Is lay person's blessing the same as a priest's blessing?

[rebeccamedeiros]

Hello,
I have a question about receiving a blessing during Communion. At our parish we usually have 2 lines with the host given to parishoners from the priest and from an extraordinary minister. When we are in the line of the extraordinary minister, they routinely give our children a blessing even though they are not a priest. We then usually turn to our priest so he can give them his priestly blessing. My question is: Is the blessing of the extraordinary minister valid in some way or should we always head for the priest’s line for his priestly blessing?
Thank you,
Rebecca

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Anyone can give a blessing. Parents may give a parent’s blessing to their children, etc.
When a lay person gives a blessing, he or she is a lay person asking God to bless someone.
Since the priest ministers in the Person of Christ (Persona Christi) the blessing he gives is Christ’s blessing.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O,.P.