My protestant friend understands what’s going on better than most catholics. He doesn’t do it to be part of the crowd.It just gives people the unfortunate and mistaken notion that if they don’t stand in line to receive “anything” they haven’t participated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
He does it because it is nice to be blessed personally. He want’s the eucharist more than anything, but I imagine that it’s good to have christ’s representative touch his forehead and impart that personal blessing. I can’t imagine why this would cause so much concern for you and others.Standing up to receive a blessing that is going to be imparted anyway to everyone at the end of Mass doesn’t make sense.
please explain why JPII felt it was okay, but yet my priest cannot do it.It’s about what the Church says in regard to the Mass.
I was hoping we could forget that awful comparison.The more you drag this on, the more you prove my point about the comparison with abortion–it’s all about “what I want” and the Church will not tell me otherwise.
I do not mean any disrespect whatsoever, but i have a question. Are we automatons incapable of independant thought? The general feeling I am getting from this board is “We do things because Rome says so, and we can only do things if Rome says we are allowed to.” I get the feeling that we are going through the motions without giving any thought to why they are being done.Ed,
Where is it in the Sacramentary? If it were indeed a “perfect time to receive a blessing” the Church would say so, and there would be a blessing at that time in the Sacramentary.
Where?Because the magesterium says so.
No, there is plenty of thought to why things are done or not done. We are not incapable of independent thought, but we are certainly incapable of independent liturgical innovations.I do not mean any disrespect whatsoever, but i have a question. Are we automatons incapable of independant thought? The general feeling I am getting from this board is “We do things because Rome says so, and we can only do things if Rome says we are allowed to.” I get the feeling that we are going through the motions without giving any thought to why they are being done.
Ed, there is a time and a place for everything. However, the time for blessing is not during the reception of Holy Communion. It is not proper. The norms and rubrics call for Holy Communion to be distributed at this time, not for the imparting of blessings. The blessing comes at the end of Mass and it applies to everyone.My protestant friend understands what’s going on better than most catholics. He doesn’t do it to be part of the crowd.
He does it because it is nice to be blessed personally. He want’s the eucharist more than anything, but I imagine that it’s good to have christ’s representative touch his forehead and impart that personal blessing. I can’t imagine why this would cause so much concern for you and others.
Please re-read the post where I included the quote from Redemptionis Sacramentum. Furthermore, that same document states that:Where?
30.] The office “that belongs to Priests in particular in the celebration of the Eucharist” is a great one, "for it is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi and to provide a witness to and a service of communion not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the universal Church, which is always brought into play within the context of the Eucharist. It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation, there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many".70
Redemptionis Sacramentum is a Magisterial document. Furthermore, it carries the signatures of not only Francis Cardinal Arinze, but the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) and the late Pope John Paul II. You can’t get any more official than that.[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.71 They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.72 For as Saint Ambrose said, “It is not in herself … but in us that the Church is injured. Let us take care so that our own failure may not cause injury to the Church”.73 Let the Church of God not be injured, then, by Priests who have so solemnly dedicated themselves to the ministry. Indeed, under the Bishop’s authority let them faithfully seek to prevent others as well from committing this type of distortion.
He does both. It is possible to do both. Like I said, he’s very aware of what is going on.Perhaps if your friend were encouraged to and taught about making a spiritual communion that may have a more profound effect than standing in line for something that will come a few minutes later.
Actually, it’s the reason why so many Protestants are joining the Church. Because they see stability; they see a Church that does not give-in to arbitrary innovations.This thread goes a long way to explaining why many Protestants dread the Catholic church. I understand the need for rules, but some of this is excessive, really.
I’ve already commented on the bit you quoted.Please re-read the post where I included the quote from Redemptionis Sacramentum. Furthermore, that same document states that:
Right, and Pope John Paul II gave blessings to people during the reception of communion. It seems we’re going in circles…Redemptionis Sacramentum is a Magisterial document. Furthermore, it carries the signatures of not only Francis Cardinal Arinze, but the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) and the late Pope John Paul II. You can’t get any more official than that.
I would respectfully disagree with you on this point. Jesus gave St. Peter and his Successors the authority to bind and loose. This includes regulating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As the documents state, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest treasure of the Church and is too precious to treat as one’s own personal property to do with as he pleases.This thread goes a long way to explaining why many Protestants dread the Catholic church. I understand the need for rules, but some of this is excessive, really.
No. Many of us have already told you that Pope John Paul II exercised his personal Petrine prerogative, which belonged only to him as Peter’s successors. It does not transfer to any bishop or priest. In other words, they don’t have the right to add anything to the Mass on their own authority. Pope John Paul II was the sovereign authority.I’ve already commented on the bit you quoted.
Right, and Pope John Paul II gave blessings to people during the reception of communion. It seems we’re going in circles…
No doubt, that’s what draws my friend to Catholicism. Then, when he reads a thread like this, he undoubtedly will think of the pharisees and their endless lawmaking.Actually, it’s the reason why so many Protestants are joining the Church. Because they see stability; they see a Church that does not give-in to arbitrary innovations.
They leave the place of “I do what makes me feel good” and come to the place of “we do as Christ commanded us to do.”
But, if he were truly aware, he would certainly know that he wouldn’t have to stand in line for a blessing that is going to come later on and be applicable to the entire assembly.He does both. It is possible to do both. Like I said, he’s very aware of what is going on.
It’s not the same. To have the priest touch you and bless you personally is quite different.But, if he were truly aware, he would certainly know that he wouldn’t have to stand in line for a blessing that is going to come later on and be applicable to the entire assembly.
Perhaps he’ll think of leaving Martin Luther and his mentality of “I know better than God and the Church” behind.No doubt, that’s what draws my friend to Catholicism. Then, when he reads a thread like this, he undoubtedly will think of the pharisees and their endless lawmaking.
Then, you do it after Mass. In fact, people have come to my pastor and parochial vicar after Mass to ask for individual blessings for a variety of things (going to the hospital for surgery, studying for a major exam, leaving on an out-of-town trip). That is the proper time, not during the reception of Holy Communion.It’s not the same. To have the priest touch you and bless you personally is quite different.
I guess I should tell my priest and whole parish the same thing.Perhaps he’ll think of leaving Martin Luther and his mentality of “I know better than God and the Church” behind.
As a communion-recieving Catholic, there is absolutely no change in the mass for you.We are trying to explain to you the law of the Church that nothing can be added to the Mass on one’s own authority.
Yeah, I get it. I should turn back now before I decide to start aborting babies.We know you don’t like that. We know that you feel you know better than the Church. That much is well established by now. You might feel you have that authority, you might feel that your own personal “I like it” or “I don’t see a problem with it” is more relevant than the Church’s constant teaching. Apparently, we are unable to convince you otherwise.