Lay people extend their hands for blessing

[eagle_eye222001]

So this happens at Mass typically on Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and some others…

The priest gives a blessing to the said group and invites all the laypeople to extend their hands.

Question I have is where does this come from? Is it valid and or licit?

 

[Love_Divine]

I don’t know where it came from, but lay people can’t give blessings, therefore we should not be extending our arms to give blessings. The same ges for EMHC’s giving “blessings.”

 

[ConstantineTG]

It comes from the “praying over” of Protestants.

 

[Love_Divine]

It comes from the “praying over” of Protestants.

Not just protestants. Mormons too.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Not just protestants. Mormons too.

But the influence in Catholic parishes comes from Protestants. Since they do it all the time and publicly, including their TV evangelists.

 

[filiae]

We don’t do this at my church and I’m happy about that but I have been to churches where it was done. It reminds me of a Hitler salute. When I see it my first thought is
‘sig heil’. I agree that lay people can’t give blessings so there’s no point in extending hands .

 

[z_0101]

I don’t know where it came from, but lay people can’t give blessings, therefore we should not be extending our arms to give blessings. The same ges for EMHC’s giving “blessings.”

ummmm… you might want to double check the first part of your general statement. You make it sound like a lay person can not ever give a blessing of any sort at any time. However, in the right context, a lay person can give a “blessing” perhaps not during Mass or in other such situations but there are appropiate times and places:

From:
catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=59&articleID=7763&class=Features&subclass=Question%20Time

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the full article above… I’ve taken just a few things from it below; however, the full context would be better!
Regard the :bounce: in the quote below… (I added these ofcourse):

(…)
There are two main types of blessings. The first, sometimes called “constitutive” blessings, confer a sacred character on the person, place or thing, dedicating it to the service of God.
(…)
The other type, sometimes called “invocative”, ask for God’s blessing on such things as houses, cars, meals, trips, etc., without making them sacred.

Who can give blessings? The short answer is that anyone, even lay people, can give blessings on certain occasions, but the Church restricts some blessings to bishops, others to priests and deacons, and others can be given by lay people.

The general principle regarding blessings is that “the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons)” (CCC 1669).

As for blessings reserved to bishops, the Code of Canon Law says that “Consecrations and dedications can be validly carried out by those who are invested with the episcopal character, and by priests who are permitted to do so by law or by legitimate grant” (Can. 1169, §1).
(…)
:bounce: There are certain ordinary blessings that all the lay faithful, including children, can carry out. These include blessing oneself with holy water upon entering or leaving a church, blessing a meal and blessing oneself at the beginning of a trip.

:bounce: Some other more formal blessings in De Benedictionibus can also be imparted by lay people, including the blessing of a family and of sons and daughters. Thirteen such blessings are listed.

In general, when a priest or deacon imparts a blessing he extends his hands over the person or thing, whereas a lay person keeps the hands folded.

The blessings given by lay people do not confer a sacred character on the person or thing, but merely invoke God’s protection and blessing.
(…)
-Fr John Flader

I had to add the bouncies above as there you have a very specific reference…
NOTE second to last statement about the hands folded…

 

[ConstantineTG]

We don’t do this at my church and I’m happy about that but I have been to churches where it was done. It reminds me of a Hitler salute. When I see it my first thought is
‘sig heil’. I agree that lay people can’t give blessings so there’s no point in extending hands .

It comes from the “laying of hands”. Of course for a Protestant congregation of a few dozen to a few hundred, not everyone can lay their hands on a person standing in front they wish to pray over. Or for a TV evangelist who obviously cannot touch the head of the person on the other side of the TV.

 

[svid2]

Can’t we just put our hands together, and pray? Or is that too traditional?

 

[eagle_eye222001]

Thank you for all the (name removed by moderator)ut so far!

However, is it valid and licit for the congregation to outstretch their hands when invited by the priest?

Can I do this in good faith? Is it written somewhere that allows the priest to request the congregation to participate in this manner?

Or should I abstain?

 

[DDIETZ]

I have been told that lay people can ask for blessings in that we are always asking God to do so, not acting as if we ourselves are Devine.

 

[puzzleannie]

there are several blessings included in the book of blessings in which lay people can participate, and a couple of occasion in some of the RCIA rite when the laity participate. I never saw language in either that invites them to extend hands (except in the signing for rite of acceptance) but that does not mean it isn’t there.

 

[Jguerra]

It happens in our church, too. If I were the pastor and wanted to invoke a blessing on a group at Mass, I would invite the congregation to bow their heads and join me in prayer for the blessing.

Joe

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t know where it came from, but lay people can’t give blessings, therefore we should not be extending our arms to give blessings. The same ges for EMHC’s giving “blessings.”

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).173

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However when it comes to Liturgy or formal blessings…the Priest I think should be the only one blessing in that fashion.

 

[ANNE_2]

Thank you for all the (name removed by moderator)ut so far!

However, is it valid and licit for the congregation to outstretch their hands when invited by the priest?

Can I do this in good faith? Is it written somewhere that allows the priest to request the congregation to participate in this manner?

Or should I abstain?

Not licit during Mass.
GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) dictates the required actions of the Priest and of the Laity.

The Laity holding hands, mimicing the Priest by putting hands up in air, etc., is not permitted or recommended.
All Priests must follow GIRM during Mass. If he does not, talk to him privately. If he continues contact your Diocese Bishop.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/roman-missal/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-table-of-contents.cfm

 

[stanczyk]

I believe what we are talking about in this thread is the “orans,” is that correct?

If so, I agree with the post immediately above that it is not licit for the congregation during Mass to imitate the priest. I am surprised how often I see this at Mass.

Somebody above mentioned the influence of Protestants as to hand gestures. I think a lot of Catholics may be inadvertently conflating the orans with the Protestant hand-raising gestures. As for the holding of hands, if I recall correctly, I heard and apologist is a video here at Catholic Answers just recently who said that the holding of hands during Mass is a folk tradition.

 

[Marie5890]

Not just protestants. Mormons too.

As a former Mormon I cant tell you they do not do it.

 

[wisdomseeker]

We don’t do this at my church and I’m happy about that but I have been to churches where it was done. It reminds me of a Hitler salute. When I see it my first thought is
‘sig heil’. I agree that lay people can’t give blessings so there’s no point in extending hands .

I think the same as you.

 

[Sirach2]

Whenever there are blessings bestowed in the context of a mass, they are not specifically liturgical rites, but are permitted for those occasions such as you mentioned, OP. As such, there are no rubrics forbidding the faithful from adding their prayer to the priest’s, and I think it is a beautiful gesture to the ones who are being prayed for. Last Sunday, we had a couple renewing their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary and Father gave them a special blessing. True, we did not extend hands, but I have seen this practice on other similar occasions.

Mark 16:17, “and believers shall lay hands upon the sick and they will get will get well.” There is a tranfer of spiritual power/anointing/blessing that is not present by simply saying the words without the laying on of hands, or extending them. If so, Jesus would not have advocated using physical contact.

I would not be so quick to dismiss the request of your pastor, but remember - God sees the heart, If you make the gesture with ill will, there will be no blessing. Maybe it’s best to adjust your thoughts.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Whenever there are blessings bestowed in the context of a mass, they are not specifically liturgical rites, but are permitted for those occasions such as you mentioned, OP. As such, there are no rubrics forbidding the faithful from adding their prayer to the priest’s, and I think it is a beautiful gesture to the ones who are being prayed for. Last Sunday, we had a couple renewing their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary and Father gave them a special blessing. True, we did not extend hands, but I have seen this practice on other similar occasions.

Mark 16:17, “and believers shall lay hands upon the sick and they will get will get well.” There is a tranfer of spiritual power/anointing/blessing that is not present by simply saying the words without the laying on of hands, or extending them. If so, Jesus would not have advocated using physical contact.

I would not be so quick to dismiss the request of your pastor, but remember - God sees the heart, If you make the gesture with ill will, there will be no blessing. Maybe it’s best to adjust your thoughts.

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

And they hearing that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe. [12] And after that he appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country. [13] And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them. [14] At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. [15] And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

[16] He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. [19] And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. [20] But they going forth preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.