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Hereiam
Guest
I’m trying to picture Christ flipping through pages in a rule book to see when, how, and who it is appropriate to bless!
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stpurl
Guest
The difference between Christ and ‘everybody else’ is that not only is He the “Word’, He is also 'The Living Rule” Himself.
He would know. He has to inform the rest of us, through the Church, to whom He gave the authority to proclaim the rules He Himself gives, and also, oh what was that Scripture, "to bind and loose’.
He would know. He has to inform the rest of us, through the Church, to whom He gave the authority to proclaim the rules He Himself gives, and also, oh what was that Scripture, "to bind and loose’.
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Hereiam
Guest
Has nothing to do with a blessing, it has to do with absolving sin…you seem to be saying that Christ might refuse a blessing to someone voluntarily approaching him to receive a blessing…that’s ludicrous!
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BartholomewB
Guest
Of course. That ought to be obvious. It applies in any one of the three cases:
- If you would like to go up for a blessing with your arms folded, but you’re not sure whether you ought to, ask your priest.
- If you see someone else doing it and you don’t like it, either because you suspect it’s against the rules or because it seems to be causing inconvenience to other communicants, ask your priest.
- If you’re just curious to know the correct answer, without personally favoring either side in the argument, ask your priest.
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stpurl
Guest
Excuse me? I said nothing of the kind. I don’t know where you got that kind of scenario, but please don’t present that as what I was saying. it is not.
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Gorgias
Guest
Oh, I can quote it for you verbatim!
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.”
Glad I could help out, there.
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thistle
Guest
I said the letter per se does not have the force of law but it contains references to what are Church law and disciplines which do not permit joining the Communion line for blessings. These have force of law.
An analogy. Its like saying the CCC is not an infallible document. This is correct but it contains infallible teachings which must be obeyed.
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Hereiam
Guest
Cherry picking is fun, huh?
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ConfusedLucy
Guest
If the practice was that much of an issue then why has nothing been done? It’s been going on for decades here so surely someone higher up would have alerted the Bishops if they wanted the practice to stop.
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DignumEtJustum
Guest
Don’t worry about it. Those saying to remain seated are looking at it solely from a traditional perspective while some of us actually were taught to go up with one’s arms crossed to receive a blessing if not receiving communion. I think the practical purpose of this is that at one point it was experimented that “everyone is welcome to the table” and all were likely invited up. Then later we remembered mortal sin and while everyone still got up, we were taught to cross our arms if we didn’t think we should receive communion. I’m kidding somewhat of course.
At any rate, if one were to cross one’s arms at communion in some parishes where the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is offered, the priest may just simply go by as from their perspective there is nothing else they are able to do at that moment other than give communion. Other priests who offer the Extraordinary Form may give a blessing at communion and these are themselves extraordinary priests. More than just a blessing, the priest prays over you personally for just a moment. Even though I now know it’s not something found in the Missal I myself am still guilty of occasionally doing it and Father obliges and does the same anyways for those too young to receive communion.
At any rate, if one were to cross one’s arms at communion in some parishes where the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is offered, the priest may just simply go by as from their perspective there is nothing else they are able to do at that moment other than give communion. Other priests who offer the Extraordinary Form may give a blessing at communion and these are themselves extraordinary priests. More than just a blessing, the priest prays over you personally for just a moment. Even though I now know it’s not something found in the Missal I myself am still guilty of occasionally doing it and Father obliges and does the same anyways for those too young to receive communion.
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Reuben_J
Guest
To the OP especially - do not worry about it. Continue with what you are doing. You are in a right place in parishes where blessing is given for those not receiving.
As for the legality of it which is discussed here are merely personal opinions. More importantly they are not priests and therefore they cannot do anything to stop you but talk they can. Haha.
As for the legality of it which is discussed here are merely personal opinions. More importantly they are not priests and therefore they cannot do anything to stop you but talk they can. Haha.
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Gorgias
Guest
Yikes! No, that’s not what it means at all! In Mt 16, Christ sets Peter as the head of the Church that Christ is going to create. And, he gives to Peter the authority to lead the Church. In fact, it’s not just human authority, it’s the proxy to act in Christ’s name! So… whatever Peter binds on earth, Christ holds as bound by God, and whatever Peter looses on earth, Christ holds as loosed by God!
(Might you be thinking of the repetition of the phrase in Mt 18? In that context, it’s an authority given to all the apostles, and it does seem to be in light of disciplinary matters!)
I think He would say what He said to Peter in Mt 16 – “Peter, have you bound the liturgy and not given individual priests the authority to change it? Then, that’s what’s bound in heaven.” …!
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Gorgias
Guest
There’s the attitude! “Please ignore anyone who’s telling the truth, and listen to people who are doing their own thing!”
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TC3033
Guest
And this is why I usually just try to excuse myself from the sanctuary prior to or at communion and meet my family in the gathering space, if we can’t get a 2-3 person pew on the wall. Now, our 2 yr old won’t sit still so I’m usually gone in the first 5 minutes, but before it seemed like no matter what I did, someone was offended by it.
They have to “climb over the non-Catholic” – “sit behind the non-Catholic when they get back” – “why didn’t you go get a blessing, it messed up the line getting by you and coming back” – “why did you go for a blessing, you’re not supposed to do that”…
Sadly, this way just seems easier.
They have to “climb over the non-Catholic” – “sit behind the non-Catholic when they get back” – “why didn’t you go get a blessing, it messed up the line getting by you and coming back” – “why did you go for a blessing, you’re not supposed to do that”…
Sadly, this way just seems easier.
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HolySpirit1
Guest
sometimes i enjoy laying out on the pew while people are in line for communion, then i will get up to recieve, then go back to my pew, sit there for a few seconds and then get back in line for a blessing, sometimes i cross my arms, sometimes i put both hands on the top of my head and genuflect when getting a second blessing. i then choose a new place to sit an ask everyone around me to please be quiet as i look around for any possible sinners hiding in the church.
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leomom
Guest
Hello to all in this discussion,
I honestly don’t think that this is such a big issue, if this were the only thing that was “changed” during the Mass by a priest.
However, at our small parish, we have a priest who indicates (lays hands on) that he is giving a blessing to those who have crossed arms. There are several other things that have happened with this Priest, who recently celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination. He has allowed an Eucharistic Minister to actually say “God bless you” to a child with crossed arms. He has also allowed a 6 year old boy who has not yet received sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist to serve Mass. Then he went ahead and celebrated Holy Communion for this under age/under catechized (strictly my opinion) child. He baptized the first and second sons of an unmarried woman, who attends Mass with her fiance.
So I guess my question here is…How many things can be “changed” (added or deleted during the Mass), at the discretion of the pastor?
These and a few other issues with this particular priest have been bothering me for about 18 months now. Your thoughts, advise and prayers for understanding will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
leomom
I honestly don’t think that this is such a big issue, if this were the only thing that was “changed” during the Mass by a priest.
However, at our small parish, we have a priest who indicates (lays hands on) that he is giving a blessing to those who have crossed arms. There are several other things that have happened with this Priest, who recently celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination. He has allowed an Eucharistic Minister to actually say “God bless you” to a child with crossed arms. He has also allowed a 6 year old boy who has not yet received sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist to serve Mass. Then he went ahead and celebrated Holy Communion for this under age/under catechized (strictly my opinion) child. He baptized the first and second sons of an unmarried woman, who attends Mass with her fiance.
So I guess my question here is…How many things can be “changed” (added or deleted during the Mass), at the discretion of the pastor?
These and a few other issues with this particular priest have been bothering me for about 18 months now. Your thoughts, advise and prayers for understanding will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
leomom
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Reuben_J
Guest
What do you think have been changed by this priest?
Tis_Bearself
Patron
It’s not.
By the way, what is your hangup with a priest baptizing the sons of an unmarried woman? Their mother’s marital status has nothing to do with her children’s baptism. It’s also none of your business.
My thought and advice to you would be to focus on Jesus, stop judging and minding the business of your fellow parishioners, and let the priest with 25 years of experience do his job.
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paperwight
Guest
And I can’t see why saying ‘God bless you’ is such a big issue, either. It’s a shortened form of ‘May God bless you’ - in other words, a prayer such as one can say to someone grieving , or conversely, to thank them for help.
If the EMHC says ‘I bless you, in the name of the Father etc’ well, that I can see is problematic. The EMHC hasn’t the authority to do so, as they are not ordained.
But praying that God will bless someone – surely we should all be doing that.
If the EMHC says ‘I bless you, in the name of the Father etc’ well, that I can see is problematic. The EMHC hasn’t the authority to do so, as they are not ordained.
But praying that God will bless someone – surely we should all be doing that.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Right. I say “God bless” to people on here all the time. People say it to each other, “God bless you, honey”. It’s nothing unusual.
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