Ok to walk up but not receive?

[mek42]

For someone not eligible for Communion, is it ok to walk up during Mass, indicate negatively once at the altar (not receiving), kneel and offer a short prayer and then return to the pew?

 

[pgnat1]

For someone not eligible for Communion, is it ok to walk up during Mass, indicate negatively once at the altar (not receiving), kneel and offer a short prayer and then return to the pew?

Hi, if you are not Catholic and would like a blessing during Communion, you are welcome to go up. You can let the priest know you are not receiving the Eucharist by crossing your arms across your chest.

If you are a Catholic, and you are in a state of mortal sin, I am not really sure. You can probably still get a blessing, but you cannot receive Communion until you have confessed your sins.

 

[marty1818]

Hi, if you are not Catholic and would like a blessing during Communion, you are welcome to go up. You can let the priest know you are not receiving the Eucharist by crossing your arms across your chest.

This is not the norm in every diocese. To the OP, if receiving a blessing is the norm at the parish, you can go up for a blessing. If blessings are not the norm, then it is appropriate to remain in the pew.

 

[mek42]

I’m kind of in the middle of the two - I’m an adult without Confirmation, who is otherwise a lapsed cradle Catholic.

 

[marty1818]

I’m kind of in the middle of the two - I’m an adult without Confirmation, who is otherwise a lapsed cradle Catholic.

Have you received First Communion? If you have, the only thing that is preventing you from receiving Communion is going to confession.

 

[bben15]

You may receive a blessing from the priest. However, an extraordinary minister may not bless you, due to the fact that they have no authority or power to give a blessing.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

I advise you to stay in the pew. Pray for your own salvation and those around you and for the souls in Purgatory.

I seem to be misunderstanding what you mean by going up and offering a short prayer by the altar. I’m picturing it as a wee bit of a disturbance.

As far as going up for a blessing, I think that this is quite unnecessary. Remember, you’ll be receiving a blessing before the conclusion of mass any way.

 

[maryjk]

For someone not eligible for Communion, is it ok to walk up during Mass, indicate negatively once at the altar (not receiving), kneel and offer a short prayer and then return to the pew?

It doesn’t sound like the OP is asking for a blessing, but rather a chance to pray at the altar.

Doing something like that, you will confuse everyone.

If you are attending an OF Mass, the Priest will be standing in front distributing Communion and you would have to walk around him.

At an EF Mass, the priest will be walking back and forth, distributing Communion, and others will be walking up to receive.

Pray at your pew.

 

[Hmgbrd]

Have you received First Communion? If you have, the only thing that is preventing you from receiving Communion is going to confession.

Simple as that. I would do this in your place. Then I would start attending mass every week and talk to Father about being confirmed as an adult. Each year there are a number who “pick up” what they didn’t get to do when they were younger for one reason or another.

As far as going up to the alter rail to pray is concerned, you can do this any day of the week on your own outside of Mass. Look for the little light that says that Jesus is in the Tabernacle. He is waiting for you!

During Mass there is a lot of traffic going on during the Eucharistic procession and if you are not receiving, I would recommend that you stay in the pew.

 

[L_Marshall]

As far as going up for a blessing, I think that this is quite unnecessary. Remember, you’ll be receiving a blessing before the conclusion of mass any way.

This gentleman is correct. The Congregation for Divine Worship commented on this in Protocol No. 930/08/L (with my comments):

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 (as our friend above mentioned).
   *]Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings (regarding Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion blessing). 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).
   *]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 (this is often the motion which accompanies the blessing, I also think it endangers the Eucharistic Species).
   *]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.
   *]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).

 

[Convert_in_99]

For someone not eligible for Communion, is it ok to walk up during Mass, indicate negatively once at the altar (not receiving), kneel and offer a short prayer and then return to the pew?

Both Catholics and even Non-Catholics are always allowed to go up to the priest and receive a blessing, regardless of the state of their soul. In fact, this could be how they are led either back into a state of grace, or to the fullness of the Catholic Faith. This is also what children are encouraged to do when they are not yet of age to receive communion.

If you are not able to receive communion (for whatever reason), but would like to receive a blessing simply cross your arms over your chest, forming an “X” shape, and bow your head. Priests and Deacons can take it from there.

Also, you may always make a spiritual communion. Kneel at your pew and say, “My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

 

[Elizium23]

In fact, this could be how they are led either back into a state of grace, or to the fullness of the Catholic Faith.

That is not what the Church teaches. The Sacrament of Penance is the method by which we return to a state of grace and by which those who have been away may re-enter the Church and return to a good standing by being forgiven by God and absolved by a priest. For non-Catholics, they should be baptized or received into the Church as appropriate. The Eucharist is not the appropriate sacrament for these experiences.

Personally, I had a bad experience once when I approached for a “blessing”, I had someone ask me after Mass, if I was in RCIA or something, because she noticed I did not receive Communion, when the answer was that I was not in a state of grace at the time, although it was none of her business. I wonder if she would have noticed if I had stayed in my pew.

For me as well, it was the fact that I could not approach for Communion that led me to frequent the Sacrament of Penance more often so that I would always be in a state of grace for Mass, especially because I exercise liturgical ministries therein, and it would be awkward for me to refuse Communion, but that is what I would do if I were not in a state of grace.

 

[Convert_in_99]

That is not what the Church teaches. The Sacrament of Penance is the method by which we return to a state of grace and by which those who have been away may re-enter the Church and return to a good standing by being forgiven by God and absolved by a priest. For non-Catholics, they should be baptized or received into the Church as appropriate. The Eucharist is not the appropriate sacrament for these experiences.

Yes, I understand that. A blessing will not restore them to a state of grace, or make them catholic, but receiving God’s blessing through the priest/deacon could be what gets the ball rolling (or the person in this matter!) to confession or to RCIA whichever the case may be.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Both Catholics and even Non-Catholics are always allowed to go up to the priest and receive a blessing, regardless of the state of their soul. In fact, this could be how they are led either back into a state of grace, or to the fullness of the Catholic Faith. This is also what children are encouraged to do when they are not yet of age to receive communion.

If you are not able to receive communion (for whatever reason), but would like to receive a blessing simply cross your arms over your chest, forming an “X” shape, and bow your head. Priests and Deacons can take it from there.

Where is this proscribed? I do not believe this is authorized per the instruction quoted by my fellow Massachusite, L Marshall.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Yes, I understand that. A blessing will not restore them to a state of grace, or make them catholic, but receiving God’s blessing through the priest/deacon could be what gets the ball rolling (or the person in this matter!) to confession or to RCIA whichever the case may be.

But they receive the blessing any way just minutes later at the conclusion of Mass.

 

[Convert_in_99]

But they receive the blessing any way just minutes later at the conclusion of Mass.

So, why not two? Two blessings are always better than one! The priest who brought me into the church said this was allowed, otherwise why would children who haven’t made their first communion go up to receive a blessing?

 

[Elizium23]

Where is this proscribed? I do not believe this is authorized per the instruction quoted by my fellow Massachusite, L Marshall.

Are you sure that you mean proscribed (prohibited)? It means the opposite of prescribed.

 

[mek42]

OK, I see the confusion. I do not wish to cause a disruption. It has been quite some time since I’ve been to a Mass. As I remember things, at the time of Communion, people walked up, received, then knelt near the votives off to the side of the altar then returned to the pew. It is the kneeling at the votives area I meant when I said “give a short prayer”.

I this no longer done or am I grossly misremembering things? Or does this vary parish to parish?

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

So, why not two? Two blessings are always better than one! The priest who brought me into the church said this was allowed, otherwise why would children who haven’t made their first communion go up to receive a blessing?

There is no need for two. It is superfluous and distracting.

Why would children go up? Bad catechesis; a lack of understanding regarding blessings and the general instruction.

Are you sure that you mean proscribed (prohibited)? It means the opposite of prescribed.

Thank you, I meant prescribed. It’s 11:58, and I had a long day today. Yesterday was my graduation and haven’t gotten much sleep since the night before that.

OK, I see the confusion. I do not wish to cause a disruption. It has been quite some time since I’ve been to a Mass. As I remember things, at the time of Communion, people walked up, received, then knelt near the votives off to the side of the altar then returned to the pew. It is the kneeling at the votives area I meant when I said “give a short prayer”.

I this no longer done or am I grossly misremembering things? Or does this vary parish to parish?

It could have been a Parish custom. I have seen a similar custom at a predominantly Hispanic Parish.

I still advise you to stay in your pew and pray, or even observe. To do otherwise, in any case, simply seems out of place and could cause error or even worse: scandal.

 

[Joan_M]

Both Catholics and even Non-Catholics are always allowed to go up to the priest and receive a blessing, regardless of the state of their soul. In fact, this could be how they are led either back into a state of grace, or to the fullness of the Catholic Faith. This is also what children are encouraged to do when they are not yet of age to receive communion.

**This is just not correct. The Communion line is just that - for Communion only. Children are not “encouraged” to do this, but normally accompany their parents, particularly when they are not old enough to remain in the pew on their own. **

If you are not able to receive communion (for whatever reason), but would like to receive a blessing simply cross your arms over your chest, forming an “X” shape, and bow your head. Priests and Deacons can take it from there.

**This going up with arms crossed over the chest is something that evolved because too many people should not be receiving Communion and simply would not remain in the pews, as they should. It is NOT permitted - by the Church - but, as so many priests are afraid to “offend” people by telling them what they should or should not do, it has become habitual in the US. I’ve never seen it anywhere else in all the other countries I’ve visited.

** Also, you may always make a spiritual communion. Kneel at your pew and say, "My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from you. Amen."

This is what should be done.