Lay people extend their hands for blessing

[Sirach2]

Here is the whole. do you do all those things?

Laying on of hands? Yes, quite a few times, some with good results, other results known only to God.

Casting out devils, drinking poison? - can’t say I’ve done that, because I don’t believe my discernment is deep enough.

But I know that holding someone’s hand in a moment of deep sorrow, or giving a hug of welcome or compassion conveys much healing love, even when words are not spoken.

 

[brennanjh]

This is extremely timely to me! Obviously, the Holy Spirit led me here…

I have been an EMHC for about three years and also have been bring Holy Communion to my aunt in a nursing home and to my wife’s aunt who has been homebound for several years.

I was told that if I bring Holy Communion to the sick and they are either asleep or in some other way unable to receive the Body of Christ, that it is appropriate to pray for them and put the sign of the cross on their forehead or hands as your personal blessing upon them.

Assuming that is ok, switching to my role as an EMHC, I feel blessed to be able to share my faith through this great priveledge. If a person who is in RCIA goes through the communion line and crosses their arms across their chest and they are in front of the priest, the priest gives them a blessing. If the same person was on my side of the church and walks up my line, that puts me in a very strange place… Do I say thanks for coming, but just move on… And what if I happen to be the RCIA candidate’s sponsor?

I just found out yesterday on one of the EWTN radio shows that EMHC’s are not allowed to give any blessings of any kind. I will be in church in less than 1 hr and may be called to exercise my obligations as an EMHC and am really bummed out and worried about how to handle these situations.

Maybe it would have been best if they never started the EMHC program and told people that Mass might take an extra 15 minutes because Holy Communion will only be given by a priest. And then we could actually hire parish administers so that the priests can get out to the sick and the homebound as they are called to do. ← Sorry, I am really frustrated about that one too!

Lastly, anyone who gets freaked out about the laying on of hands by lay people praying over them or even holding out their hands to impart their prayers on someone is really missing out. In Matthew 21:21, Christ said that by our faith, we can move mountains. The mountain will move so much quicker if we all pick up our spiritual shovel and move it together!

Jesus Christ Is Risen… He Is Risen Indeed!

YBIC,
John

 

[z_0101]

This is extremely timely to me! Obviously, the Holy Spirit led me here…

I have been an EMHC for about three years and also have been bring Holy Communion to my aunt in a nursing home and to my wife’s aunt who has been homebound for several years.

I was told that if I bring Holy Communion to the sick and they are either asleep or in some other way unable to receive the Body of Christ, that it is appropriate to pray for them and put the sign of the cross on their forehead or hands as your personal blessing upon them.

Assuming that is ok, switching to my role as an EMHC, I feel blessed to be able to share my faith through this great priveledge. If a person who is in RCIA goes through the communion line and crosses their arms across their chest and they are in front of the priest, the priest gives them a blessing. If the same person was on my side of the church and walks up my line, that puts me in a very strange place… Do I say thanks for coming, but just move on… And what if I happen to be the RCIA candidate’s sponsor?

I just found out yesterday on one of the EWTN radio shows that EMHC’s are not allowed to give any blessings of any kind. I will be in church in less than 1 hr and may be called to exercise my obligations as an EMHC and am really bummed out and worried about how to handle these situations.

Maybe it would have been best if they never started the EMHC program and told people that Mass might take an extra 15 minutes because Holy Communion will only be given by a priest. And then we could actually hire parish administers so that the priests can get out to the sick and the homebound as they are called to do. ← Sorry, I am really frustrated about that one too!

Lastly, anyone who gets freaked out about the laying on of hands by lay people praying over them or even holding out their hands to impart their prayers on someone is really missing out. In Matthew 21:21, Christ said that by our faith, we can move mountains. The mountain will move so much quicker if we all pick up our spiritual shovel and move it together!

Jesus Christ Is Risen… He Is Risen Indeed!

YBIC,
John

You will receive so many different answers here, and I have yet to see a clear one.
PLEASE, ask the pastor!
Arrive early for mass, go to the pastor, and ask what he thinks should be done.
If you don’t receive a good answer, write the Chancery Office.

Just really seems odd to me that I have yet to see a clear statment from the GIRM or the CCC as to which way to jump!
-z

 

[z_0101]

This is extremely timely to me! Obviously, the Holy Spirit led me here…

I have been an EMHC for about three years and also have been bring Holy Communion to my aunt in a nursing home and to my wife’s aunt who has been homebound for several years.

I was told that if I bring Holy Communion to the sick and they are either asleep or in some other way unable to receive the Body of Christ, that it is appropriate to pray for them and put the sign of the cross on their forehead or hands as your personal blessing upon them.

Assuming that is ok, switching to my role as an EMHC, I feel blessed to be able to share my faith through this great priveledge. If a person who is in RCIA goes through the communion line and crosses their arms across their chest and they are in front of the priest, the priest gives them a blessing. If the same person was on my side of the church and walks up my line, that puts me in a very strange place… Do I say thanks for coming, but just move on… And what if I happen to be the RCIA candidate’s sponsor?

I just found out yesterday on one of the EWTN radio shows that EMHC’s are not allowed to give any blessings of any kind. I will be in church in less than 1 hr and may be called to exercise my obligations as an EMHC and am really bummed out and worried about how to handle these situations.

Maybe it would have been best if they never started the EMHC program and told people that Mass might take an extra 15 minutes because Holy Communion will only be given by a priest. And then we could actually hire parish administers so that the priests can get out to the sick and the homebound as they are called to do. ← Sorry, I am really frustrated about that one too!

Lastly, anyone who gets freaked out about the laying on of hands by lay people praying over them or even holding out their hands to impart their prayers on someone is really missing out. In Matthew 21:21, Christ said that by our faith, we can move mountains. The mountain will move so much quicker if we all pick up our spiritual shovel and move it together!

Jesus Christ Is Risen… He Is Risen Indeed!

YBIC,
John

Opps… forgot, I was going to make comment about the RCIA sponsor/Canidate:

ASK your Pastor; <<<<<
however, from the USCCB and the CCC:
If you are the sponsor, then, you have some direct spiritual authority over that individual; thus, I would think that you would be able to give that person a lay blessing, - as would a Godparent or Parent to their children, during The Mass.

Read: usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/blessings/

Not as clear as I would like; however, it is clear that there are ligitimate situations where a layperson can give a blessing. Thus, why I ask you to go ask your pastor.

Once again, if anyone can clearly point to an offical church document such as the GIRM, CCC, or something from the Vatican - I’d like to see and read it!

I will be asking my pastor this question Sunday after mass!

 

[roadsend]

The way I see it, if it isn’t in the rubrics, it shouldn’t happen at Mass.

When the folks at my parish give the “Nazi salute”, I struggle to keep from singing “Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” .