Pope's Blessing - To Tv Audience Too?

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When the Pope gives his blessing to the people at Yankee Stadium and when he blessed up to two objects from each person there, does the television audience also get the blessing through the television? Do you have to actually be in his presence? And if you tape the blessing and replay the tape, do you get the blessing at home as well? Looking for the facts on this. Thanks.:confused:
 
MichaelMMPA said:
When the Pope gives his blessing to the people at Yankee Stadium and when he blessed up to two objects from each person there, does the television audience also get the blessing through the television? Do you have to actually be in his presence? And if you tape the blessing and replay the tape, do you get the blessing at home as well? Looking for the facts on this. Thanks.:confused:
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I don’t see why not. We all can certainly use it.
 
The Enchiridion Indulgentiarum notes that the faithful may be granted a Plenary Indulgence when they receive the Apostolic Blessing during the Pope’s *Urbi et Orbi *message, but is silent on other blessings, nor do I know whether being granted a Plenary Indulgence is the same as receiving the blessing itself?
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Benedictio papalis
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Plenaria indulgentia conceditur christifideli qui Benedictionem impertitam vel a Summo Pontifice Urbi et Orbi vel ab Episcopo fidelibus suae curae commissis iuxta normam 7, 2o, huius Enchiridii, devote acceperit, etsi, rationabili circumstantia, sacris ritibus physice non adfuerit, dummodo ritus ipsos, dum peraguntur, ope instrumenti televisifici vel radiophonici propagatos pia mentis intentione secutus fuerit.
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tee’s quick translation:
A Plenary Indulgence is granted the faithful who devoutly receive a Blessing imparted either by the Supreme Pontiff in *Urbi et Orbi *or by the Bishop upon the faithful entrusted to his care according to norm 7.2 of this Enchiridion, even if, by reasonable circumstance, not physically present at the sacred ritual, during the ritual itself, while seeking to attain it, via television or radio broadcast, do so with pious state of mind.
tee
 
MichaelMMPA said:
When the Pope gives his blessing to the people at Yankee Stadium and when he blessed up to two objects from each person there, does the television audience also get the blessing through the television? Do you have to actually be in his presence? And if you tape the blessing and replay the tape, do you get the blessing at home as well? Looking for the facts on this. Thanks.:confused:
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My understanding is that the blessing extends to the TV audience when watched LIVE, but does not do so if taped.

God Bless
 
I think the answer lies principally in the Hoy Father’s intentions when he blesses.

If he intends that individuals who desire to, may receive his blessing live via the television, then it’s exactly the same as being there in person and receiving his blessing.

Receiving the blessing via a video taped program becomes a sticky issue. It’s unlikely that an individual could receive the same exact papal blessing via a videotaped program (again, unless that was the Holy Father’s specific intention; but he is still bound to stay within the guidelines such as those posted by tee_eff_em above).

However, God in his infinite goodness, upon seeing a heart which desired such a blessing while watching said video - like a child saying, “Daddy, give me a hug”, would not let the child go unhugged. In God there are more varieties of graces and blessings than there are stars in the sky; and God would know exactly which one to grant his child.

The reason for the unlikelihood regarding a taped program is that the Church has to protect against abuses. For example: Let’s say that anyone who saw a videotape of the pope’s blessing could receive the same blessing. If a newspaper reporter were to write about the blessing during a papal visit, because the video-taped blessing reception set the precedent, one would also have to be permitted to receive the same blessing via reading the newspaper article. So you could end up with anyone carrying a photocopied newspaper article being able to impart (so to speak) the Holy Father’s blessing.

This isn’t anything official - just my personal opinion.
 
NeedImprovement said:
Receiving the blessing via a video taped program becomes a sticky issue. It’s unlikely that an individual could receive the same exact papal blessing via a videotaped program (again, unless that was the Holy Father’s specific intention; but he is still bound to stay within the guidelines such as those posted by tee_eff_em above).
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Well, if watching the video isn’t a blessing, then he can at least think about his earlier blessing while he watches the video. And good thoughts are a blessing in themselves, right? 🙂
 
Well according to Father John Neuhaus, when that question came up during the Pope’s Mass at Yankee Stadium the blessing is valid.
 
davidcoit said:
Well according to Father John Neuhaus, when that question came up during the Pope’s Mass at Yankee Stadium the blessing is valid.
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Guess we should brace ourselves for an onslaught of simony on Ebay.

Reminds me of a sarcastic question posed to me once regarding televised masses - “If you place a piece of bread in front of the tv, does it get the concecration?”

:rolleyes:

DD
 
ProVobis said:
Well, if watching the video isn’t a blessing, then he can at least think about his earlier blessing while he watches the video. And good thoughts are a blessing in themselves, right? 🙂
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Absolutely.

Although we should probably differentiate between two things here:
  • A priest’s blessing.
  • The Apostolic Blessing.
I believe it was the Curé of Ars (St. John Vianney ) who said, “If a priest could see what happens when he blesses, he would bless unceasingly.” When a priest blesses, he calls down all the graces from heaven. In the strict liturgical sense a blessing is a rite comprised of ceremony and prayers, but to bless an object or person it can also suffice for the priest to simply raise his hand and silently make the Sign of the Cross over the person or object receiving the blessing.

Created objects are meant to serve man. This is how we can end up with blessed objects; sacramentals…to help us on our journey to our heavenly homeland / in our spiritual battle, etc.

Part 12 of my HANDBOOK OF INDULGENCES, Norms And Grants , is identical to the quote posted by tee_eff_em from Enchiridion Indulgentiarum.

So those who were devoutly following the Mass at which Pope Benedict XVI is presiding **live ** either by television or radio and who wish to receive the blessing, are considered among those attending the rite.

The Apostolic Blessing (formerly Apostolic Pardon) is technically classified as a sacramental. If the pope Imparted the Apostolic Blessing, it means that he imparted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful in attendance. A plenary indulgence has to do with the complete remission of temporal punishment due to sin, and can always be applied (like all indulgences) as suffrages offrered for the dead (the holy souls in Purgatory). Hence the caution.

It is interesting to note that, as the chief teacher of the Church, one of the pope’s prerogatives is that he " dispenses the treasury of the Church, and the grant of indulgences is reserved to him."

Usually the Apostolic Blessing is imparted by the pope or by delegated bishops after a request to the Holy See and then only on special occasions.

Priests can also impart this Apostolic Blessing to the Christian faithful who are in a life or death situation - when they are ministering the sacraments to them, they *“should not neglect to impart to them the apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime…In such a situation the three usual conditions required to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way.’…This grant, number 28, is taken from the apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 18.” *[This is how much the Church wants all her children to receive gifts from her Treasury].

We live in a video world today and it’s easy to become confused. In the case being discussed, the video is a depiction, documentation or portrayal of the event - not the event itself.

This form of media has power.

Has anyone ever experienced the power a “bad” video can have on people ? …imagine how much more God will bless those who watch a " good wholesome catholic" video.

Matt 7:7-11 " Ask and you shall receive…, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him ?"
 
Help me, ladies and gentlemen because now I am totally confused. SO, if you wouldn’t mind, can this simple minded person just get a “YES/NO” answer to this one question, i.e., at the mass at Yankee Stadium, when they asked everyone present to hold up two objects to be blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, when I held up two objects in my home at the same time (watching the events live on television), were MY two objects also blessed by the Pope? Yes or No? Thanks so much.:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
No, blessings cannot be conferred unless one is physically present. The Pope’s blessing on TV was merely to show his good will.
 
The Handbook of Indulgences (1991), Norms and Grants; 12 Benedictio Papalis- Papal Blessing:

A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly receive the blessing imparted either by the Roman Pontiff to the City and to the World or by a bishop to the faithful entrusted to his care in accord with norm number 10, paragraph 2*, of this Handbook. This grant extends also to such blessings when given by means of radio or television.
  • norm 10; pph 2:
  1. From the outset of their pastoral office, diocesan bishops and those equivalent to them in law have the right to:
(2) impart the papal blessing with a plenary indulgence, in accord with its prescribed formulary, three times a year in their own dioceses at the end of a Mass which has been celebrated with special liturgical beauty on solemnities or feasts that they will designate, even if they only assist at the Mass.]

Maybe I’m missing something or have misinterpreted something here, but the above would imply (as it relates to the specific subject/question of this thread) that those of right disposition who were following a live television broadcast of the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, with Pope Benedict XVI presiding, may indeed receive the same blessing at the same time he is imparting that blessing to the faithful in attendance at that Mass; as long as this is the Holy Father’s intention.
 
I believe it was the Curé of Ars (St. John Vianney ) who said, “If a priest could see what happens when he blesses, he would bless unceasingly.” When a priest blesses, he calls down all the graces from heaven. In the strict liturgical sense a blessing is a rite comprised of ceremony and prayers, but to bless an object or person it can also suffice for the priest to simply raise his hand and silently make the Sign of the Cross over the person or object receiving the blessing.
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Yet so many people walk out of Mass before the priest’s final blessing in the name of the same Holy Trinity. Go figure.
 
bilop said:
My understanding is that the blessing extends to the TV audience when watched LIVE, but does not do so if taped.

God Bless
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This is correct. You are not participating in the mass, but you are benefitting from the Apostolic Blessing.

EWTN made this very clear when the Holy Father was here. This question came up.

JR 🙂
 
MichaelMMPA said:
Help me, ladies and gentlemen because now I am totally confused. SO, if you wouldn’t mind, can this simple minded person just get a “YES/NO” answer to this one question, i.e., at the mass at Yankee Stadium, when they asked everyone present to hold up two objects to be blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, when I held up two objects in my home at the same time (watching the events live on television), were MY two objects also blessed by the Pope? Yes or No? Thanks so much.:confused: :confused: :confused:
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Actually there is no YES and there is no NO answer. Father John Neuhaus gave his opinion and even stated that what he was about to say is debatable and many would argue against it. Fr. John said yes.

I do not believe there would be a 100 percent sure theological answer until the question may be answered infallibly from an Ecumenical Council or definition from the Pope himself. Maybe if enough stirring of the pot is caused by those like you who have these questions maybe a few hundered years down the road we can get a definite answer- the canons and laws cited by those were made when television did not exist.

I myself held up the crucifix around my neck towards the television set to be blessed by the Pope on that day. I also bless myself when blessings are given to us by the priests on EWTN- of which do extend to those who are watching at home from what I have been told.

I would say that if the Pope intended to bless all those watching on TV, and those objects they wanted him to bless then they were blessed because he had the intention of blessing them. Maybe you should contact the Vatican concerning this and they may be able to give you a definite answer. Writing a letter by snail mail is easy and they will respond.

Ken
 
ProVobis said:
Yet so many people walk out of Mass before the priest’s final blessing in the name of the same Holy Trinity. Go figure.
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It’s a real puzzle. Once one person does it, a whole bunch of others figure it’s okay to follow suit. I wonder if that’s why we’re called sheep ( according to Father John Corapi sheep aren’t the brightest animals around ).

What are we depriving ourselves of when we do that ?
 
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