Group Blessings During Mass. Liturgical Abuse?

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Proximmaximus

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I sometimes attend a Parish near my home where after Communion, but before the Concluding Rights, the priest does at least two separate group blessings, one each for:
  1. Children and expectant mothers; and
  2. Those celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
Sometimes there will be another blessing for a third group, such as new catechists. For each one, the the people form up in a big group in front of the alter. The whole process takes anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, after each blessing, the entire congregation applauds (i.e. clapping of hands).

Is this a liturgical abuse? It certainly breaks up the natural rhythm of the Mass and takes the focus off the Sacrifice. Its bugs me to the point that I hesitate even going to that Parish anymore.

Thanks in advance.
 
This was right after the consecration of the body and blood of our Lord, er sorry, after communion. I must say that I simply find it hard to imagine how this desecrates the rhythm of the Mass, but it does take time. Say a prayer for those souls! 🙂
 
Nothing wrong with it, but priests I’ve known who do this are much faster!
 
I can say beyond doubt that the applause is a liturgical abuse. Blessings are never to be discouraged, but I don’t think that most blessings are to take place within the context of Holy Mass. Moreover, if people are discouraged from leaving their pews during the Peace, which is actually a part of the Mass, it would make much more sense that moving about the Church during something that may have no place in Mass to begin with would be frowned upon further. This all seems to take no account of St Paul’s request that all things be done decently and in good order.
 
You would deny people who teach the faith tot he children a special blessing for their volunteer work? Really?
Wow.
 
pianistclare said:
You would deny people who teach the faith tot he children a special blessing for their volunteer work? Really?
Wow.
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No, I’d have no problem if it were to be done after the Ite Missa Est. If the rubrics even forbid something so important as a baptism during Mass and make it wait until after Mass, then certainly particular blessings can wait as well.

I’m a teacher of catechism as well and would be mortified if a priest disrupted the Holy Sacrifice in order to bless me for my work.
 
Our priest always asks who is celebrating birthdays & anniversaries, or who is at the church for the first time. People just raise their hand(s) & everyone else claps. This is right before we are dismissed. But having everyone come to the alter, taking 15 minutes, is a little much, IMHO!
 
bardegaulois said:
No, I’d have no problem if it were to be done after the Ite Missa Est. If the rubrics even forbid something so important as a baptism during Mass and make it wait until after Mass, then certainly particular blessings can wait as well.

I’m a teacher of catechism as well and would be mortified if a priest disrupted the Holy Sacrifice in order to bless me for my work.
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What?
Our parish Baptizes children during Mass all the time. Right after the homily. For YEARS.
There’s nothing forbidden about it.
 
bardegaulois said:
No, I’d have no problem if it were to be done after the Ite Missa Est. If the rubrics even forbid something so important as a baptism during Mass and make it wait until after Mass, then certainly particular blessings can wait as well.

I’m a teacher of catechism as well and would be mortified if a priest disrupted the Holy Sacrifice in order to bless me for my work.
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Where did you get the idea that baptism is forbidden during Mass?
 
When I see threads like these, I seriously begin to doubt the merit my faith as a Catholic. When I was a kid, my aunt told my mother that what was a Baptist summer camp was open to Christians of all stripes. Little did I know that my 12 year old self would have to defend my faith against various charges of vanity and generally straining out the gnat to swallow the camel. It was my indignation at that camp that kept me strong in my faith, stronger than perhaps I would have been had I gone to a Catholic camp, throughout my teens.

But then, several years ago, I joined this forums, and I saw, to my horror, that there were indeed all sorts of Catholics who not only lived up to the stereotypes I had heard bandied about at that camp, but far exceeded them.

I’m sorry, and I know I am being uncharitable here, but some of the things I see here have just made me so frustrated. I know I have to right to judge anyone because I am a sinful person, but…well, I am just still frustrated. Especially when I see that there is a Protestant considering the church here.
 
bardegaulois said:
My mistake. I’ve never witnessed it as such and presumed it was not permitted. Doing some quick research, I find the contrary: wdtprs.com/blog/2009/09/quaeritur-baptism-during-sunday-mass-seemed-incomplete/.
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From the GIRM:

D) The Concluding Rites
  1. To the Concluding Rites belong the following:
a) brief announcements, should they be necessary;

b) the Priest’s Greeting and Blessing, which on certain days and occasions is expanded and expressed by the Prayer over the People or another more solemn formula;

d) the Dismissal of the people by the Deacon or the Priest, so that each may go back to doing good works, praising and blessing God;

d) the kissing of the altar by the Priest and the Deacon, followed by a profound bow to the altar by the Priest, the Deacon, and the other ministers.

While I think 10 to 15 is too long. Such blessings are permitted and this is the appropriate time.

Just because we don’t like something that is allowed does not make it liturgical abuse.
 
Kevin12 said:
But then, several years ago, I joined this forums, and I saw, to my horror, that there were indeed all sorts of Catholics who not only lived up to the stereotypes I had heard bandied about at that camp, but far exceeded them.
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Many years ago I read an old book written by a convert - possibly from the '50s. I wish I could remember her name & the exact quote I’m going to mangle here, but it went something like this. Shortly after joining the Church she witnessed some uncharitable behavior by fellow Catholics. Her response was (more or less): These are my brothers and sisters in Christ - God help us all!

I try to remember that. Along with Robert Heinlein quote: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity. 😃
 
Bonnie said:
Many years ago I read an old book written by a convert - possibly from the '50s. I wish I could remember her name & the exact quote I’m going to mangle here, but it went something like this. Shortly after joining the Church she witnessed some uncharitable behavior by fellow Catholics. Her response was (more or less): These are my brothers and sisters in Christ - God help us all!

I try to remember that. Along with Robert Heinlein quote: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity. 😃
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I’m not trying to blame anyone in particular. Nor am I trying to say that Mass shouldn’t be done in the right way according to the rubrics. But when I see words like “horrified” being used (I’m sure out of a love of God, but still “horrified”), I feel like, what sort of world do you live in, that you’re horrified by something like that?

I think I actually hear way more here about liturgical abuses, like the wrong people standing in the wrong places at the wrong times, than the, you know, sexual abuses by the clergy. It feels like to some of these posters, a priest wiping the chalice the wrong way (and I’m not saying it shouldn’t be wiped the right way, but still) is a much bigger fault than if that same priest molested a child.

I’m a bad person, so I know I can’t judge, but it seems like the people who do these things, they don’t even see the disconnect, they totally think they should have as much righteous indignation as possible, and that really seems off to me.
 
Proximmaximus said:
I sometimes attend a Parish near my home where after Communion, but before the Concluding Rights, the priest does at least two separate group blessings, one each for:
  1. Children and expectant mothers; and
  2. Those celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
Sometimes there will be another blessing for a third group, such as new catechists. For each one, the the people form up in a big group in front of the alter. The whole process takes anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, after each blessing, the entire congregation applauds (i.e. clapping of hands).

Is this a liturgical abuse? It certainly breaks up the natural rhythm of the Mass and takes the focus off the Sacrifice. Its bugs me to the point that I hesitate even going to that Parish anymore.

Thanks in advance.
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Why not focus on the blessings for your fellow Catholics instead of being annoyed? If Jesus was sitting right next to you during all this I’m pretty sure he would bow and bless them himself. Just love, love, love. That is what the sacrifice is all about. What a wonderful uplifting thing to be acknowledged and celebrated and blessed as a community!
 
Proximmaximus said:
I sometimes attend a Parish near my home where after Communion, but before the Concluding Rights, the priest does at least two separate group blessings, one each for:
  1. Children and expectant mothers; and
  2. Those celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
Sometimes there will be another blessing for a third group, such as new catechists…
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One of the official liturgical books is “Book of Blessings”. The edition approved for the USA in 1984 includes:
Blessing for a Married Couple, within Mass, on the anniversary of marriage. (Chapter 1, III, A).
Blessing of “Those Who Exercise Pastoral Service”. This would include catechists and can also be done in the Mass. (Chapter 60, I).

These other blessing ceremonies are not to be done in Mass:
Orders for the Blessing of Children (Chapter 1, IV).
Orders for the Blessing of a Mother before Childbirth and after Childbirth (Chapter 1, VIII).
Order of Blessing on the Occasion of a Birthday (Chapter 1, XI).
 
Proximmaximus said:
I sometimes attend a Parish near my home where after Communion, but before the Concluding Rights, the priest does at least two separate group blessings, one each for:
  1. Children and expectant mothers; and
  2. Those celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
Sometimes there will be another blessing for a third group, such as new catechists. For each one, the the people form up in a big group in front of the alter. The whole process takes anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, after each blessing, the entire congregation applauds (i.e. clapping of hands).

Is this a liturgical abuse? It certainly breaks up the natural rhythm of the Mass and takes the focus off the Sacrifice. Its bugs me to the point that I hesitate even going to that Parish anymore.

Thanks in advance.
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This is very much an appropriate time for group blessings so there is no “Liturgical Abuse” going on.

Now you might argue that it is abusive (note the lack of quotes and lower case “L”) to the solemnity of the Mass and the time sensitivities of the people to do this every week and to always have the groups come up to the front of the Church. (I would suppose the people in this parish are used to the period after communion taking longer than usual so it is unsuspecting visitors who would have the bigger problem with the time.)
 
The “Book of Blessings” (so-called) shows that it is not objectively an abuse to do such blessings after Communion. However, these blessings within Mass are intended for special occasions. They are not meant as adaptations to the everyday (or every Sunday) celebration of Mass.

For example, blessing of Children at the beginning of the school year, or on some appropriate occasion is permitted. Blessing of catechists on (just for example) Catechetical Sunday, is fine. I’ll leave it at those 2 examples, but there are many others.

What is not appropriate though, is for this to be done at every Sunday Mass. These are intended for special occasions only.
 
Thanks for all the responses. It seems there are some differing opinions. I’ll respond to some of the replies individually, but let me say a few things here:
  1. I’m a brand new Catholic (convert from Protestantism), having been received into the Church just over 1 month ago. So my question was coming purely from a place of curiosity and ignorance. That’s why I asked it here.
  2. Upon reflection, I could have worded my question differently to be more charitable. The Parish in question is an awesome, vibrant Parish from everything I’ve experienced. I wasn’t trying to demean the Parish or the Priest.
  3. Like all of you I’m sure, the Mass means everything to mean (particularly after having drifted among the various Protestant denominations for over 40 years). My question was rooted in that love.
  4. My point certainly wasn’t to say I have a problem with people receiving blessings. I simply didn’t know if doing them DURING Mass was appropriate.
Again. Thank you for all of the responses.
 
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