Z
zab
Guest
Excellent question to which no good answer has been given. As some will point out, not even the priest should be giving blessing in the Communion line.
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J
JerrySeibert
Guest
At my Parish we were taught to say, “God be with you.” or “God bless you.”
Is this correct??
Last year we were corrected when someone was teaching, “God bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” ( As they made the sign of the Cross) our pastor taught that this blessing can only be given by the ordained.
But, is the God bless you still permitted? I wonder as I have seen so many threads on this subject.
F
FirstCalled
Guest
What should you do if they approach with arms crossed?
**Say “The priest will give the blessing for everyone following Communion.” **
I was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion up to a couple months ago, always worked for me.
**Say “The priest will give the blessing for everyone following Communion.” **
I was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion up to a couple months ago, always worked for me.
Z
zab
Guest
This is what we were taught as well. You will get different answers from posters on CAF. While it is well known that the CDWDS has responded to a letter regarding whether or not blessings should be given in the Communion line, to my knowledge it has not given any instruction on what should be done when uninvited noncommunicants do come forward. I don’t know about you but I have no reason not to trust my pastor’s instruction.
A
anp1215
Guest
Hmmm…sounds like somewhat of a sticky situation.
E
Elizabeth502
Guest
Just having a ball watching everyone resurrect the CAF favorite banned theme, while waiting for the thread to be closed.
Btw, Theology IA: learned by every classically educated Catholic child, from about age 6: Only an ordained Catholic priest can “bless” (formally), with a physical blessing gesture. This Catholic theology has not undergone revision. That is the basis of the liturgical prohibiiton. It goes beyond what is necessary or proper to the rite of Eucharist. Lay people have never been empowered by God (through the Church) to bestow blessings upon others. I am open to correction if the CCC has changed on this. I haven’t referred to the CCC recently on the issue, because I have never heard that it has changed.
Saying “God bless you” – in or out of church – is a spoken intent of goodwill, as opposed to imparting a physical blessing by virtue of ordination. I recently heard about how Catholic parents are permitted to “bless” their children at bedtime; that was the first I had heard of it; I never heard of that growing up in a very Catholic environment, and my Catholic mother never blesed us.
Again I will not mind being challenged if you can point to where the Catechism contradicts this.
C
ConstantineTG
Guest
You are correct. We may publicly pray for blessings but not impart them.
Just having a ball watching everyone resurrect the CAF favorite banned theme, while waiting for the thread to be closed.
Btw, Theology IA: learned by every classically educated Catholic child, from about age 6: Only an ordained Catholic priest can “bless” (formally), with a physical blessing gesture. This Catholic theology has not undergone revision. That is the basis of the liturgical prohibiiton. It goes beyond what is necessary or proper to the rite of Eucharist. Lay people have never been empowered by God (through the Church) to bestow blessings upon others. I am open to correction if the CCC has changed on this. I haven’t referred to the CCC recently on the issue, because I have never heard that it has changed.
Saying “God bless you” – in or out of church – is a spoken intent of goodwill, as opposed to imparting a physical blessing by virtue of ordination. I recently heard about how Catholic parents are permitted to “bless” their children at bedtime; that was the first I had heard of it; I never heard of that growing up in a very Catholic environment, and my Catholic mother never blesed us.
Again I will not mind being challenged if you can point to where the Catechism contradicts this.
Z
zab
Guest
I have to wonder why a directive has not been issued after all this time. Even if the church came out and issued a directive to not impart blessings in the Communion line there will always be at one time or another some uninformed noncommunicant that will approach. And I have to wonder that in those cases, is it so severely wrong to greet such a person with a “God bless you” that would send them quickly on their way rather than to humiliate or embarrass them. In the cases of some people with mental issues it could cause a very negative reaction.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
The moratorium has been lifted for the time being.
Just having a ball watching everyone resurrect the CAF favorite banned theme, while waiting for the thread to be closed.
Btw, Theology IA: learned by every classically educated Catholic child, from about age 6: Only an ordained Catholic priest can “bless” (formally), with a physical blessing gesture. This Catholic theology has not undergone revision. That is the basis of the liturgical prohibiiton. It goes beyond what is necessary or proper to the rite of Eucharist. Lay people have never been empowered by God (through the Church) to bestow blessings upon others. I am open to correction if the CCC has changed on this. I haven’t referred to the CCC recently on the issue, because I have never heard that it has changed.
Saying “God bless you” – in or out of church – is a spoken intent of goodwill, as opposed to imparting a physical blessing by virtue of ordination. I recently heard about how Catholic parents are permitted to “bless” their children at bedtime; that was the first I had heard of it; I never heard of that growing up in a very Catholic environment, and my Catholic mother never blesed us.
Again I will not mind being challenged if you can point to where the Catechism contradicts this.
However, I agree with you that I don’t think the Church’s stance on this matter has been altered.
In general, the Church does not permit the non-ordained to bless people in a liturgical format and using gestures normally used by sacred ministers. The Church has also I believe clearly expressed her will regarding Holy Communion during Mass: only those who can licitly and validly receive Communion should go up and receive; those who cannot receive should stay in their pew. Everyone is blessed at the end of Mass (unless the Dismissal Rites are omitted for some reason); no one needs to be individually blessed during the Communion Rite.
As the Church has expressed her will and as this is such a contentious matter, I would hope for a document from the Holy See in the form of a public law that unambiguously put this matter to rest!
R
Remington
Guest
Not in my diocese. In my diocese you bless anyone who requests a blessing during communion else you are not an EMHC. It’s part of the requirement.
L
lookingtotheast
Guest
You guys need to stay on topic.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
And, the thread should be in the correct Forum.
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