Layperson Giving a Blessing During Holy Communion

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Last Sunday I served Mass for my bishop. While we had a few concelebrating priests we had no deacon or MC. When it came time to distribute Holy Communion we were one distributor short so I was given the responsibility of an EMHC.

Someone approached me (which I did not expect at a big Mass like this with the bishop) with their arms crossed which around here means they are requesting a blessing. Without thinking I blessed the person in the name of the Holy Trinity using both hands and the ciborium much like they do in my Byzantine parish. I ended-up blessing a total of 4 people – the church was full.

After Mass in the sacristy my bishop asked where I learned to do that? While a beet red face that felt like it was on fire I said I had seen it done many times at my Byzantine Catholic parish and that I had done it out of instinct.

He said he thought it was beautiful and for me to carry on… :signofcross:
 
Remington said:
Last Sunday I served Mass for my bishop. While we had a few concelebrating priests we had no deacon or MC. When it came time to distribute Holy Communion we were one distributor short so I was given the responsibility of an EMHC.

Someone approached me (which I did not expect at a big Mass like this with the bishop) with their arms crossed which around here means they are requesting a blessing. Without thinking I blessed the person in the name of the Holy Trinity using both hands and the ciborium much like they do in my Byzantine parish. I ended-up blessing a total of 4 people – the church was full.

After Mass in the sacristy my bishop asked where I learned to do that? While a beet red face that felt like it was on fire I said I had seen it done many times at my Byzantine Catholic parish and that I had done it out of instinct.

He said he thought it was beautiful and for me to carry on… :signofcross:
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Even bishops make mistakes.
 
stephraim said:
Very true. The will of Rome is clear on the matter. If only a dubium were submitted so bishops could really stop the practice.
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The authority in my parish is my bishop. It is not personal interpretations of what the Church allows and does not allow from people with no authority. 🙂
 
Remington said:
The authority in my parish is my bishop. It is not personal interpretations of what the Church allows and does not allow from people with no authority. 🙂
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I’m glad you follow your bishop, and I’m the first to admit I have no authority. I’m the least of men. Still, the will of the CDWDS is clear, despite what individual bishops believe:
  1. Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).
Note that they reference Ecclesia de Mysterio, a collaborative document from the Congregation for Clergy and 7 different Roman Dicasteries. It says:

§ 2. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or **non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.
**
Blessing the people while making the Sign of the Cross over the them during the eucharistic liturgy is a gesture the rubrics give only to the celebrant priest (cf. Roman Missal, GIRM, CB). Iit is therefore “reserved to the celebrant priest” and that “neither may…non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.”
 
There’s blessings in lieu of Communion in a Byzantine Parish?

By the way, doesn’t this thread violate the moratorium?
 
Remington said:
The authority in my parish is my bishop. It is not personal interpretations of what the Church allows and does not allow from people with no authority. 🙂
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A bishop does not have the authority to contradict what Rome has directed in your parish or any other.
When any bishop contradicts Rome, I will side with Rome every time.
 
stephraim said:
I’m glad you follow your bishop, and I’m the first to admit I have no authority. I’m the least of men. Still, the will of the CDWDS is clear, despite what individual bishops believe:
  1. Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; Canon 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).
Note that they reference Ecclesia de Mysterio, a collaborative document from the Congregation for Clergy and 7 different Roman Dicasteries. It says:

§ 2. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of canon 907 are to be eradicated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers — e.g. especially the eucharistic prayer, with its concluding doxology — or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or **non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.
**
Blessing the people while making the Sign of the Cross over the them during the eucharistic liturgy is a gesture the rubrics give only to the celebrant priest (cf. Roman Missal, GIRM, CB). Iit is therefore “reserved to the celebrant priest” and that “neither may…non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant.”
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You don’t have any authority in my parish. I need not accept your personal interpretations of Church documents. The documents you offer don’t even appear to be authoritative.
 
roadsend said:
A bishop does not have the authority to contradict what Rome has directed in your parish or any other.
When any bishop contradicts Rome, I will side with Rome every time.
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He certainly has the authority to approve what I was doing and he did just that. To be very clear I typically reject the opinions of those who feel the speak for “Rome” when they lack authority (and expertise.)
 
The answer has been given to you and yet you still choose to dissobey. Lay poeple are not allowed to give blessings this comes from Rome regardless of what the local Bishop might say he has no authority to change this rule! Although your heart might have been in the right place you are still not allowed to give blessings at mass if you are not ordained. If this happens again only ask the person to proceed to the line of the priest to receive a blesssing.
 
Remington said:
You don’t have any authority in my parish. I need not accept your personal interpretations of Church documents. The documents you offer don’t even appear to be authoritative.
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As I said, I have no authority, and I’ll admit it. Rome, however does. By the way, Ecclesia de mysterio is from the 1990’s and is official, even if you don’t accept the statement from the private missive I gave. It’s not my interpretation, it’s Rome’s interpretation of canon law. Sorry, but no dice.

By the way, the private missive is not binding, but it certainly reflects Rome’s mind on the matter.

Also, a blessing in lieu of Holy Communion constitutes an adaption, and as such requires recognitio from Rome.
 
Okay, let’s try it this way:

Show me authoritative documents that say laity can give a blessing in lieu of Holy Communion. Show me where Rome says it’s okay.
 
Remington, is this really necessary? It’s no mystery to me who you are.

How about you present your bishop with the response I received from the CDWDS and ask him to consider it when he makes his decision regarding the blessing of non-communicants during the Communion procession?

Oh, and if a layperson is not permitted to give a benediction with the Blessed Sacrament during exposition of the Eucharist, why would he be permitted to do so in the Communion procession?
 
stephraim said:
Okay, let’s try it this way:

Show me authoritative documents that say laity can give a blessing in lieu of Holy Communion. Show me where Rome says it’s okay.
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Won’t happen. That’s what happens when you catch "wannabe priest"syndrome.
 
japhy said:
Remington, is this really necessary? It’s no mystery to me who you are.

How about you present your bishop with the response I received from the CDWDS and ask him to consider it when he makes his decision regarding the blessing of non-communicants during the Communion procession?

Oh, and if a layperson is not permitted to give a benediction with the Blessed Sacrament during exposition of the Eucharist, why would he be permitted to do so in the Communion procession?
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Well, I don’t know who you think Remington is but it is a mystery to me.
 
What should an EMHC do if someone approaches with crossed arms?
 
anp1215 said:
What should an EMHC do if someone approaches with crossed arms?
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As I said before request that they go to the priest line or simply point the line and smile. Most people with common sence will qucily realize you canno’t give a blessing. If they refuse simply ask to step aside while you continue to give communion in order to prevent the flow of the line from stopping
 
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