Blessings During Holy Communion
April 21, 2024
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~
What is the last thing a priest does at the end of Mass? He gives a blessing and a farewell: “May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Mass is ended, go in peace.” That should sound really familiar because the presiding priest does that at the end of every Mass. So why do people come forward during the Communion rite to receive a blessing when they are going to receive one at the end of Mass? Great question. Of course, this practice is so widespread that if I were not to do it during the Communion rite, people would think that I refused them or others a blessing. People wouldn’t understand and would interpret it as me being mean. I know, because once in a while someone will not see the blessing I give in the Communion line and will falsely accuse me of being awful. Please read on.
Receiving blessings during the Communion rite got its start years ago in an attempt to make those who weren’t receiving Holy Communion feel more welcomed. Yet, with all things that are added to the Mass without proper vetting and authorization, problems are sure to follow.
In 2008, Father Anthony Ward, the undersecretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican (the official liturgy office of the Catholic Church), sent out a letter in a response to a private query about blessings being given out during the Communion rite at Mass.[1] In it, he reiterates the Church’s teaching on the matter. Here I quote some (not all) of the relevant numbers in his response, and I add my own further insights.
#1. The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.
So, receiving a blessing during the Communion rite is not necessary. Everyone gets one at the end of Mass.
#2. Lay people (non-clergy), within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest.[2]
Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, or EM’s, are the people who give out Holy Communion during Mass but are not deacons, priests, or bishops. They should not give out blessings during Mass. At Holy Redeemer they say, “Jesus loves you.” Since five out of six Communion lines have an EM at the head of them, most people coming forward to receive a blessing are not getting one.
#3. Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands — which has its own sacramental significance — by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.
There is also the issue of hygiene: touching people’s heads while touching the Consecrated Host that is going to go in people’s mouths is a bad idea. Someone last weekend asked me why I didn’t do that and was upset until I explained why I didn’t.
#5. In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church's discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in canon 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin)."
All people are welcomed and encouraged to attend Mass. Indeed, we should be inviting people to attend Mass, including non-Catholics, and Catholics who are not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion. Reception of Holy Communion is for Catholics who are properly disposed, meaning: 1) Catholics, 2) who have received their First Holy Communion, and 3) are in a state of grace (not aware of unconfessed mortal sin). If a person receives Holy Communion while violating any one of these three things, then they commit a grave sin at Mass (1 Cor. 11:27-30) – yikes!
If everyone is coming forward during the Communion rite, then those who are not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion naturally think they should too. Conversely, seeing others remain in their pews would communicate that it is okay for those not properly disposed to stay put too. Furthermore, if a person of good will is not able to receive Holy Communion at Mass, they can still seek communion with God and His grace during the Communion rite in their pew through what is known as “spiritual communion.” This would be a great time to get out the red Lumen Christi Missal in your pew and pray the prayer on the first page opposite the front cover for: 1) the day that you can receive Holy Communion, 2) to ask Our Lord to be received into your heart, and 3) to worship, adore, praise, and thank our loving God. Spiritual communion has great merit and is strongly encouraged.
Some people come forward for a blessing, yet due to confused body language, receive Holy Communion instead because they did not adequately indicate that they were only seeking a blessing. This is “grave matter,” and it affects both the one receiving Our Lord and the one giving Him out.
Down through the centuries, many people have joined the Church so that they could receive Holy Communion. Receiving a blessing during the Communion rite might satisfy some people enough to never actually take the steps to regularize their situation before God and the Church.
And finally, this. By extending the time for the communion rite, it adds unnecessary length to the Mass.
Most Mass goers don’t read my pastor’s columns, and everyone visits other parishes, or move to new ones all the time. So, it is not sensible or realistic of me to try to enforce a no-blessing policy during the Communion rite until the Pope or our Archbishop makes things clear beyond our parish boundaries. Therefore, I will graciously continue to give blessings during the Communion rite to anyone who approaches me for one. With that said, if you are inviting a non-Catholic, or a Catholic that is not in a state of grace, to attend Mass with you, then please talk to them before Mass about simply staying in the pew and praying during the Communion rite. This puts them at peace, not having to worry about what to do if they were to come forward.
A final reminder: if you or someone in your charge is coming forward for a blessing during the Communion rite, then their arms should be clearly crossed, or a finger clearly laid over the lips to prevent confusion.
In the True Presence of Our Eucharistic Lord,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
