That was why I did not volunteer for EMHC at our parish – people were approaching the EMsHC and expecting a blessing, and I knew that was a no-no. Things have changed, and now instead of having two EMsHC at the head of the double line, there is always at least one priest or a deacon, who covers the blessings in both lines.
No doubt…that just about sums it up…I’m done, you may have the last word.
I doubt it had much to do with the fast. It was easy to get up and go to Mass without eating. Let’s not forget that many were used to the fast having been from midnight on so when it was shortened to 3 hours, allowing a farmer to get up and eat breakfast at 5 or 6 and do chores and still go to the 10 a.m. Mass and receive Communion, they thought they were lucky.Tis_Bearself:
I’ll take your word for it when it changed. But even if it changed in 1964, it doesn’t mean every Catholic was necessarily informed about the change timely. In an organization as large as the Catholic Church- getting everyone’s attention takes time.
I keep reading this and seriously wonder where all of you people go to Mass. Is it a parish with 50 people in it and they all know each other and talk about each other’s business? Most of the parishes I attend are so large and impersonal, especially in these days of merged parishes, that nobody notices whether anybody else is even there, much less who troops up to Communion, who sits in the pew, and who is out in the vestibule with their cell phone.
I personally haven’t noticed it but it keeps being repeated here. I should say that I usually attend Mass on Saturday afternoon and it’s rare to have more than 40 people there. I did so for about 5 years before someone mentioned that one lady never received because she was cohabiting and knew she shouldn’t. I’d never noticed that this woman never went to Communion and if I had I would have simply assumed that she wasn’t Catholic. We have a non-Catholic widower who attends Mass regularly since his wife died. He does because he found comfort here when she was killed and I think it makes him feel closer to her.Phemie:
I keep reading this and seriously wonder where all of you people go to Mass. Is it a parish with 50 people in it and they all know each other and talk about each other’s business? Most of the parishes I attend are so large and impersonal, especially in these days of merged parishes, that nobody notices whether anybody else is even there, much less who troops up to Communion, who sits in the pew, and who is out in the vestibule with their cell phone.
The only people who “notice stuff” would be the small group of daily Mass goers, mostly little old ladies, who know each other and get alarmed or think something is medically wrong if they see something out of the ordinary like their friend missed Mass or skipped Communion, etc.
Well it probably depends on a few things – how much room is there between the pews, how plump or skinny are the people, how many coats are bundled around. I personally was taught that it is rude to just move your legs to the side, you are supposed to stand up and move all the way out of the way if possible.Loud-living-dogma:
We did it since pews were installed and it was never a problem, when did it become “tricky”? When did simply moving your legs or standing to let them pass become such an onerous task?
It is plenty humble to stay in your pew while everyone else goes up. Also, why can’t people who go up to receive also get a blessing? I’d love a personal blessing.
That’s not the purpose of Communion, though. On D-Day, did we have a separate “kiddie beach” for 6-year old American, Canadian, and Btitish children to land on so they could play war with 6-year old children of Wehrmacht officers just so they could have a sense of “inclusion” and “being a part of something bigger than themselves”?
In the Protestant Church I grew up in we didn’t normally receive communion until we were twelve or thirteen and had received instruction. It never occurred to me to be offended and feel left out. Back then people understood their place and the idea of growing up.
Yes, I remember those days well, having grown up both pre and post Vatican II. In my childhood years nobody went up for communion unless they were going to receive communion. And most people would not go up for communion on Sunday if they had not been to confession on Saturday. Also, the fast was from midnight and included water, so if you had broken your fast, whether inadvertently or on purpose, you stayed in the pew.
You know, if anyone had bothered to read what I have said, and not what they “feel” I have said in my posts on this thread, they just might notice that nowhere have I ever said this practice of children receiving a blessing at the Communion “rail” is MANDATED, by anyone. It is a practice that some feel makes a small child more included and possibly generates a more devotional and loyal attitude toward mass for the little one.
Disobedience is participating in something both a pastor and even an bishop allow or encourage?
I believe there are over 100 dioceses in the U.S.?
I don’t think I ever called anyone a “hater”. And nowhere in any post did I say the practice was NECESSARY!
That is still the way it is in some places, like at my own parish church. Of course, our average usher is 85 and has been serving in the role since the 1950’s, they are used to the old-school way of doing things.
So, since you mentioned your gut feel that others hadn’t read what you wrote, I’m curious: did you read the link with the response from the CDF?
I do go to a parish where we have under 100 at mass (only one mass per weekend) and everyone knows everyone. No one talks about who goes to communion and who doesn’t.