Non catholics receiving blessings

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Holland

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I just found out through another thread that non-catholics aren’t supposed to receive a blessing during Communion. So what is the thought behind this? I have a hard time understanding what could be so bad about a non-catholic getting a blessing from a priest.
 
Holland said:
I just found out through another thread that non-catholics aren’t supposed to receive a blessing during Communion. So what is the thought behind this? I have a hard time understanding what could be so bad about a non-catholic getting a blessing from a priest.
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The Order of the Mass does not call for any Blessings to be given at this time. The Church asks those who are unable to receive Holy Communion for whatever reason not to approach the Minister of Communion.
 
You could go to any and all of the churches in the Diocese where I live and find the priest on Sunday morning tracing the sign of the cross on the foreheads of people going up to but not receiving Communion.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
The Order of the Mass does not call for any Blessings to be given at this time. The Church asks those who are unable to receive Holy Communion for whatever reason not to approach the Minister of Communion.
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I thought the priest can but EEMs cannot. I always stay seated at communion when I’m not recieving, but just wondering…
 
There is really no point to receive a blessing at communion. IF you stay till the end of mass, the last thing the priest does is blesses everyone.
 
Evan said:
There is really no point to receive a blessing at communion. IF you stay till the end of mass, the last thing the priest does is blesses everyone.
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Never thought of it that way, but it is one reason that I stay until the very end.
 
There is really no point to receive a blessing at communion. IF you stay till the end of mass, the last thing the priest does is blesses everyone.

Which is why I asked the question in the first place.:confused:
 
Snerticus said:
I thought the priest can but EEMs cannot. I always stay seated at communion when I’m not recieving, but just wondering…
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From the standpoint of WHO can give a blessing during a public liturgy, that would be correct.However even priests are not supposed to insert or establish new innovations not found in the Order of the Mass.
 
Good Grief, I really didn’t need to start this thread. I have a lot of reading to do but at frist blush it seems as if this is an issue that has not been settled. Thanks to everyone who replied.
 
Holland said:
Good Grief, I really didn’t need to start this thread. I have a lot of reading to do but at frist blush it seems as if this is an issue that has not been settled. Thanks to everyone who replied.
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You are incorrect. This is has absolutely been settled.

That priests in your diocese either disobey or are ignorant of the requirements in this regard does not change the fact that no one (Catholic or non-Catholic) is to approach the minsiter of Holy Communion if they do not intend to receive. They are to remain seated. The blessing comes just before the dismissal and is for everyone.

This statement from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated November 22, 2008, protocol number, Protocol No. 930/08/L states:
  1. The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.
  2. 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).
  3. Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.
  4. The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio n. 84, “forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry”. To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.
  5. In a similar way, **for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church’s discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 **(i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).
 
Thanks 1ke. I was not aware of that letter but really appreciate knowing about it.

I’d differ a bit on how “settled” the issue is (unfortunately).

For many reasons, I am totally opposed to anyone who is not going to receive Communion processing up to the minister of communion. But I know many disagree with that. Just wanted to clear the air.

My observation is that approaching for a blessing at Communion is a widespread practice in U.S. church parishes right now. Personally I think it’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.

I wonder how many people know about the letter you cited. Given that it was a letter, it certainly has not received the universal attention it could. I’m sure most are unaware of it because it was not promulgated in some more universal/authoritative way.

Regarding what can be inserted into Liturgy, again there’s more grey area than many might be comfortable with. There are certain things that are prescribed (you must do them) and certain things that are proscribed (you must not do them). Which leaves a whole wide open area for other items. Some see the “blessing” at communion in any one of these categories.

Personally I’d argue that it’s not just non-Catholics who shouldn’t receieve a blessing but no one should receive a blessing.

Good question Holland. Thanks for raising it.

Cheers
 
Personally, I do not approach the minister of Communion if I am not going to receive Communion. I do agree the practice is widespread in U. S. parishes right now. The genie is out of the bottle and I’m not sure how you get her back in there. I would like to do some more reading about what prompted the letter and the thought behind it. Did the U. S. bishops ask for clarification? Any direction would be appreciated.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
The Order of the Mass does not call for any Blessings to be given at this time. The Church asks those who are unable to receive Holy Communion for whatever reason not to approach the Minister of Communion.
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And this is a problem with your definition of “the Church”–one of the major reasons I am not a member of your Communion. You define “the Church” as this centralized hierarchy that issues pronouncements. I understand “the Church” to be a concrete, visible body of people throughout space and time. And when the particular local community representing “the Church” in my space and time tells me I’m welcome to receive a blessing (or even, in some parishes, to receive communion), I as a non-Catholic am going to take that to be what “the Catholic Church” is telling me at this particular point in space and time.

Edwin
 
Holland said:
Personally, I do not approach the minister of Communion if I am not going to receive Communion. I do agree the practice is widespread in U. S. parishes right now. The genie is out of the bottle and I’m not sure how you get her back in there. I would like to do some more reading about what prompted the letter and the thought behind it. Did the U. S. bishops ask for clarification? Any direction would be appreciated.
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Well, back where I’m from in NEPA, no one ever approached the minister at communion if they weren’t going to recieve. Everyone stayed in the pew.

When I moved out here, I was surprised to see so many go up with their arms folded. I had to watch closely to figure out what exactly they were doing and finally figured it out (I hate staring at people recieving, it’s so rude - but I had to figure out what this strange practice was). So I know that it is common in some parts of the country, but nonexistant in others.
 
Contarini said:
And this is a problem with your definition of “the Church”–one of the major reasons I am not a member of your Communion. You define “the Church” as this centralized hierarchy that issues pronouncements. I understand “the Church” to be a concrete, visible body of people throughout space and time. And when the particular local community representing “the Church” in my space and time tells me I’m welcome to receive a blessing (or even, in some parishes, to receive communion), I as a non-Catholic am going to take that to be what “the Catholic Church” is telling me at this particular point in space and time.

Edwin
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The “Church” is what Christ established upon Peter, and granted it authority to speak for Him. It is exactly that, a visible hierarchal institution on earth. It is also a Mystical entity encompassing those on earth, in Purgatory, and in Heaven. It is not just something floating out there in space and time.
 
Sorry, I didn’t know it wasn’t suppose to be discussed. Thanks for letting me know. I will just read all the info on the other thread.
 
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