t seem odd to me at all.
 
There are no blessings at Communion-time in the Mass. Such a thing is merely a misguided innovation that goes against everything Vatican II had to say about the Mass—that it is not something to be altered on personal whims, but that any changes to the Mass must be made through legitimate channels.
 
Sadly, parishioners are not instructed about that, and so no one seems to know what they should be doing.
 
I guess we are just really blessed with our new pastor in this regard.

The confirmation class always attend the mass where I play the organ. And even though they are in 8th - 12th grade, some have never made their First Communion. Some years it’s as many as a dozen kids (out of 100+).

At the very first mass they all attended a couple weeks ago, our pastor asked those young people who had not made their first communion to please remain in the pews during communion.

We always have many parishioners remain in the pews during communion, but the confirmation class (which takes up the first ten pews on one side) always ALL went up.

When they make their First Communion next spring, I hope this time of waiting will make that moment all the more sweet for them.
 
Archbishop Charles Chaput, the bishop of my home diocese of Philadelphia, spoke about this topic in a homily I was blessed to hear. He said the communion line is not the time for a blessing. I agree with this. There is nothing wrong with sitting back in the pew and reflecting or praying. If you would like a blessing, I would approach the priest after Mass.
 
I used to feel as you, until someone pointed out it was not so much to receive the blessing as an act of humility to acknowledge our longing to come before the sacrifice until such time we are in full communion with the Church or properly disposed if already members. Now it doesn’t bother me, because clearly only God knows the heart of the one approaching, and trying, or even thinking, I can do that is more offensive ti God than a person approaching the alter an not receiving.
 
I see your point, and it’s a good one. But I seriously doubt that this is how it started, and I’m positive that no one ever told a congregation: Hey guys, those of you who are not Catholic should humble yourselves by crossing your arms and not receiving. We’ll bless you for your humility.
Not really believing that, although the person who said that was being very kind and was trying hard to make a non-proscribed situation more palatable.

God bless you!
 
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