What do unbaptised people do during communion?

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Edmundus1581 said:
This issue comes up quite frequently here in CAF and the same people keep saying that blessings at communion are not allowed, and always cite the private letter posted here as if it were the official opinion of the Church, when it is isn’t. They have been informed, over and over, of the commentary on this letter Blessings at Holy Communion, ROME, 24 MARCH 2009 (ZENIT) but ignore it. I wish these people would not interfere in something which is between you and your parish priest. It really is none of their business to tell anyone else to stay in their seat, or to go forward for a blessing. In general, either is allowed.
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Code of Canon Law: Canon 846 §1 The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. Accordingly, no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in those books.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal: GIRM 387. The Diocesan Bishop, who is to be regarded as the High Priest of his flock, from whom the life in Christ of his faithful in some sense derives and upon whom it depends, must promote, regulate, and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese. It is to him that in this Instruction is entrusted the regulating of the discipline of concelebration (cf. nos. 202, 374) and the establishing of norms regarding the function of serving the Priest at the altar (cf. no. 107), the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds (cf. no. 283), and the construction and ordering of churches (cf. no. 291). It is above all for him, moreover, to nourish the spirit of the Sacred Liturgy in the Priests, Deacons, and faithful.
 
Edmundus1581 said:
That’s sad that people stare at you. They should respect you for not going up. Are you sure that you are not imagining this though? I’m just wondering. You may be correct.

In most parishes and dioceses you are free to go up to the priest at communion time with your arms crossed and receive a blessing. If you have any doubt, then ask the priest before Mass.

This issue comes up quite frequently here in CAF and the same people keep saying that blessings at communion are not allowed, and always cite the private letter posted here as if it were the official opinion of the Church, when it is isn’t. They have been informed, over and over, of the commentary on this letter Blessings at Holy Communion, ROME, 24 MARCH 2009 (ZENIT) but ignore it. I wish these people would not interfere in something which is between you and your parish priest. It really is none of their business to tell anyone else to stay in their seat, or to go forward for a blessing. In general, either is allowed.
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My only problem is that extraordinary ministers can’t really give that blessing.
 
Canto said:
Code of Canon Law: Canon 846 §1 The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. Accordingly, no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in those books.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal: GIRM 387. The Diocesan Bishop, who is to be regarded as the High Priest of his flock, from whom the life in Christ of his faithful in some sense derives and upon whom it depends, must promote, regulate, and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese. It is to him that in this Instruction is entrusted the regulating of the discipline of concelebration (cf. nos. 202, 374) and the establishing of norms regarding the function of serving the Priest at the altar (cf. no. 107), the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds (cf. no. 283), and the construction and ordering of churches (cf. no. 291). It is above all for him, moreover, to nourish the spirit of the Sacred Liturgy in the Priests, Deacons, and faithful.
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Canto, I’m not sure what you are trying to say here. If you are saying that it is the role of the bishop, rather than the priest, to determine the norms in the diocese, then you are correct. However, the priest is the authentic interpreter of the norms in his diocese. I would always ask the priest first, and accept his decision, unless there was a serious reason to think that he was out of step with the bishop.

But thankyou for the references though. 🙂 That is helpful.
 
Inego_de_Loyola said:
My only problem is that extraordinary ministers can’t really give that blessing.
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I agree. Still, that is not enough reason to tell someone else not to go up for a blessing. The practice of going up for a blessing is very widespread, and accepted in most dioceses and parishes. The Church is well aware of it. It’s “above our pay grade” to disrupt, here in CAF, what someone else does in their own parish. That’s my problem here - that people go beyond discussing the issue to instructing innocent enquirers, who are unaware of the background to this, that the Church says they shouldn’t do it, and that priests and bishops are wrong to permit it.

Still, this is also why I suggested to the OP that he go the priest for a blessing.
 
Edmundus1581 said:
Canto, I’m not sure what you are trying to say here. If you are saying that it is the role of the bishop, rather than the priest, to determine the norms in the diocese, then you are correct. However, the priest is the authentic interpreter of the norms in his diocese. I would always ask the priest first, and accept his decision, unless there was a serious reason to think that he was out of step with the bishop.

But thankyou for the references though. 🙂 That is helpful.
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Going to receive a blessing is not in the rubrics.

There is no document from the CDWDS, Rome or a Bishops Conference with recognitio from Rome permitting the practice.

Canon Law says you cannot add things to the approved liturgical books.
In the celebration of the Mass one must follow the approved books.

The Roman Missal in it’s general instruction does say that it is the Bishop who regulates that liturgy in his diocese but gives clear boundaries. Adding the blessing thing does not fall under these boundaries.

As Fr Z says, say the black do the red.
 
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