Not some people. They line up to recieve a blessing.
There are many things that are not directly spelled out for the Church, thank God.
In my church there is no separate line. Those who wish to recieve a blessing cross their arms across their chest.
This can also be done in line, before, and after recieving a blessing.
Why is it unfortunate?
How is that?
The problem is that the Church has addressed it. The Church has said over and over again very clearly that no one may add anything to the Liturgy on his own authority. That is precisely how the Church has covered every single issue; by saying that if the Church doesn’t make it part of the Liturgy, neither may anyone else.
Actually, Ed, there is a provision that allows for a Children’s Liturgy of the Word apart from the regular congregation. It is permitted, but, with very specific parameters. The Directory for Masses with Children allows this:
Thus the Church has that area covered. Now, according to Redemptionis Sacramentum:
The sections that I highlighted from this document certainly cover liturgical innovations such as the blessing in lieu of receiving Holy Communion. As one can see from this and other threads, such action causes confusion among the faithful and results in more harm than good because of poor catechesis and a loss of the Sensus Fidei (Sense of the Faith).
Somebody should have alerted him of his error.
You might not be aware of this, but as the Vicar of Christ, he had that authority.
so it’s not okay for my local priest to follow JPII’s example?
This is getting silly. No, it’s not OK for a priest to take it upon himself to make changes to the Mass.
Didn’t know that! Cool.
What’s the confusion? I don’t really see how this practice fits in with the cautions and dangers in the bit that you quoted.
Only the Holy Father has that prerogative since he is the Holy See. But, just because one sees something different at a Papal Mass that doesn’t give the rest of us license to do the same.
There really is no substantive change.
You know the two are completely unrelated. That’s a bad comparison, just like the comparison with abortion.
why not?
Once again “I don’t realy see how…” is not the relevant question. Whether you see it or not, whether I see it or not, makes no difference. Only what the Church says should be done in the Mass should be done in the Mass.
And in that regard, if JPII can give blessings during the reception of the eucharist, then so can my priest.
Actually, it does. People feel this “need” to stand in line to receive “something” because they can’t receive “Someone” in Holy Communion. We live in a culture that says that we have to get something out of anything we do, including the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Standing up to receive a blessing that is going to be imparted anyway to everyone at the end of Mass doesn’t make sense.
That’s not your decision to make. Why do you not see this? It is not about what you want, what you feel is right, what you feel should be done, what you feel is a “substantive change”, or anything else about how you personally feel. It’s about what the Church says in regard to the Mass.
No. Once again, the Holy Father has a unique prerogative that is granted to him and him alone. This doesn’t apply accross the board to a bishop nor a priest. Furthermore, it is not found in any of the official liturgical books of the Church. If you notice, Pope Benedict has begun doing away with a lot of things that happened occured during Pope John Paul’s reign. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pope John Paul II. However, Pope Benedict has taken measures that have restored a lot of solemnity to the Mass, from replacing the Papal MC to restoring truly sacred music.
Because the magesterium says so. It’s that simple. I believe that once in a while a priest gets tongue tied and says something equivalent by accident. I extend that charity to him. I’m just not foolish enough to believe that they all are doing it by accident. Sometimes they get cowboy with it. It’s not proper.
