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

[auberginecow]

I was brought into the church by an ultra modern, ultra liberal priest who, when told I was Episcopallian, siad I was “all set”, and did nothing except tell me to read Hans Kung before I was received as he was “really with it”…

My marriage was never looked into, nor was it ever blessed after both of us converted - as a matter of fact, I was never even told I needed to confess before I was received, so I didn’t…I was fortunate enough to find a terrific priest at my next parish who was very shocked at how I was brought into the church, but did finally hear my first confession, nearly 6 months after I joined!

As for witnesses? It was 24 years ago and I can’t remember a single last name - and believe me, I have tried and tried and cried and cried…Finally after literally YEARS of trying to fill out the forms I was handed and never being able to get them even half done, I gave up…I was, and am, just plain tired.

So now, I wait, and I pray…

 

[kell0618]

I am guessing you are in Sacramento, CA. If this is the case, the Tribunal information is found here. Choose ‘Departments’, then ‘Parochial’, then click on ‘Tribunal’. They don’t offer a direct link to the page. If I were in your position, I would make an appointment to speak with your priest and get the paperwork going. I also suggest you look at this article which details much of the process: 10 Questions About Annulment . The Church is not out to squeeze money out of you in order to complete the process. They need to cover the operational expenses of running the office, ie: postage, secretarial wages, paper, copying, phone calls, etc. not to mention what it costs to supply utilities, etc. for the office.

God bless you! You are heading in the right direction and we all long to say:

[SIGN]WELCOME HOME![/SIGN]

 

[RThunder]

There has been a lot of good advice here.

I am going to pick up the ball and run with it. Thank you.

 

[puzzleannie]

CanI am forbidden from receiving Communion. Long ago my wife of 8 years had an affair and left me. We divorced. I subsequently remarried. Within the last few years I have had a resurgence of spirituality. This led to my attending non-catholic churches, but there is a deep longing in my heart to “return home.” To a divorced and remarried Catholic, that means, coming into the house, but sleeping in the basement. For we can attend Mass, but not receive Communion.
!

you also have the option of making an appointment with your pastor tomorrow, tell him about your situation, follow his advice, seek an annulment if necessary, and get going. You can also go to confession and take his pastoral counsel on how to return to the sacraments.

 

[dylanschrader]

Definitely talk to a priest about this.

Also, you would be able to receive Communion if you went to confession and then abstain from sexual relations until your marriage situation can be worked out.

That is the way to go since the reason that someone who is divorced and “re-married” may not receive Communion is that that person is objectively in a state of grave sin. The best thing to do is to do whatever it takes to be reconciled with the Church and receive the sacraments again.

I pray things work out well!

 

[davy39]

There has been a lot of good advice here.

I am going to pick up the ball and run with it. Thank you.

Don’t give up your quest to be received back into the Church. I had an annulment many years ago, which took about a year and a half, but it was well worth it. They did send questionaires to my ex, but it was up to her whether she replied or not. I don’t think she did. My wife, even she wasn’t Catholic when we married, got an annulment also. She then went through rcia, and joined the Church. We never regretted the move. I only regretted that we didn’t do it sooner. God bless.

 

[puzzleannie]

Thank you for your post. Do the witnesses have to attend? What if the witnesses are not Catholic or even religious.

I am happy for you!
Thanks again for your encouragement.

there is nothing to attend. when you complete the initial interview form, which the priest should guide you through, give as complete contact info as you can find on any witness who knew you or your ex at the time you married–not just those who stood up with you. The tribunal lawyers do the investigation and interview of witnesses, you don’t have to contact anybody personally, and it can be done long distance if necessary. Your ex can give a statement or not, her choice, but she does have a right to defend the bond. If she is already remarried it is unlikely she would object and would probably welcome the process herself.

 

[operaboz]

I had a rather funny experience at mass reciently.
I had not gone to confession so i was not worthy of recieving communion so i whent up to the priest with my hands crossed over my chest (the position for getting a blessing) and the priest whent to give me communion and i had to tell him that I needed a blessing so he put the host back into the ciborioum and gave me a quick sign of the cross and a pat on the shoulder.
I just wanted to know did i do the right thing or did the priest just not know the proper protocall for a blessing instead of communion.

 

[Marauder]

The blessing instead of communion is not an official part of Mass. Some priests have added this on their own ambition. Both as a way to speed up the line and/or to make people that can’t receive feel better. There has been debate on whether it is appropriate or not. But without going into it, before doing it you should make sure it is appropriate in your parish. If in another parish, don’t be surpised if the priest/EMHC doesn’t know what to do. Also if there are EMHCs and you want a blessing you need to be in the priest or deacons line since an EMHC is not supposed to be giving priestly blessings.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Also if there are EMHCs and you want a blessing you need to be in the priest or deacons line since an EMHC is not supposed to be giving priestly blessings.

This is becoming debatable. It appears that there is nothing is church law that prohibits an EMHC from giving a blessing. If anyone has supporting documentation to the contrary, I would be most interested in seeing it.

That said, a blessing given by a priest or deacon is a CHURCH blessing. A blessing given by an EMHC is NOT.

 

[Marauder]

This is becoming debatable. It appears that there is nothing is church law that prohibits an EMHC from giving a blessing. If anyone has supporting documentation to the contrary, I would be most interested in seeing it.

That said, a blessing given by a priest or deacon is a CHURCH blessing. A blessing given by an EMHC is NOT.

As I mentioned in my post there is debate on this. The fact is that an EMHC is not supposed to say ANYTHING other then the “Body of Christ” or the “Blood of Christ”. Adding anything to the Mass is not allowed. An EMHC is not supposed to do something that can be confused with a priest’s blessing. A EMHC saying anything more then “God Bless You” can easily be seen as confusing the person with a church blessing. Especially if the EMHC adds hand movements.

Whether a priest or deacon can add this can be up for debate. Since even they are not supposed to be adding to the Mass, but that debate can be left to the USCCB and the Vatican, not to lay people.

 

[Sir_Knight]

An EMHC is not supposed to do something that can be confused with a priest’s blessing. A EMHC saying anything more then “God Bless You” can easily be seen as confusing the person with a church blessing. Especially if the EMHC adds hand movements.

I said the exact same thing to my Pastor who instructed us to bless people with the host (a mini-benediction) if they were not receiving. When I said that this was not allowed, he challenged me to show him EXACTLY where church law forbids this action. Until that is presented to him, he expects all EMHCs to follow the instuctions that he gives as pastor of the church.

So … if anyone has a church source for this – not EWTN or another website but an actual CHURCH document.

 

[Bulldog]

I said the exact same thing to my Pastor who instructed us to bless people with the host (a mini-benediction) if they were not receiving. When I said that this was not allowed, he challenged me to show him EXACTLY where church law forbids this action. Until that is presented to him, he expects all EMHCs to follow the instuctions that he gives as pastor of the church.

So … if anyone has a church source for this – not EWTN or another website but an actual CHURCH document.

here is your answer: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=134466&highlight=benediction

 

[Sir_Knight]

Okay … what’s “HCWE 91” and where can I get a copy of it?

 

[James0235]

Okay … what’s “HCWE 91” and where can I get a copy of it?

Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass, also known as Eucharistiae Sacramentum, put out by what was known at the time as the Congregation for Divine Worship.

James

 

[Sir_Knight]

It appears that this document deals with the Eucharist OUTSIDE of Mass. Don’t think that it will fly with my pastor.

 

[MusicMan]

This blessing was originally intended for Catholic children not yet old enough to receive Communion and for non-Catholic children of any age who were at Mass for whatever reason. It was never intended to be given to adults who were not properly disposed to receive the Eucharist. Once you are old enough to receive, you should either be properly disposed to receive and do so, or remain in your pew praying.

When my priest deputized me as an EMHC, I questioned the practice of blessing children who presented themselves to me with their arms crossed. He told me to make the sign of the cross on their forehead. I responded by telling him that lay people aren’t allowed to bless people at Mass. His response: “You’re not.”

Why this practice came about escapes me, but it was never intended to be a kind of “Consolation Prize” for those not properly disposed to receive.

 

[THurifer2]

Is it a BLESSING line or a COMMUNION line?

Would you see such a thing kneeling at the rail for a TLM???

Thought SO!

 

[John_Lilburne]

A new contribution on this issue is from Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis. Encouraging those who cannot receive communion to join the communion procession is not helpful. It is likely to cause confusion. Someone who correctly thinks they should not receive Communion may decide they should, since another person who should not is in the Communion Procession.

Pope Benedict wrote:
“50. … In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practising Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered. (footnote 153: Cf. Propositio 35.)”
The full document is at vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html .

Here are some quotes from the liturgical book “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults” which I think highlight how wrong it is for the blessing to be given during the Communion Procession. Ideally catechumens should not be at the Liturgy of the Eucharist, never mind in the Communion Procession:

In describing the Rite of Acceptance:
“44. … The rite consists in the reception of the candidates, the celebration of the word of God, and the dismissal of the candidates; celebration of the eucharist may follow.” Although it has for this ceremony: “67. If the eucharist is to be celebrated, the catechumens are normally dismissed at this point by use of option A or B; if the catechumens are to stay for the celebration of the eucharist, option C is used; if the eucharist is not to be celebrated, the entire assembly is dismissed by the use of option D.”

“75. … 3. The Church, like a mother, helps the catechumens on their journey by means of suitable liturgical rites, which purify the catechumens little by little and strengthen them with God’s blessing. Celebrations of the word of God are arranged for their benefit, and at Mass they may also take part with the faithful in the liturgy of the word, thus better preparing themselves for their eventual participation in the liturgy of the eucharist. Ordinarily, however, when they are present in the assembly of the faithful they should be kindly dismissed before the liturgy of the eucharist begins (unless their dismissal would present practical or pastoral problems). For they must await their baptism, which will join them to God’s priestly people and empower them to participate in Christ’s new worship.”

“83. … 2. Gradually the catechumens should be admitted to the first part of the celebration of the Sunday Mass. After the liturgy of the word they should, if possible, be dismissed, but an intention for them is included in the general intercessions.”
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0. Also at RCIA introductions for England and Wales: catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/Rites/RiteRitual.html#RCIA .)

 

[Contarini]

The blessing instead of communion is not an official part of Mass. Some priests have added this on their own ambition. Both as a way to speed up the line and/or to make people that can’t receive feel better. There has been debate on whether it is appropriate or not. But without going into it, before doing it you should make sure it is appropriate in your parish. If in another parish, don’t be surpised if the priest/EMHC doesn’t know what to do. Also if there are EMHCs and you want a blessing you need to be in the priest or deacons line since an EMHC is not supposed to be giving priestly blessings.

How does it speed up the line? Surely it does the opposite!

As a non-Catholic who goes to Mass quite often, I get the blessing whenever I can get it from the priest, mostly because I’m never sure if the EMHC is going to know what to do.

Edwin