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St. Blaise blessing imparted by lay people Joseph Monday, February 3, 2014

Question:

Today, after mass, the blessing of the throats for St. Blaise's day was imparted by the priest and by five or six lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

First, the priest gave the blessing to the ministers, and then gave each one a pair of candles. The ministers blessed each person exactly as the priest was doing, using the same formula and applying the candles to the throats with the left hand and laying the right hand on the head of the parishioner while saying the blessing.

It didn't look right to me, so I went in the priest's line and received the blessing from him, and other people did the same.

Can the lay communion ministers impart the blessing just like the priest? Are there liturgical rules to allow that?
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Joseph,

The Blessing of the Throats is found in the Book of Blessings and is liturgical prayer, and therefore the rites and rules may not be changed since the prayer belongs to the entire Church.

Laymen are allowed to administer the blessing, however they *must* follow a different rite from the priest's and deacon's.  Basically, they say the prayer of blessing but omit the making of the Sign of the Cross.  They simply would say, "In the name of the Father"..  etc. without making the cross with their hands as the priests and deacons do.

The entire rite can be found here:

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=733

Thank you!

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.