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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed May 30th, 2007 02:17 pm |
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ROME, MAY 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
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"Is it proper for lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to give a 'blessing' to young children or people who cannot (or choose not to) receive the Eucharist?"
There are many ways of distinguishing kinds of blessings and sacramentals. One such distinction is between constituent and invocative sacramental.
The effect of a constituent sacramental is to transform the person or object being blessed in such a way that it is separated from profane use. Examples would include the blessing of an abbot and the blessing of holy water. Practically all of these blessings are reserved to an ordained minister and sometimes are the exclusive preserve of the bishop.
Invocative blessings call down God's blessing and protection upon a person or thing without sacralizing them in any way. Some of these blessings are reserved to the ordained, such as the blessing of the assembly at the end of a liturgical celebration.
Some blessings may also be imparted by lay people by delegation or by reason of some special liturgical ministry, above all when an ordained minister is absent or impeded (see general introduction to the Shorter Book of Blessings, No. 18). In these cases lay people use the appropriate formulas designated for lay ministers.
This latter situation is probably the case of the extraordinary ministers of holy Communion who ask that God's blessing may come upon those who for some good reason approach the altar but do not receive Communion.
Finally, some simple blessings may be given by lay people in virtue of their office, for example, parents on behalf of their children.
The above article is reposted with permission from Zenit.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Cinlite
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 18th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 13 |
| First Name: | Cynthia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Raised Lutheran, as an adult I was Evangelical , then ... |
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Posted: Thu Jun 5th, 2008 08:14 pm |
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Hello,
I have been waiting for over 8 years to be received into full communion. There are matters that still prohibit this event. I have some very thoughtful Catholic friends who have been encouraging me to go forward and receive a blessing when the Eucharist is distributed. I have always refrained from doing so hoping that one day I will receive the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This doctrine is what caused me to resign from an Assembly of God Church and announced that I believed in this doctrine so I do NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY. I have paid a price for my conscience.
I was visiting friends in central Ohio and attended Mass with them last weekend. I felt motivated to go forward and receive a blessing. I was truly looking forward to this and even got in the line where the priest was distributing the Eucharist. When I was in front of the priest, I crossed my arms and smiled and hoped to receive a blessing. He gave me a cross look, cleared this throat and gestured his eyes left to move me along. Not only did I not receive a blessing I received a humiliated heart. It has been difficult enough for me to watch others to receive and not do so myself. This event was very painful for me and for the life of me I don't know why he did this. Perhaps you could give me some insight to this?
Needless to say, I will not attempt to receive a blessing in the future. I will continue to pray that my efforts to be joined to the Church will not be in vain. I am becoming weary and this event did not enourage me in the Faith.
Is this a universal sign (crossed arms) or is it not? Perhaps you can offer insight?
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Jun 5th, 2008 08:32 pm |
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Receiving blessings instead of communion is not a universal practice in the Church. The Vatican has never issued an instruction on whether it is permitted, so for the time being it remains optional on the part of the bishop and/or pastor and/or priest.
Some bishops have refused to grant permission for priests and ministers to give blessings; others encourage it. If the bishop hasn't made a ruling, then it is left to the pastor; if no instruction from the pastor, then to the individual priest. Extraordinary ministers will follow the instructions they have received from their priest.
Those seeking a blessing should be aware of the practice in their home parish. When visiting other parishes, they should inquire before mass if a blessing is offered, or watch others in line to see if anyone else receives a blessing, and then emulate their posture. Crossed arms is the most common method of indicating one will not be receiving the Eucharist, but again, it is not a universal posture. Also, when visiting a parish, one who wishes to receive a blessing should always be in line for a priest or deacon as not all locales permit extraordinary ministers to impart even informal blessings.
I know I haven't really cleared anything up, but when visiting a parish it is always wise to be aware of the practices in that diocese/parish either by calling ahead and asking questions, or by observation.
I would encourage you not to let this setback discourage you on your journey. Rather, let it help you to make a more mature decision. If you truly want to receive a blessing since you are not eligible to receive the sacrament, do it in a parish where you are familiar with the practices, and where you can truly feel a part of the celebration.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Cinlite
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 18th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 13 |
| First Name: | Cynthia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Raised Lutheran, as an adult I was Evangelical , then ... |
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Posted: Fri Jun 6th, 2008 04:14 pm |
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I appreciate your reply. I know it is difficult for cradle Catholics to understand fully all of the challenges that face would be converts. Many of us have had to face some unpleasant encounters with their own faith traditions as well as their own families. These challenges leave us with some fresh wounds that would leave even the most mature Christian with some sadness of heart let alone the temptation to second guess their decision to embrace the faith. With that baggage considered, it is sometimes even more painful when the faith the we embrace does not embrace us back. Yes, I know all of the requirements and regulations surrounding entrance into the Church and I don't argue with them. The consistancy of the Church is one of the things that drew me to it.
I wish that cradle Catholics sometimes would understand that when the invitation went forth from Pope John Paul II calling for a new evangelism for the millenium, the people who would answer this call by the leading of the Holy Spirit come with some complexities of backgrounds that might prevent instantaeous entrance into the Church. It might be well advised in light of these circumstances, that there might be some universal ways to make those new converts feel welcome but at the same time uphold the regulations of the Church. It might be akin to inviting someone to dinner but making them stand hungry at the door while others are enjoying a fine banquet. Although there are reasons for this, they still stand hungry none the less.
It takes a special maturity to indure this. One that can only be kindled by the Holy Spirit and a desire to partake of Jesus fully in the Eucharist. I have become more patient than I ever thought I could be. If people like me sound like they are whining, I apologize. It is not whining but the most profound level of frustration. After 8 years I have personally become weary and have to pray for strength daily. I know others have had to endure much more and have paid a more severe price for their decision. I meditate on this reality and pray for forgiveness that my burden has been light compared to those that have paid with their life.
I pray that going forward for a blessing would be a common event and ALL PRIESTS would be familiar with the practice. It would be a preferable practice to that of allowing Catholics who are not in full communion to wonder out the back door to Protestant congregations that are more than willing to welcome them and explain from their prospective why they made the right decision to leave the Church. I hope that in some regard this post has more fully explained what I was trying to share.
The peace of Jesus to you.
Cindy
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
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| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jun 6th, 2008 06:50 pm |
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| Cindy, your experience is painful. I don't know if I would have had the determination for eight years that you have had. Your analogy of a hungry person standing at the door is quite right. And some people may be so starved they will go to whatever food they can find quickly, and who could really blame them? I have seen the pope bless people who approach in the communion line with their arms crossed. This should not be a matter left to a bishop who is not in touch with the reality of what converts are going through. I know there are those who say that mass, and especially the Holy Eucharist, are not intended for a "protestant" way of thinking, i.e. fellowshipping or including everyone, making everyone welcome, etc. I say, if the priest is "in persona Christi" (sp?) he would welcome every poor soul who approaches in some way, whether by administering the Holy Eucharist or giving a blessing. I pray you will be rewarded richly for your pain and determination. God bless
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Jun 7th, 2008 03:20 pm |
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Cinlite wrote: If people like me sound like they are whining, I apologize. It is not whining but the most profound level of frustration.
Cindy, I apologize if it sounded like I thought you were whining. I didn't. Many of us cradle Catholics do understand at least in part the frustration of those who hunger for the Eucharist and cannot receive. I know people who have been members of our parish for 20-30 years without ever becoming Catholic.
My point was that there simply is no "universal" practice at this time. Yes, I do think there should be, but you had not asked for my opinion. The Catholic Church moves slowly, thank God. The idea of providing a blessing is an "innovation" that arose in the 1980's in some parishes, and has gradually spread. I do think it will eventually be accepted universally.
On those rare occasions that the Church does move quickly, it often takes decades to correct the errors that result. After Vatican II and the revision of the liturgy, abuses abounded that we have been dealing with for 40 years. The same thing happened with religious education. Today we have a whole generation of poorly educated Catholics, many of whom have left the faith.
Yes, waiting can be frustrating, but it is part of being Catholic. We must trust the Magisterium, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that it will be done properly if not quickly. And when it's done quickly, there is a tendency for human decisions rather than inspirited decisions. And those are never good in the long run.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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