| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Blessing Children In The Communion Line | Sandy | Thursday, February 10, 2005 |
Question: Dear Friend, Thank you for your hard work. :-) I just had another question regarding this topic. I asked often the same question and was always told by the priest that Jesus said to let the children come to him. There and then, he would bless them. So his gesture is following and imitating Christ. My question still stand today unanswered. I am aware of spiritual communion and blessings instead of receiveing communion for those who often are unable to distiguish the presence of Jesus in a rational way and with a present mind and or, are unable to receive it like a children or a very sick person. Are children falling under the category of those who can't distiguish the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist but yet can still receive the eucharistic blessing???? Can you define in this case what would Eucharistic Blessing mean? It seems to me that having the entire congagration get up again and going all the way to the front to have their children blessed seems to be a little off hand. It would prolonged the mass a great deal. In that case i have no trouble in seeing that done at the same time as the parents recieve communion. It would be nice as well to see families get up and recieve communion all together weather it be spiritually or eucharistically. Communion also means family as i was told several times in the past. Here in a parish near me they have the children pick up a candy or a little blessed object that the little servants hold in a bowl in the middle of the line. The children don't even get to be blessed. NOW what is worst this or the previous case talked about. This, to me, is what i call abuse and over the edge. Everyone seems to glorify that gesture around here and give praises to the priests for doing such a thing for the children. The Bishop seems to be in accord with this because he celebrates mass there sometimes and lets that hapend. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated on this mater. Thank you for your answers. Sandy |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Sandy, Yes, of course children can receive a eucharistic blessing. This is when the priest makes the sign of the cross with the Host over those blessed. This isn't done at Mass, however, it is done at the benediction at the conclusion of solemn adoration with the Host inside a monstrance. Of the two, I would say that the worse abuse is distributing candy and blessed objects in the communion line. This can be done AFTER Mass. As far as imitating Christ: it seems to me that the greater concern for the priest during the celebration of Mass should be the proper celebration of Mass. It doesn't strike me as "turning children away" to have them wait until Mass is nearly finished before they receive the blessing. If a parent wishes that the child receives a special blessing then they can approach the priest after Mass, This would be a more appropriate time. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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