Posted on 06/21/2012 3:08:22 PM PDT by NYer
Incorrect.
QUAERITUR: A Baptist going up for a blessing during Communion time
"According to the Church’s liturgical laws, Communion time is for Communion. Doing something other than what the liturgical rites prescribe during Mass is not permitted. The Communion portion of Mass is governed by the rubrics, rules, just like every other part of Mass. Priests and others have no authority to change those rubrics on their own. They shouldn’t be giving blessings during Communion time. This is, nevertheless a wide-spread practice. In my opinion, all those people going up for a blessing, with good will and in good faith, are not doing anything wrong. I and others think (correctly) that the practice should be ended and people should be given the whys and wherefores. Ending it should be accompanied by lot of instruction and it should be ended through a careful and kind process."
Prove God's word wrong
I didn’t say the priest SHOULD bless someone. I said he can. He is the only one who can. A lay person can’t bless anyone.
By the way, here is a rejoinder to Fr. Z: http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2012/04/whats-wrong-with-blessing-children-in.html
I do liturgical training for my diocese and we are working hard to get the laity to realize they can’t bless anyone. Priests blessing people is another issue entirely.
I just skimmed the article for now and will read it in depth later. I had the terrifying experience of hearing a lay person at our local church encouraging the first communion children by saying something to the effect of spreading peanut butter on it.... People just don’t get it and so Thank God the priests are waking up!!
I think this is a good concept. I think all education should be based on individual ability and demonstrated comprehension, rather than the failed, assembly-line, "every X-year-old is the same," Prussian schooling model.
You are absolutely right ... lay people cannot bless others. I'm pinging Salvation to your comment. She is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and I vaguely recall her mentioning something about this on an older thread. Perhaps she can provide some clarification.
We don't see this in our parish but then we don't have lay ministers. Only the priest may distribute communion. Those children who have not yet made their First Communion, or non-catholic visitors, are blessed by the priest touching the their heads with the chalice.
I no longer am a EMHC, due to health (standing for long time — broken foot) and after reading a wonderful book that basically says that men should be EMHCs or lectors, not women.
I believe the author of the book will one day be a saint — probably not in my lifetime, but there are too many miracles connected with the author not to believe the book.
When I was distributing Holy Communion I would put my hand on the person’s shoulder and say something like “God blesses you always.” For children, I changed it to fit their age.
Never, never did I make a cross on the person’s forehead, and we do have a couple of EHMCs that do that. But they are older and will soon be retiring.
It’s only for the priest to bless a person in that way.
“bake a cake that doesn’t fall..
Cakes fall and dystopia happens and Christ had the nastiest death known to man.
Lay people cannot bless others - wierd dynamic
we can pray for each other though
Pray for our priests -
You can learn to bake a cake without falling, and Christ meant it to be.
All is well, under His wing.
What are you talking about?? this is a fallen world
well and succintly said!! Martin Luther (failed augustinian) vs. the real St. Augustine. How did those lies spread so easily?
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