Non-Catholic going up for Communion

[Paul_theApostle]

Hi,my family will be attending a funeral tommorow as an immediate family member passed away,my sister in law isnt Catholic and asked me what she should when its communion time.

I told her to come up as well,as i dont think she wants to remain in her seat,and i told her to cross her arms so the Priest will give her a blessing.

Do you think this is ok?

Do preists give blessings at Communion time in Funeral services?

Or what about if she would actually recieve Communion? she is Seventh Day Adventist

Or would it be best for her to remain in her seat? but we will be the main family up the front and maybe wont feel right staying in her seat while all of us others go up to take Communion…

 

[I_Thirst]

My condolences to you and your family.

She should not receive communion. She isn’t Catholic.

Note that a Catholic’s mere presence at Mass doesn’t entitle one to receive communion, so there could be reasons why someone would remain in the pews (breaking the fast, mortal sin, etc) and not receive communion even if one were Catholic.

As far as going up for a blessing, it varies by parish.

My personal opinion is that the communion line is for receiving communion and not for anything else. At the end of Mass, there is a blessing so there is no need to go up during Mass to get one. Or one can receive a blessing after Mass by approaching the priest and asking for one.

But … it’ll really depend on your parish priest. Some enourage it, and others do not.

 

[YoungTradCath]

It is the opinion of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican, as in this document:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=543513

that it is improper for anyone not receiving communion to approach the altar in the communion line to receive a blessing. Non-Catholics (and also Catholics who are not properly disposed) may not receive communion at all, so it is improper for them in all cases to approach the altar in the communion line, even to receive a blessing. The Congregation deems it inappropriate to attempt to receive a blessing in the communion line because the communion line is solely to receive communion, and everyone receives a blessing at the end of mass anyways right before it ends, and you don’t get any “extras” by being blessed twice.

So in short, it would be improper for your sister-in-law to approach the altar in the communion line. This is not out of malice, but because of custom and to maintain the communion line solely as a means to receive communion.

 

[Edmundus1581]

I looked at this issue in October 2010 and, unless something has changed since then (which is unlikely) there is no univeral legislation on the matter, and your sister-in-law is permitted to go up for a blessing, unless you know that your priest or diocese does not permit this practice. You could set you mind at ease by phoning the priest, parish office or Cathedral for advice.

Now, answering YTC’s post.

**It is the opinion of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the Vatican, as in this document:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=543513**

that it is improper for anyone not receiving communion to approach the altar in the communion line to receive a blessing. Non-Catholics (and also Catholics who are not properly disposed) may not receive communion at all, so it is improper for them in all cases to approach the altar in the communion line, even to receive a blessing. The Congregation deems it inappropriate to attempt to receive a blessing in the communion line because the communion line is solely to receive communion, and everyone receives a blessing at the end of mass anyways right before it ends, and you don’t get any “extras” by being blessed twice.

Please be more careful when invoking such an authority as the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS). Your link is not to a document from the Congregation, but to another thread in this forum. In that thread there is a link to a unofficial reply to a private letter, which begins…

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments acknowledges receipt of your kind letter of 13 August, 2008 and would like to thank you for your interest and suggestions. This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation. For the present, therefore, this Dicastery wishes to limit itself to the following observations:

The observations which follow are close to your summary, however your summary is, I think, just your own words, and not from any Church document.

When I looked at this in October 2010 the best information was available at Zenit. The whole document (which is really two documents), includes some opinions similar to your own, but it goes back and forth on the subject, without communicating any decision (except that there is no decision).

I don’t know if there has been any ruling since then. If not, then there is still no prohibition on the practice, and a Bishop could give guidance, or an individual priest, so long as he was not in conflict with his bishop.

One para in the document…

Because of this, some dioceses have taken a prudent wait-and-see attitude regarding these blessings. For example, the liturgy office of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, while reiterating that “the Archdiocese has no policy prohibiting the use of blessings at the time of Holy Communion,” prudently suggested to pastors that it "may be appropriate to avoid promoting the practice until a more definitive judgment regarding its value in the liturgical celebration can be obtained."

That is hardly a condemnation!

You are not wrong, except in attributing the statement to the CDWDS, and hence implying that the matter is settled.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Okay, do what you want.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Okay, do what you want.

I was steeling myself for the full-barrel reply - you have disarmed me! Nice one, YTC!

 

[InspiritCarol]

I was steeling myself for the full-barrel reply - you have disarmed me! Nice one, YTC!

Excellent exchange guys.

BTW: I’ve been cantoring for over 30 years and it has been the tradition of every funeral I have served at for the priest or deacon to announce at some point that non-Catholics are welcomed to come forward for a “blessing”.

I think the purpose this serves is to keep non-Catholics from receiving communion. I suppose we could tell them to not even think about approaching our Holy Lord on the off chance that they might defile them simply with their presence, but I’m having trouble making that sound charitable.

I asked a retired Pastor what he thought of this. He unequivocally and emphatically responded that blessings *must *be done. That’s not to say that his opinion overrides the ODW; I just found it interesting that his reaction was so visceral.

Do please put you mind at ease and check with the church where this will be taking place.

 

[Ubenedictus]

This blessing practice leave room for confusion, the line is better kept for those receiving. Those in mortal sin +non catholic should see the ‘embarasment’ as a reason to aproach the sacrament of reconcilation or become a catholic. I can’t remember the exact section in ‘ask an apologetib’ but it talks about someone who made the sign to receive blessing but ended up receive commu. because E minister refuses to see the sign and the communicant didn’t want to make scene. These customs leave room for mistake. ‘Visitors are welcome but should remain in their seats and pray for devine blessing’ is said in my parish before commu., this leave very little room for mistake. Besides the answer by the apolegetic was remain sitting if for reasons you are not properly disposed, even if this has very little authority i think it is a great point.
Peace