Protestant: Blessing instead of Eucharist

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Craisin

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I reposted in Apologetics manned by CA staff because I thought it would be better to hear from someone of more authority in the RCC.
 
Actually, that was my question and the article answered it. In my Anglican Church, if one does not want to recieve the Eucharist, one comes forward with their arms over their chest and recieves a blessing instead. I was wondering if the RCC did the same thing (note: I know the Eucharist is understood differently). Should I inform the priest before I go up that I will not recieve the Eucharist but will be recieving a blessing? Or should I just go up and have my arms crossed? Thank you!
 
Just go up with your arms crossed. I have been informed that not all churches do this, however.
 
Yep, go up with your arms crossed. The priest or EMHC will get the message.
 
Blessings in the Eucharist line do not happen at my Parish or most of my Diocese. There are no instructions for it in the guidelines for the liturgy. Check to see of others do this. Make sure you go to a Priest or Deacon as well as the laity do not have an ability to give a church blessing.
 
Craisin said:
Actually, that was my question and the article answered it. In my Anglican Church, if one does not want to recieve the Eucharist, one comes forward with their arms over their chest and recieves a blessing instead. I was wondering if the RCC did the same thing (note: I know the Eucharist is understood differently). Should I inform the priest before I go up that I will not recieve the Eucharist but will be recieving a blessing? Or should I just go up and have my arms crossed? Thank you!
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Why not just stay in your seat at communion time— since we all receive a blessing towards the end of the Mass.
 
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (today) I went forward with my arms crossed over my chest and received a blessing from the priest. It took a considerable amount of courage to do so – going forward at all was a scary thing for me, since I am still so new to all of this.

Why go forward at all, you ask, when a general blessing is given afterwards? Well, I think that would be a perfectly good approach. Up until Wednesday, I just sat in my seat while others went forward. However, I am very glad I did go forward. I consider it a tremendous honor to do so. I know that I cannot receive the host because I am not Catholic. However, it is a beautiful honor even to be able to be that close to the body and blood of Christ. I suppose that sounds silly, and you will have to correct me if there is something wrong or harmful about my mindset, but I can’t help thinking of even that sort of proximity to be a beautiful thing.
 
Of course, don’t go up with your arms crossed if you are attending a Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy. That means you want to receive! 😃
 
Not to be uncharitable, but, the OP did mention membership in the Anglican Church, not the Catholic Church. We can’t be comparing plums with pommegranates here. While I understand that the OP is trying to draw some sort of comparison to use as an example, one really doesn’t exist if the Anglican form of communion is invalid in the eyes of the Church.

As far as the blessing is concerned, Walking Home has the best advicie.
 
Miles_Mariae said:
Just go up with your arms crossed. I have been informed that not all churches do this, however.
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The General Introduction to the Book of Blessings has:
“28 Because some blessings have a special relationship to the sacraments, they may sometimes be joined with the celebration of Mass.
This book specifies which such blessings are and the part or rite with which they are to be joined; it also provides ritual norms that may not be disregarded. No blessings excpet those so specified may be joined with the eucharistic celebration.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page xxx).

This sentence I have put in bold forbids blessings in the Communion Procession.
 
Green_Tea said:
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (today) I went forward with my arms crossed over my chest and received a blessing from the priest. It took a considerable amount of courage to do so – going forward at all was a scary thing for me, since I am still so new to all of this.

Why go forward at all, you ask, when a general blessing is given afterwards? Well, I think that would be a perfectly good approach. Up until Wednesday, I just sat in my seat while others went forward. However, I am very glad I did go forward. I consider it a tremendous honor to do so. I know that I cannot receive the host because I am not Catholic. However, it is a beautiful honor even to be able to be that close to the body and blood of Christ. I suppose that sounds silly, and you will have to correct me if there is something wrong or harmful about my mindset, but I can’t help thinking of even that sort of proximity to be a beautiful thing.
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Great answer. But here’s a question. Why not convert?
 
Miles_Mariae said:
Just go up with your arms crossed. I have been informed that not all churches do this, however.
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not a good idea unless you know the priest in this parish encourages the practice. many priests don’t do a blessing for non-communicants at this point because it is not part of the communion rite, and all will receive the blessing at the end of Mass in any case. lay persons administering communion may not attempt giving a blessing either.
 
SOme parishes do not do the blessing thing (like mine) which causes an awkward moment. Remember a prest or deacon is the only person who can bless you. Laity should NEVER be performing this act.
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
Yep, go up with your arms crossed. The priest or EMHC will get the message.
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Please do not go up to an EMHC (lay person) with your arms crossed because he/she is not allowed to give a blessing during mass. If you really want to ask for a blessing you should walk to an ordained person.
 
John_Lilburne said:
The General Introduction to the Book of Blessings has:
“28 Because some blessings have a special relationship to the sacraments, they may sometimes be joined with the celebration of Mass.
This book specifies which such blessings are and the part or rite with which they are to be joined; it also provides ritual norms that may not be disregarded. No blessings excpet those so specified may be joined with the eucharistic celebration.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page xxx).

This sentence I have put in bold forbids blessings in the Communion Procession.
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Thank you John. This is an abuse which too many think is a “norm”. Parents think their kids deserve a blessing at this time… yet I wonder if any of those same parents know a dang thing about the liturgy, other than what their innovative clergy shows them.

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