Is it proper to go up for a blessing when not receiving Communion?

[benedictgal]

I guess I should tell my priest and whole parish the same thing.

As a communion-recieving Catholic, there is absolutely no change in the mass for you.

Yeah, I get it. I should turn back now before I decide to start aborting babies.

You don’t need to take that tone.

Ed, I respectfully disagree with your assertion that there is no change for those of us who receive Holy Communion.

There is a change in the Mass when a priest or a bishop starts adding rituals and rubrics to the Holy Sacrifice on his own authority. That is called adding a personal idiosyncracy in the Mass thinking that it will improve the Holy Sacrifice. It is wrong to do that, especially since one doesn’t have the authority to do that. The regulation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass belongs to the Holy See, not to anyone else.

It affects me and others who hold the same viewpoint because it violates our right to have the Mass celebrated in the manner prescribed by the Church. Redemptionis Sacramentum states that:

12.] On the contrary, it is the right of all of Christ’s faithful that the Liturgy, and in particular the celebration of Holy Mass, should truly be as the Church wishes, according to her stipulations as prescribed in the liturgical books and in the other laws and norms. Likewise, the Catholic people have the right that the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass should be celebrated for them in an integral manner, according to the entire doctrine of the Church’s Magisterium. Finally, it is the Catholic community’s right that the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist should be carried out for it in such a manner that it truly stands out as a sacrament of unity, to the exclusion of all blemishes and actions that might engender divisions and factions in the Church.32

[13.] All of the norms and exhortations set forth in this Instruction are connected, albeit in various ways, with the mission of the Church, whose task it is to be vigilant concerning the correct and worthy celebration of so great a mystery.

This right also extends to your friend who is seeking entrance into the Church. He has the right to be properly catechized so as to have an authentic Sensus Fidei (sense of the Faith) that is not clouded by misguided gestures that have no real meaning.

The blessing in lieu of Holy Communion is not found anywhere in the liturgical documents of the Holy See. Therefore, it has no basis for existing.

 

[seekdatruth]

Let me start by saying that I mean no disrespect to the Church or anyone here…[all bracing for assault]
Nor am I intending to attack! I am simply a disenfranchised Catholic, who is trying to find the door in my heart to return what I feel I have missed for many years without awareness of it. I do not assume to have authority in any matters of trying to influence or change the liturgy! I am just trying to understand and feel that I am coming back for the right reasons. All that being said:
Benedictgal wrote “Spending time in quiet prayer in the pew while everyone else is receiving Holy Communion will led to a greater and more profound understanding and yearning to receive Holy Communion.”
I agree that it will make someone want it more, but is it for the right reason? Meaning, if a child is beaten for misbehaving, will the child be truly sorry for his transgressions, or simply avoid them out of fear of being beaten again? Thus the child is essentially just going through the motions of good behavior without really accepting his actions were wrong. Isn’t this what rites of initiation into the Church are all about? Partaking with full worthiness and understanding? How many who get in line are truly “worthy”? How many are just along for the ride?
As a child, I was forced to go to mass every Sunday. I went through catechism class and listened intently, yet my Confirmation felt empty. I didn’t actually feel ready to actually confirm my faith. We spent the last few years reading up on changes in puberty and the history of the Church. I never remember learning scripture. It was mostly doctrine and how to “go through the motions” basically. Most of the other kids I knew admitted they didn’t go to Confession, but we were all up there in line, or what a bunch of gossip would have spread about just what horrible sin one committed! I went through with my Confirmation due to the fear that I would have to repeat catechism with the little kids, (not to mention I would be beaten to within an inch of my life if I refused to go to church!) All my personal victimization aside, (all of it now forgiven in my heart) I still feel a pull back to the Church. Bottom line: Going to Confession, partaking in the Eucharist, all of it was all out of fear and embarrassment, not true faith or love of the Father or Christ. I found that later, but now I want to partake in the sacraments with the true love that I have for Christ in my adult life, yet there seems no place for me. My marriage situation, my huge lapse of over 20 years, all obstacles that prevent me from experiencing the fullness of what it is to be Catholic, unless I lie. That accomplishes nothing.

 

[MusicMan]

When people would come before the Pope John Paul II and receive a blessing, they were receiving a Papal Blessing, something only the Supreme Pontiff was empowered to impart. As the head of the Universal Church on Earth, the Pope has the power to impart his Papal Blessing at his discretion.

A parish priest, or worse, a lay person serving as emHC, has neither the power nor the discretion to impart a Papal Blessing upon anyone.

That is what makes it right for Pope John Paul II to do, and not right for your parish priest or pastor to do.

 

[benedictgal]

Let me start by saying that I mean no disrespect to the Church or anyone here…[all bracing for assault]
Nor am I intending to attack! I am simply a disenfranchised Catholic, who is trying to find the door in my heart to return what I feel I have missed for many years without awareness of it. I do not assume to have authority in any matters of trying to influence or change the liturgy! I am just trying to understand and feel that I am coming back for the right reasons. All that being said:
Benedictgal wrote “Spending time in quiet prayer in the pew while everyone else is receiving Holy Communion will led to a greater and more profound understanding and yearning to receive Holy Communion.”
I agree that it will make someone want it more, but is it for the right reason? Meaning, if a child is beaten for misbehaving, will the child be truly sorry for his transgressions, or simply avoid them out of fear of being beaten again? Thus the child is essentially just going through the motions of good behavior without really accepting his actions were wrong. Isn’t this what rites of initiation into the Church are all about? Partaking with full worthiness and understanding? How many who get in line are truly “worthy”? How many are just along for the ride?
As a child, I was forced to go to mass every Sunday. I went through catechism class and listened intently, yet my Confirmation felt empty. I didn’t actually feel ready to actually confirm my faith. We spent the last few years reading up on changes in puberty and the history of the Church. I never remember learning scripture. It was mostly doctrine and how to “go through the motions” basically. Most of the other kids I knew admitted they didn’t go to Confession, but we were all up there in line, or what a bunch of gossip would have spread about just what horrible sin one committed! I went through with my Confirmation due to the fear that I would have to repeat catechism with the little kids, (not to mention I would be beaten to within an inch of my life if I refused to go to church!) All my personal victimization aside, (all of it now forgiven in my heart) I still feel a pull back to the Church. Bottom line: Going to Confession, partaking in the Eucharist, all of it was all out of fear and embarrassment, not true faith or love of the Father or Christ. I found that later, but now I want to partake in the sacraments with the true love that I have for Christ in my adult life, yet there seems no place for me. My marriage situation, my huge lapse of over 20 years, all obstacles that prevent me from experiencing the fullness of what it is to be Catholic, unless I lie. That accomplishes nothing.

But, your situation can be remedied. If you read my earlier post, you will find that I was speaking on the personal experience of watching my grandmother not receive Holy Communion for most of my childhood up until I was 14. Hers was a bigger stigma, especially in the 1940s-60s because it was obvious that she could not receive Holy Communion due to her being in an invalid marriage. Not once did I ever hear her complain or engage in self-pity because she could not receive the Sacraments. Mind you, we were very close.

I am not saying that you are engaging in wallowing; however, have you sat down to talk with a priest about your situation? Perhaps there can be a remedy. Maybe God is using this time for you as a moment of grace just as he did during that 40+ year-period for my grandma. You say that it accomplishes nothing, but, you need to give it a chance. Talk to a priest.

Now, regarding the issue of the blessing, the best of intentions simply can’t justify the fact that there is no indication in the rubrics or in the liturgical documents of the Church that this practice is to be done. However well-meaning this act is, it has no place within the context of receiving Holy Communion. You just can’t substitute a blessing in exchange for receiving Our Lord.

 

[Joe_5859]

Let me start by saying that I mean no disrespect to the Church or anyone here…[all bracing for assault]
Nor am I intending to attack! I am simply a disenfranchised Catholic, who is trying to find the door in my heart to return what I feel I have missed for many years without awareness of it. I do not assume to have authority in any matters of trying to influence or change the liturgy! I am just trying to understand and feel that I am coming back for the right reasons. All that being said:
Benedictgal wrote “Spending time in quiet prayer in the pew while everyone else is receiving Holy Communion will led to a greater and more profound understanding and yearning to receive Holy Communion.”
I agree that it will make someone want it more, but is it for the right reason? Meaning, if a child is beaten for misbehaving, will the child be truly sorry for his transgressions, or simply avoid them out of fear of being beaten again? Thus the child is essentially just going through the motions of good behavior without really accepting his actions were wrong. Isn’t this what rites of initiation into the Church are all about? Partaking with full worthiness and understanding? How many who get in line are truly “worthy”? How many are just along for the ride?
As a child, I was forced to go to mass every Sunday. I went through catechism class and listened intently, yet my Confirmation felt empty. I didn’t actually feel ready to actually confirm my faith. We spent the last few years reading up on changes in puberty and the history of the Church. I never remember learning scripture. It was mostly doctrine and how to “go through the motions” basically. Most of the other kids I knew admitted they didn’t go to Confession, but we were all up there in line, or what a bunch of gossip would have spread about just what horrible sin one committed! I went through with my Confirmation due to the fear that I would have to repeat catechism with the little kids, (not to mention I would be beaten to within an inch of my life if I refused to go to church!) All my personal victimization aside, (all of it now forgiven in my heart) I still feel a pull back to the Church. Bottom line: Going to Confession, partaking in the Eucharist, all of it was all out of fear and embarrassment, not true faith or love of the Father or Christ. I found that later, but now I want to partake in the sacraments with the true love that I have for Christ in my adult life, yet there seems no place for me. My marriage situation, my huge lapse of over 20 years, all obstacles that prevent me from experiencing the fullness of what it is to be Catholic, unless I lie. That accomplishes nothing.

Welcome to CAF!

I hope you are able to overcome these obstacles. It is possible. You definitely should talk to your priest about it (if you haven’t already done so). That’s what they’re there for!

If the marriage situation you speak of has to do with you or your spouse being previously married, you would need to get a declaration of nullity (an annulment) so that you could be validly married in the Church.

But even before that happens (the process can take several months or longer depending upon the circumstances), if you agree now to live with your spouse as “brother and sister” (i.e. no marital relations), then all you would have to do is go to Confession and you could start receiving the Eucharist today.

 

[seekdatruth]

Benedict Gal, I am far from “wallowing”. Did I not say I have forgiven those that hurt me in the past? I mean that in earnest. I think my point was entirely missed. Let me try again: I fear the Church has less to do with the salvation of souls than it does with its own doctrine being carried out correctly I don’t want to believe this, but when I read your posts, it reminded me of that doubt I felt during my Confirmation and the reason I am waffling so much about returning.
Thank you Average Joe for your nonjudgmental words!
As for my marriage, there are factors and things that I don’t want to get into here and now. I’ve discussed it with a priest, etc. My situation is at the moment unavoidable. Not to say I can’t remedy it in the future. Just know I do not wallow in self pity over it, I suck it up because I did it to myself. I go to mass and do not partake of the Eucharist out of respect for the rules. I don’t cry about it. It all just calls to mind why I left in the first place.

 

[benedictgal]

Benedict Gal, I am far from “wallowing”. Did I not say I have forgiven those that hurt me in the past? I mean that in earnest. I think my point was entirely missed. Let me try again: I fear the Church has less to do with the salvation of souls than it does with its own doctrine being carried out correctly I don’t want to believe this, but when I read your posts, it reminded me of that doubt I felt during my Confirmation and the reason I am waffling so much about returning.
Thank you to the others that had nonjudgmental words!
As for my marriage, there are factors and things that I don’t want to get into here and now. I’ve discussed it with a priest, etc. My situation is at the moment unavoidable. Not to say I can’t remedy it in the future. Just know I do not wallow in self pity over it, I suck it up because I did it to myself. I go to mass and do not partake of the Eucharist out of respect for the rules. I don’t cry about it. It all just calls to mind why I left in the first place.

Actually, if you re-read my post, you will find that that I said this:

I am not saying that you are engaging in wallowing

I apologize if you took offense at this because I certainly didn’t mean it to sound that way.

No one ever said that being a Catholic was easy. Jesus, Himself noted that the narrow road is the hardest one to follow. Please understand that He gave his authority to bind and loose to St. Peter and his Successors. Binding and loosening doesn’t come without some cost to ourselves because of the obedience we owe to the Church. It means having to let go of our pride and not insisting on it being my way or the highway. It means being docile. It means not grasping because we believe we are entitled to something (like Adam and Eve did in the garden), but, being willing to receive (like Mary did at the Annunciation) and trusting in the plentitude of God’s mercy.

The Church is not sola sciptura. The doctrine also comes from our Sacred Tradition. Both of these pillars are part and parcel of the Catholic Faith. Because the Church is the guardian of the greatest treasure that her Divine Spouse bequeathed to her, the Most Holy Eucharist, she has safeguards to protect the integrity of the Blessed Sacrament. Even St. Paul said as much in his First Letter to the Corinthians, where he admonished the faithful from profaning the Body and Blood of Christ through unworthy reception.

It is unfortunate that you had a bad experience in your childhood. No one is judging you on that nor on the other matters that you raised. But, it would help to maybe try and understand why the Church does what she does.

 

[seekdatruth]

OK, I see now that I have picked the wrong thread to discuss my personal dilemma, since I only appear to be defending the blessing issue, which I do not. No offense taken and none intended.
Blessings to all!

 

[benedictgal]

OK, I see now that I have picked the wrong thread to discuss my personal dilemma, since I only appear to be defending the blessing issue, which I do not. No offense taken and none intended.
Blessings to all!

Don’t worry :hug1:. Peace to you, as well and welcome to the forums.

 

[vocatio]

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.

Ed Rand,
I’m not sure how old you are, but I grew up in during and after VCII. I heard so many stories of real abuses all because a priest or many priests though they could do just what they wanted to do. The would change up words, change all kinds of things. I’ve been told the stories by my father about priests “consecrating” graham crackers and grape juice…koolaid even. It was horrifying. I also know of “liturgical dancing” that is now banned in the US. I’ve seen and heard many illicit things in mass. This blessing thing is sort of a new one. I also have a problem with us during the mass raising our right hand and extending a blessing toward the priest. I understand it, but not during the mass. I also have an issue with laity standing behind the podium before, during or after the homily. If you learn about the history of the mass/divine liturgy you would know that this was never allowed. Many people went haywire trying to reach out and touch someone like a bunch of free love hippies.

Redemptionis Sacramentum is the document you should look up and read. Go to the Vatican website and just start reading. If you listen to Catholic Answers Live Radio you can call in or listen to archived shows online. Fr. Vincent Serpa has addressed this several times online and on the air. Not only has he addressed this but many other priests. Why do many priests ignore this…I just don’t know. If the bishop tells them to do it I guess obedience is in order. But I noticed at the Hispanic Mass that no one went forward for a blessing. Maybe I missed something…but it was refreshing. In the old days many people abstained from the Eucharist if they hadn’t gone to confession that week or didn’t fast that morning. It was understood and noone judged anyone. Many people talk about the Eucharist as a right instead of a rite. We are previledged to receive our dear Lord and Savior. We should treat this time as such. In the Eastern Church the Eucharist is received only a few times a year at best because of the fast, confession, etc. The scriptures never talk lightly of receiving the Eucharist.

We are supposed to follow the rubrics which means we don’t add or take away. But priests do have some leighway in certain things. But not to change words of the mass. They have several litergical options and norms. However, some things are just not supposed to happen. BWT: a new form of the mass is about to replace to current Ordinary mass. It’s online somewhere. I haven’t looked it up yet. But it’s there. I’ve heard discussion of a change to receiving only on the tongue…rumor though. But so was the TLM. Who knows. The pope.

As far as authority, that is understood by many Catholics. Obedience is in order. They are the onces responsible for us as they are appointed by Christ through apostolic liniage. One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church… That’s one reason we profess this. Sacred Tradition was passed down along with Sacred Scripture…and they are under the authroity of the Majesterium to teach us. We are supposed to obey, not do our own thing. Read the Catechism and scriptures together. Join an RCIA class. That would be a great place to take your friend and ya’ll learn about the real teachings of the Church. It’s really facinating. I wished I had understood what RCIA was back when I was growing up. But from what I heard it was hardly orthodox.

I was saying a rosary for you today. But strangly I forgot who and why… I just did it anyway. Now I remember.

 

[KaziA]

I don’t know about all the rules and regulations, but I know that priests can bless people. It seems a perfect time to recieve a blessing for those who cannot recieve the Eucharist. My protestant friend who is converting is very pleased to recieve whatever he can. My priest makes it a point to reach out to every child who is too young to recieve communion and give them “The Blessing of Christ”. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

After reading a few posts in here I wonder what’s more important to some folks, the “rule” book or a Priest or Deacon imitating Christ and allowing all to come to Him as He comes down off the cross.

Really, more than a few posters in here need to be rebuked as Christ rebuked those who tried to keep little children away from Him.

And yes, I am serious, it’s pure Phariseeism reborn.

 

[Lepanto]

After reading a few posts in here I wonder what’s more important to some folks, the “rule” book or a Priest or Deacon imitating Christ and allowing all to come to Him as He comes down off the cross.

Really, more than a few posters in here need to be rebuked as Christ rebuked those who tried to keep little children away from Him.

And yes, I am serious, it’s pure Phariseeism reborn.

Since when does following the “rule book” in humility make one a Pharisee? Would you rather have the Mass turned into a chaotic free-for-all? That sounds more like a mosh pit.

 

[Ed_Rand]

We are supposed to obey, not do our own thing. Read the Catechism and scriptures together. Join an RCIA class. That would be a great place to take your friend and ya’ll learn about the real teachings of the Church. It’s really facinating. I wished I had understood what RCIA was back when I was growing up. But from what I heard it was hardly orthodox.

I was saying a rosary for you today. But strangly I forgot who and why… I just did it anyway. Now I remember.

Thanks for the rosary. My friend is in RCIA. I have a chatechism right by my side. I wouldn’t know anything about the “blessing of christ” if I hadn’t seen my priest actively reaching out to children to give it to them.

That’s something that hasn’t been said yet. Some children have no idea what is going on in mass. To have “the big guy up front” reach down and put the sign of the cross on their forhead is a great thing. You guys have completely blown this out of proportion. It makes us look bad.

In reading the passage that benedictgal quoted earlier:

12.] On the contrary, it is the right of all of Christ’s faithful that the Liturgy, and in particular the celebration of Holy Mass, should truly be as the Church wishes, according to her stipulations as prescribed in the liturgical books and in the other laws and norms. Likewise, the Catholic people have the right that the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass should be celebrated for them in an integral manner, according to the entire doctrine of the Church’s Magisterium. Finally, it is the Catholic community’s right that the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist should be carried out for it in such a manner that it truly stands out as a sacrament of unity, to the exclusion of all blemishes and actions that might engender divisions and factions in the Church.32

I noticed that the main gist of it is that the questionable actions cannot harm the other parishioners experience of the eucharist. I’ll ask you all again: How does the priest giving a child a blessing detract from your experience? What is running through your mind at the time? “Oh I just can’t stand to see these people getting blessed unnecessarily!!! Grrr… Bah-humbug!!!”

My friend is pretty dead-set on being catholic. I would hate to have him encounter such attitudes. I don’t think he’ll ever give up his hunger for the Eucharist and the solid catholic teachings, but these attitudes will be pretty hard to stomach, and justifiably so.

 

[Ed_Rand]

After reading a few posts in here I wonder what’s more important to some folks, the “rule” book or a Priest or Deacon imitating Christ and allowing all to come to Him as He comes down off the cross.

Really, more than a few posters in here need to be rebuked as Christ rebuked those who tried to keep little children away from Him.

And yes, I am serious, it’s pure Phariseeism reborn.

Yeah, just know that not all catholics are like that. Our religion attracts pharisaic attitudes, but it’s still better than everybody teaching something different on every corner. I hope you’ll only see the best parts of what we have to offer. Peace be with you.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I don’t think the church has covered every single issue. At one point in our mass, there is an exit of all the young children to an adjacent hall where they are taught the lessons of the mass in more simple language. I don’t think the church has addressed this either, and again, I see no problem with it.

“Children’s church” is a Protestant idea.

 

[grandfather]

There is more than one rite in the Catholic Church as I am sure everyone knows. In the Eastern Rites, or at least all the parishes I have been to, people approach the priest to receive Holy Communion with their arms crossed over their chests.

It is a habit, something I do not think about, but do automatically while my mind is in prayer. When there is an occassion that I have been to Latin Rite Masses I forget that this is how someone signals he does not intend to receive, but instead wants a “special blessing”.

What has happened is some lay person or priest distributing Communion rubs my head instead of giving me Communion.

Now that this head rubbing practice has taken off and become so widespread in so many Latin Rite parishes it has created a problem for Eastern Rite Catholic priests who serve Divine Liturgy. There are many non-Catholics who attend Mass in RC parishes regularly and have been taught improperly that what they are supposed to do is get in line and cross their arms and receive a special blessing. So when a stranger the Eastern Rite priest does not know appears in front of him with arms crossed and eyes closed the priest does not know what to do.

Latin Rite Catholics have created this confusion by disregarding their own established norms not even considering how it might impact the rest of the Catholic Church.

In addition to this the practice actually diminshes the faith in the sacrament, in the Real Presence. Suppose you were walking down the street and you were with your parish priest, or a neighbor lady who happened to be an extraordinary minister who gives Communion at your parish. Suppose you turned the corner and found yourselves standing in front of Jesus. What would you do? “Every knee shall bow…” Would you say Hi Lord and reach out your hand to shake His hand? Would you fall on your knees, maybe?

Would you turn to the neighbor lady or parish priest in the presence of Jesus and ask for a special blessing? Priests can give priestly blessings, but they never should do that when they are standing next to Jesus. They are altar Christus. They would be on their knees next to you.

At Mass Jesus is present. He is there as He is in heaven, body, blood, soul and divinity. The person of Jesus condescends to the altar. We worship Him. Everyone present is being blessed by Him. Does anyone think that having their heads rubbed by the neighbor lady increases this blessing? In the presence of Christ no one would ever turn to another person and ask for their blessing. By doing that we are not adoring the Lord who is present before us. Faith is diminished.

I have been to Latin Rite parishes where as many as a dozen lay people walk up to the altar and take chalices and head to every corner of the church. They go to the sides and back and middle and distribute Holy Communion and lines form every which way. This is not conducive to worship. It is a circus, a free for all.

Nothing remotely like this happens in Eastern Catholic parishes. Only the priest or deacon distributes Communion and he does it from the altar. He does not leave the altar unless it is to go to a person who is in a wheel chair or unable to stand and walk. So it is very different.

A Catholic exchange student came here from Ukraine to study for a year. His host non-Catholic family graciously took him to the local RC parish. He refused to believe this was a Catholic Church. He said Catholics could not possibly behave so irreverently in a Catholic Church. He would not go back there again. It was too upsetting.

Something like this should never happen, that a Catholic could go into a Catholic Mass and not be able to recognize it as resembling anything he knows as Catholic. That is what happens when people take liberties and create litrugical abuses.

 

[LSK]

I don’t understand why the priest does not make it known what the custom is at the parish before the Mass begins. I mean, how difficult would that be to do?

Our pastor makes sure an announcement is made: if you are not a Catholic in complete communion with The Church, or you are not a Christian, you may approach the PRIEST OR THE DEACON for a blessing…not a ‘head rubbing’ (I have no idea what that is) but a BLESSING…going to a Eucharistic Minister who is NOT a Deacon or a Priest would not get you a priestly blessing.

Jeesh…as my dear late dad would say, some people need to use their heads for something other than holding their ears apart.

He would say that…not me, of course…by golly, let’s keep this controversy going because, after all, it is important…

next…

 

[vocatio]

Pax et bonum!

Thanks for the rosary. My friend is in RCIA. I have a chatechism right by my side. I wouldn’t know anything about the “blessing of christ” if I hadn’t seen my priest actively reaching out to children to give it to them.

That’s great. Sorry if I missed that. Not all RCIA programs are as good as some. I pray that the bishops will get together and prepare a unified approach so that heresy is prevented. Most of the liturgical abuses are not covered in RCIA. This may be for simple reasons. However, I’ve learned to over look the blessing part in the mass as simply it wouldn’t exist if the bishops didn’t approve of it. They may have gotten it from the pope. I read yesterday that Arcbishop George of Chicago stated that as soon as the Holy Father excommunicates the politicians that support abortion he’ll likewise do the same. So that simple statement may be why the parish priests are doing this now. We ought to be patient with each other. However, the rubrics is still supposed to be followed. Don’t lose sleep over this though. We are sheep. Have you ever heard the story about sheep? They are dumb and smelling.

That’s something that hasn’t been said yet. Some children have no idea what is going on in mass. To have “the big guy up front” reach down and put the sign of the cross on their forhead is a great thing. You guys have completely blown this out of proportion. It makes us look bad.

I bless my children every night before going to bed. The older one is funny though, but he still receives it. Any validly baptized Christian whether Catholic, Orhtodox, Methodist, Church of Christ, Baptist, etc., can bless others. Our priest directs us sometimes during the mass for those that are sealed with Confirmation to raise their right hands towards the catechumens/candidates. The priest will ask those confirmed Catholics to raise their right hand toward candidates and catechumens for a blessing. The blessing thing during communion is justified to keep the lines flowing smoothly. I’ve blessed many folks in communion. I just do as Father tells us.

In reading the passage that benedictgal quoted earlier:
No comment on this

I noticed that the main gist of it is that the questionable actions cannot harm the other parishioners experience of the eucharist. I’ll ask you all again: How does the priest giving a child a blessing detract from your experience? What is running through your mind at the time? “Oh I just can’t stand to see these people getting blessed unnecessarily!!! Grrr… Bah-humbug!!!”

I think that those who cringe are not concentrating on anything during anytime. They need to forgive and let some things go. If the EMCHs were throwing hosts, that would be a battle worth fighting. But the blessing thing is just not necessary. Everyone receives a blessing from the priest at the end of mass.

My friend is pretty dead-set on being catholic. I would hate to have him encounter such attitudes. I don’t think he’ll ever give up his hunger for the Eucharist and the solid catholic teachings, but these attitudes will be pretty hard to stomach, and justifiably so.

That’s wonderful. To be catholic…hmmmn… My friend Fr. Joey tells me there are 2 types in the world Saints and Martyrs. Its sort of a symbiotic relationships. They feed on each other. Being Catholic is truly a struggle. That is why scirpture tells us to pick up our cross and carry it. Being a true Christians is not a walk in the park. However one can find true happieness in the form of “JOY”. We must seek peace. Just like during the presidential campaigns I kept telling people to seek peace and trust in God. It’s a perfect example of how abusive Catholcis/Christians and non-Christians alike can be so cruel to each other. They truly believe what they do and we must respect that. But we must also sacrificially tolerate some of that behavior for the sake of Christ. Consider it Purgatory on earth in a sense.

God bless.

 

[FrDavid96]

I bless my children every night before going to bed. The older one is funny though, but he still receives it. Any validly baptized Christian whether Catholic, Orhtodox, Methodist, Church of Christ, Baptist, etc., can bless others. Our priest directs us sometimes during the mass for those that are sealed with Confirmation to raise their right hands towards the catechumens/candidates. The priest will ask those confirmed Catholics to raise their right hand toward candidates and catechumens for a blessing. The blessing thing during communion is justified to keep the lines flowing smoothly. I’ve blessed many folks in communion. I just do as Father tells us.

That act of “blessing” the candidates by the congregation is by definition a liturgical abuse, and a serious one.

It is not true to say that any Christian can “bless someone” only a priest or deacon can bless in the proper sense of the word.

The problem is one of language. In English, we use the same word for a proper blessing that comes from a priest/deacon which we use for prayers offered by the laity (the most obvious example is “Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts…”) We might call that a “blessing” we certainly should say this prayer, but we confuse ourselves if we say that the food is “blessed” in the same way that we would mean “blessed” by a priest or deacon. The same holds true when the object of the prayer is a person rather than a thing.

One who is not a priest or deacon might engage in the gestures and words of a blessing, but does not bless in the proper sense of the word. There is no blessing imparted regardless of what the appearances might be.

Again, the problem is one of vocabulary. We use the word “blessing” to refer to laity offering a prayer for someone else. I’m not saying that it’s wrong, I’m saying that one word describes two different realities, and we must keep in mind that distinction.

 

[benedictgal]

After reading a few posts in here I wonder what’s more important to some folks, the “rule” book or a Priest or Deacon imitating Christ and allowing all to come to Him as He comes down off the cross.

Really, more than a few posters in here need to be rebuked as Christ rebuked those who tried to keep little children away from Him.

And yes, I am serious, it’s pure Phariseeism reborn.

Actually, if you read the Gospel accounts, Jesus pretty much cleaned house when the moneychangers and vendors were abusing the sacred space of the Temple. God also engaged in purification when the priests (the sons of Aaron and Dathan) violated the norms for cultic worship that He handed down to Moses.

I think that what some folks may not understand is that Christ gave St. Peter the authority to establish safeguards for protecting the integrity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This authority is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel Account where Jesus charges Peter to bind and loose and further states that the binding and loosening on earth will be ratified in heaven. Thus, if the Holy Father, through the Apostolic See, sets forth guidelines to protect the integrity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, these aren’t pharisaical in the least. This is part of the authority he is excercising under the Petrine ministry directly conferred by Christ.

We also need to step back and look at this issue. Why do people line up in the first place? They line up to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinty of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The early Church understood this to the point that catechumens weren’t even allowed to attend the Liturgy of the Eucharist until they had been fully initiated. Clearly the early Church didn’t consider these proleterytes disfranchised because they could not receive Our Lord, they simply weren’t permitted to attend that portion of the Holy Sacrifice. Furthermore, if RCIA is handled correctly, the catechumens are dismissed at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. The only time that they are allowed to stay for the whole Mass is during the Holy Thursday (Triduum) liturgy.

There is no historical precedent, from a liturgical standpoint, for the reception of a blessing in lieu of Holy Communion. This is a new, but seriously misguided, innovation that has cropped up very recently. It’s not that the Church is being discriminatory, it’s just that the line is meant for those who (having the proper disposition, of course) are going to receive Our Lord.

The blessing that comes at the end of Mass is for all of the people gathered at Mass. That is the only blessing needed.