How specifically did Jesus bless the little children

[x1980x]

One of the most common and popular Protestant images has been Jesus blessing the little children (Luke 18, Mark 10, Matthew 19). In fact, I remember an Evangelical radio speaker many years ago stating that the first thing they wanted to do in paradise was sit in Jesus’s lap. The Protestant emphasis seems to be on Jesus emotionally nurturing the children by holding and cuddling them rather than giving them a specific blessing. Does the CC have any teachings on this? Were they the elementary school age children we see in Protestant imagery or were they babies? Did Jesus basically hold them in his lap and stroke their hair, or did he give them a specific, recognized type of blessing that had specific spiritual effects? If he gave them a specific blessing, is this blessing available today? E.g. can someone walk up to a priest and ask for the blessing that Jesus gave to the little children to be given to them?

 

[Todd_Easton]

Were they the elementary school age children we see in Protestant imagery or were they babies?

The Greek word used in Matthew and Mark (paidion) covers a wide range of ages and could include elementary school age children, as well as babies; the word used in Luke (brephos) is more specific and refers just to babies, including babies in the womb.

 

[Todd_Easton]

The Protestant emphasis seems to be on Jesus emotionally nurturing the children by holding and cuddling them rather than giving them a specific blessing. Does the CC have any teachings on this?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 699, seems to associate the laying on of hands, such as Jesus employed to bless the little children, with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

 

[LucyLight]

One

of the most common and popular Protestant images has been Jesus blessing the little children (Luke 18, Mark 10, Matthew 19). In fact, I remember an Evangelical radio speaker many years ago stating that the first thing they wanted to do in paradise was sit in Jesus’s lap. The Protestant emphasis seems to be on Jesus emotionally nurturing the children by holding and cuddling them rather than giving them a specific blessing. Does the CC have any teachings on this? Were they the elementary school age children we see in Protestant imagery or were they babies? Did Jesus basically hold them in his lap and stroke their hair, or did he give them a specific, recognized type of blessing that had specific spiritual effects? If he gave them a specific blessing, is this blessing available today? E.g. can someone walk up to a priest and ask for the blessing that Jesus gave to the little children to be given to them?

Why is Jesus holding children and being nurturing a protestant image? Its hard to imagine Jesus blessing them and not embracing them. I imagine the children wanted to come to him because they being innocent recognized something in him that adults would not. It would be natural then for the children to physically embrace him. It seems likely that Jesus would embrace them back.

 

[x1980x]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 699, seems to associate the laying on of hands, such as Jesus employed to bless the little children, with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

However the Gift of the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen, had it?

Why is Jesus holding children and being nurturing a protestant image? Its hard to imagine Jesus blessing them and not embracing them. I imagine the children wanted to come to him because they being innocent recognized something in him that adults would not. It would be natural then for the children to physically embrace him. It seems likely that Jesus would embrace them back.

I didn’t mean to say that it was exclusively a Protestant image, but that the image was a common one in Protestant practice.

 

[NotWorthy]

However the Gift of the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen, had it?

I’d re-state that - “However, the Gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church had not yet fallen”. For instance, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even in Elizabeth’s wound, just as Simeon came into the Temple in the Spirit. Jesus could certainly direct the Spirit where He willed, I would imagine.

I didn’t mean to say that it was exclusively a Protestant image, but that the image was a common one in Protestant practice.

You’re right. You see that image in a million Evangelical publications.

 

[Todd_Easton]

However the Gift of the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen, had it?

The “outpouring of the Holy Spirit” mentioned in paragraph 699 of the Catechism, seems to refer to any extraordinary manifestation of divine power, as when Jesus similarly laid hands on people and cured them of their infirmities. In other words, there, the *Catechism * seems to suggest the babies were given a supernatural gift and not just a comforting hug.