MERGED: Recieving a blessing during communion/Rationale & Origins

[bmullins]

The catechism says that those who cannot partake of the Eucharist are still blessed in a special way with graces just for being present at the ceremony. This blessing from your priest is not a party favor, but a way for those who believe in the church, believe in the Eucharist, but are still in the process of discerning their call to join it. I received blessings for several years while working through what was necessary for me to join, and I wouldn’t take back a single one of those.

I asked the priest early on if it was ok for me to do so, and he said “You are doing everything just right, just keep doing it.” I sincerely doubt I would have learnt as much and studied as much if he had said “No you aren’t welcome to get a blessing during mass, you aren’t a member so you must sit in the pew and remain outside.” After all, even the dogs under the table eat the scraps. Eating those scraps can indeed increase your hunger for the meal!

 

[curlycool89]

The catechism says that those who cannot partake of the Eucharist are still blessed in a special way with graces just for being present at the ceremony. This blessing from your priest is not a party favor, but a way for those who believe in the church, believe in the Eucharist, but are still in the process of discerning their call to join it. I received blessings for several years while working through what was necessary for me to join, and I wouldn’t take back a single one of those.

I asked the priest early on if it was ok for me to do so, and he said “You are doing everything just right, just keep doing it.” I sincerely doubt I would have learnt as much and studied as much if he had said “No you aren’t welcome to get a blessing during mass, you aren’t a member so you must sit in the pew and remain outside.” After all, even the dogs under the table eat the scraps. Eating those scraps can indeed increase your hunger for the meal!

I know that’s how most people feel, but the real point about blessings during communion is that they’re redundant. Depending how long communion takes, ~5-10 minutes later everyone gets a blessing during the dismissal.

 

[Kevin812]

I think the greater question lays with the EMHC and them giving a blessing during Mass (or any other time I suppose). Seems like EMHC as an institution has far exceeded its authority (again) in fully usurping the role and office of Holy Orders.

 

[zz912]

Hello,
I am new and seriously considering convtering to the Catholic church.
To get a blessing or not has become quite confusing now.
I will say that where I attend our Priest is a Monsignor.
He does bless me when I go up. I do try to be respectful and go up with arms crossed so as not to cause any confusion.
I plan to inquire about it with him when we get to have a meeting (busy time for him now)

I do wish you would understand that I dont go up because I want a “party favor”. That is very hurtful.

I am seeking God, guidance and strength to do his will. It is NOT a joke, I am not there to have fun!

I hope that was not worded to strongly. I do not mean to offend, just please offer guidance instead. Thanks

It wasn’t aimed at you per se. In the Catholic Church, the worship (Mass) is the sacrifice of Calvary, and we must abide by the form that the Church sets out for how we are to worship during the Mass.

The reason for those not receiving communion from coming up is three-fold.

First, they receive a priestly blessing a couple minutes later, when the priest blesses everyone.

Second, it lessens the importance of what we are receiving because we are focusing on making sure everyone participates, instead of focusing on WHO we are receiving. The focus is on making sure everyone participates, instead of focusing on Christ.

Finally, especially with EMHC’s, NO ONE other than the priest is supposed to give blessing during the Mass. The priest is acting “in persona Christi”, in the person of Christ. The Mass is Christ’s. When others give blessings during the Mass, we take focus off of Him.

We must make sure we follow what the Church has directed for worship during the Mass.

FYI, you’ll probably find much consternation about this topic, but it is not directed at you, but focused on the people that intentionally started their own changes to the Mass for their own reasons, either to be disobedient, to “change” the Church, or because they have some underlying resentment. Don’t take it personally, they just are frustrated with those who claim to be Catholic, who don’t behave as Catholics.

Until you are received fully into the Church, during Communion, just let others get by and pray in the pew telling Christ how much you long to receive Him in the Eucharist. (It is very spiritually expanding as you learn patience and humility, I know from personal experience. I had to wait almost 2 years.)

 

[TrueLight]

Pardon me for my question, but what is a non-communicant? Do you mean one in mortal sin and thus out of touch with God? Or do you mean somebody who denies the authority of the Church?

I think the poster just means someone who is not receiving communion at that particular mass.

 

[IneedGod]

It wasn’t aimed at you per se. In the Catholic Church, the worship (Mass) is the sacrifice of Calvary, and we must abide by the form that the Church sets out for how we are to worship during the Mass.

The reason for those not receiving communion from coming up is three-fold.

First, they receive a priestly blessing a couple minutes later, when the priest blesses everyone.

Second, it lessens the importance of what we are receiving because we are focusing on making sure everyone participates, instead of focusing on WHO we are receiving. The focus is on making sure everyone participates, instead of focusing on Christ.

Finally, especially with EMHC’s, NO ONE other than the priest is supposed to give blessing during the Mass. The priest is acting “in persona Christi”, in the person of Christ. The Mass is Christ’s. When others give blessings during the Mass, we take focus off of Him.

We must make sure we follow what the Church has directed for worship during the Mass.

FYI, you’ll probably find much consternation about this topic, but it is not directed at you, but focused on the people that intentionally started their own changes to the Mass for their own reasons, either to be disobedient, to “change” the Church, or because they have some underlying resentment. Don’t take it personally, they just are frustrated with those who claim to be Catholic, who don’t behave as Catholics.

Until you are received fully into the Church, during Communion, just let others get by and pray in the pew telling Christ how much you long to receive Him in the Eucharist. (It is very spiritually expanding as you learn patience and humility, I know from personal experience. I had to wait almost 2 years.)

Thanks, I plan on further study concerning this as well as disscussing it with my pastor.
I know it was not directed at ME but it felt like ridicule and more importantly** seemed** to triviaIize my (and others) intentions and walk with God. I am learning patence lol. At first all I wanted was to convert asap. Now I understand I need to take more time and really evaluate Why I want to convert and learn more.

I am very thankful for the peace God is giving me on this and other areas of my life that were heart wrenching to me.

 

[Rainaldo]

Pardon me for my question, but what is a non-communicant? Do you mean one in mortal sin and thus out of touch with God? Or do you mean somebody who denies the authority of the Church?

A non-communicant is someone who joins the line for communion but does not receive communion, for whatever reason.

 

[Rainaldo]

Hello,
I am new and seriously considering convtering to the Catholic church.
To get a blessing or not has become quite confusing now.
I will say that where I attend our Priest is a Monsignor.
He does bless me when I go up. I do try to be respectful and go up with arms crossed so as not to cause any confusion.
I plan to inquire about it with him when we get to have a meeting (busy time for him now)

I do wish you would understand that I dont go up because I want a “party favor”. That is very hurtful.

I am seeking God, guidance and strength to do his will. It is NOT a joke, I am not there to have fun!

I hope that was not worded to strongly. I do not mean to offend, just please offer guidance instead. Thanks

Why do you join the communion line if you know you are not going to receive communion? (To receive a blessing, I know that.) Why do you go up for a blessing? (Because blessings are good for you, I know that too.) I know you are a prospective convert, but did you get the idea that this is normal just because it is commonplace, or because there is some rationale behind it?

 

[Rainaldo]

My priest is also a Monsignor and he has now shown any objection to giving me a blessing during mass instead of communion when I can’t receive. Nor for that matter has any other priest. Why wouldn’t it be allowed, Rainaldo?

“Why wouldn’t it be allowed” is not a rationale or explanation for why the practice has been introduced. Where did someone get the idea that the time during mass when everyone goes up to receive communion is also a time to distribute individual blessings?

 

[IneedGod]

Why do you join the communion line if you know you are not going to receive communion? (To receive a blessing, I know that.) Why do you go up for a blessing? (Because blessings are good for you, I know that too.) I know you are a prospective convert, but did you get the idea that this is normal just because it is commonplace, or because there is some rationale behind it?

Coming out of a pentecostal church (seveal years ago) getting a blessing was considered something done to help you improve your walk with God or meet another need.
When I first went to the office at the church and told them I wished to learn about Catholic beliefs I was encouraged to do this.
I found feeling the spirit when getting blessed to be very encouraging and helpful in aiding me to walk as closely to God as I possibley can.

 

[Rainaldo]

“No you aren’t welcome to get a blessing during mass, you aren’t a member so you must sit in the pew and remain outside.” After all, even the dogs under the table eat the scraps. Eating those scraps can indeed increase your hunger for the meal!

Are you saying that the practice was introduced so that non-communicants don’t feel left out?

 

[Rainaldo]

I know that’s how most people feel, but the real point about blessings during communion is that they’re redundant. Depending how long communion takes, ~5-10 minutes later everyone gets a blessing during the dismissal.

There are numerous redundancies in the mass, so I don’t see how that would be an argument against the practice. But that only intrigues me more: why did the practice start in the first place? (LOL perhaps it was started by people who habitually leave immediately after communion, because they didn’t know that mass ends with a blessing!)

 

[Rainaldo]

I think the greater question lays with the EMHC and them giving a blessing during Mass (or any other time I suppose). Seems like EMHC as an institution has far exceeded its authority (again) in fully usurping the role and office of Holy Orders.

It makes sense that the introduction of EMHCs would lead to them forgetting, or not knowing, their place and presuming to give blessings as if they possessed the sacrament of orders - after all, in other ways they are doing what the priest does, and in general we discern the nature of something by observing its behavior. Do you think the practice of going up for a blessing was caused by the creation of the EMHC?

 

[Rainaldo]

…people that intentionally started their own changes to the Mass for their own reasons, either to be disobedient, to “change” the Church, or because they have some underlying resentment.

Sometimes pious practices arise spontaneously, and I get the impression this one did too, as opposed to having been suggested or encouraged at some point. And it has stuck around and grown because, as far as I can see, it does make sense on some level, and it does stand in analogy to other forms of collective behavior in other areas of life.

But one of the problems with popular piety is that it is frequently uninformed, however edifying the sentiment may be. For example, there was a pious practice of representing Mary in priestly vestments, inasmuch as she offered her son to God; it makes sense on one level, but in the bigger picture (no pun intended) it was inappropriate. There did not, however, seem to be any connection with the women’s ordination movement.

Changes to the mass that arise spontaneously on the part of the people seem to grow out of the people’s conceptions - or misconceptions - of what it all really means. I can see it not only in people’s behavior during mass, but also in church architecture, where it can embody a healthy orthodox sentiment, but all too often is based on a quasiheretical point of view.

 

[Kevin812]

Do you think the practice of going up for a blessing was caused by the creation of the EMHC?

My gut reaction is no. I think, in some ways the role of EMHC’s have been paid a great disservice and is not given the dignity by some of its critics. If there is a finger to point, I would say it comes down to simply bad training and a lot of being well intentioned.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I think this is rooted in the feeling of having to “get” something at Mass, almost an extension of consumerism-entitlement feelings. I believe that is the impetus.

 

[zab]

Sometimes pious practices arise spontaneously, and I get the impression this one did too, as opposed to having been suggested or encouraged at some point.

This is what I think, too.

 

[misspriss]

I did this while in RCIA, after the rite of acceptance, because we were instructed that we could by our RCIA director, with the Priest present and he agreed. That is why. We have a small church, I didn’t go up if it were an EMHC, but I always sat on the right so that wasn’t really an issue. Anyway, no one has ever suggested it was a problem before.

 

[paperwight66]

In the UK, it is explicitly encouraged by the Bishops, so it can’t be inherently wrong. Another poster contacted the Board of bishops when this subject arose before, and was assured that Rome knew about it and hadn’t raised any objection.

I would also like to point out that EMHC know that they do not ‘give a blessing’. They simply say what anyone can say to their friends and neighbours, ‘May God bless you’. ‘May Jesus be your friend’ or similar’. That is to say, not a blessing, but a prayer that they be blessed by God.

 

[japhy]

Instead of us guessing why people do it, it’s probably best if we ask the people who do go to receive a blessing why they do it. We can suppose a rationale for it, but all the supposing in the world won’t change reality.

There’s also recent video footage of Pope Benedict giving a blessing to a young boy during the Communion procession, at St. Peter’s in Rome on November 3, 2011. A father came up for Communion holding his son in his arms; the father knelt on the prie-dieu to receive Communion on the tongue, and the pope first gave Communion to the father and then (without instigation) traced the sign of the cross on (or just over) the boy’s forehead.