Views on "Congregational Blessings" (a.k.a.: Everyone in the congregation raises their arm in blessing)

[benedictgal]

OK. Back to square one.
-If a lay person or persons raises his hand or arms while the priest is blessing someone, is that lay person or persons engaging in actions/gestures proper to the priest? If yes, why?

-Does canon law or the rubric specifically state, define, clarify and promote what we laity may or may not do during a blessing? I am not talking an implication or and interpretation of what is written. I want specifics not generalities.

This will get us closer to the truth and away from our personalities.

Yes. Ecclesia de Mysterio clearly explains why this should not be done, as this gesture is proper to the priest. The quote that I posted should be sufficient. Furthermore, in another document, this one pertaining to the laity imparting blessings in lieu of distributing Holy Communion, the CDWDS states that:

1. 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).

1. 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.

Thus, the Church is quite clear. Furthermore, since the CDWDS is the competent body to interpret those laws that pertain to the liturgy, this goes beyond mere personal opinion.

 

[Seatuck]

Not a fan. I am always uncomfortable when a priest suggests this. Also seems clear to me that it is not allowed.

 

[atassina]

Yes. Ecclesia de Mysterio clearly explains why this should not be done, as this gesture is proper to the priest. The quote that I posted should be sufficient. Furthermore, in another document, this one pertaining to the laity imparting blessings in lieu of distributing Holy Communion, the CDWDS states that:

Thus, the Church is quite clear. Furthermore, since the CDWDS is the competent body to interpret those laws that pertain to the liturgy, this goes beyond mere personal opinion.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This clarifies it for me.

 

[rabbysmom]

This is very uncomfortable for me. I actually posted about this last week when comparing two Masses. This was one of the things done in one of them. I wasn’t comfortable with this gesture at my old church (Episcopal) nor am I ok with it in the Catholic church. Needless to say, I attended a different church this week!

 

[Newbie2]

I think the especially weird part is that they make the sign of the cross with hands elevated? That is the exact mirroring of the priest’s actions.

We just hold our hands up; the priest is the only one who makes the sign of the cross in our parish.

So is this sort of a “quasi-participation”?