Yet Another Question For Fllow Rcia Friends

[Glorfindel]

I love being a newbie! You get a “grace period” for dumb questions! OK, how many of you, leave quietly after the sermon? I have been slipping out after the sermon (following tradition) but some in my class sit and observe and pray. (My Priest does not boot anyone) like I say I just follow tradition and the missal. SO! Do you stay or go? (Did not mean that to sound like the old CLASH song title by the way.)

 

[Stella76]

I stay but I don’t receive the Eucharist–I just remain quietly in prayer. We haven’t been told by our priest, who is part of the RCIA team, that we should be dismissed at that time, so I stay.

*Stella

 

[os_justi]

I stay, and pray in my pew during the Eucharist. I’ve been doing that for six months now, so I’d feel pretty awkward getting up and leaving now! =)

 

[LilyM]

I love being a newbie! You get a “grace period” for dumb questions!

If you get only your newbiehood as a grace period for dumb questions then a lot of us older Catholics are in trouble Including the Apostles - didn’t they ask the dumbest of all questions - ‘who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven’?

 

[Robbinson]

I stay and pray to Jesus to spiritually give me the Eucharist, his body and blood and to look into my heart which yearns to fully participate in His sacrifice.

I’m glad that the priest does not dismiss us (and I can’t wait to partake in the Eucharist). I’ve stopped going to the Protestant/Anglican Church and so I’ve been without communion pending completion of the RCIA and crossing the Tiber.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Laurie_86]

I stay and remain at my pew praying. I’ve seen some people go up to receive a blessing instead of the Eucharist from the Priest, but I’m too scared I’d do it wrong! lol

Plus I’ve heard different things about whether crossing your arms and just receiving a blessing is correct. My parish allows it, but it’s such a large parish that I’m afraid to go up because in the area I sit in I’m not sure if the Eucharist ministers can give a valid blessing.

What are your thoughts on a blessing as opposed to staying at your seat? Is there anyone who knows whether this practice is valid or not? Are you allowed to receive a blessing from a Eucharist minister instead of a priest?

 

[strngrnrth]

I stay and remain at my pew praying. I’ve seen some people go up to receive a blessing instead of the Eucharist from the Priest, but I’m too scared I’d do it wrong! lol

Plus I’ve heard different things about whether crossing your arms and just receiving a blessing is correct. My parish allows it, but it’s such a large parish that I’m afraid to go up because in the area I sit in I’m not sure if the Eucharist ministers can give a valid blessing.

What are your thoughts on a blessing as opposed to staying at your seat? Is there anyone who knows whether this practice is valid or not? Are you allowed to receive a blessing from a Eucharist minister instead of a priest?

Yes. Go up. A blessing is good.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

What are your thoughts on a blessing as opposed to staying at your seat? Is there anyone who knows whether this practice is valid or not? Are you allowed to receive a blessing from a Eucharist minister instead of a priest?

You will find long threads here on this topic. See, for example:
Crossed Arms in Holy Communion Line
EMHC Blessings

In some parishes they encourage people to come up for blessings even if they’re not receiving communion while in other parishes they discourage it. It’s nowhere in the rubrics but is something that has been added informally and many people like it.

Lay people are not authorized to give blessings on behalf of the church while priests can do this. So, in essence, receiving a blessing from an extraordinary minister is no different from receiving a blessing from the person sitting next to you.

Should you wish to remain in your pew, you can make a spiritual communion through prayer:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

 

[Hope070408]

RCIA just started last week for us with the inquiry night, so I’m not sure how it’ll work. But my husband and I most often go to the Saturday evening Mass, or sometimes an early Sunday Mass. Likely, I’ll be there for the full Mass as usual.

 

[Glorfindel]

If you get only your newbiehood as a grace period for dumb questions then a lot of us older Catholics are in trouble Including the Apostles - didn’t they ask the dumbest of all questions - ‘who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven’?

I feel better, maybe this will expand the length and scope of stupid questions for me here on CAF.