Going up for a blessing at Communion time -
again?
It used to annoy me - mainly because laity cannot bless in the same way a priest or deacon does - even when you wave the host around as if blessing someone - you can't - and should not do that. A lay person is not authorized to bless
with the Blessed Sacrament. Touching people's heads - or laying on hands isn't a good idea for food handlers, so why do EM'sHC do it? It used to bother me - when I let it bother me - then I got over it, and now I generally don't care - but the practice is dumb, nonetheless. At the end of Mass we all are blessed at the final blessing - and one doesn't even need to cross arms over the chest to receive it. That said... Communion time is not
Billy-Graham-come-forward-at-the-Crusade time. Can someone please teach this stuff?
More to the point, I read today how a former alcoholic - recovering alcoholic, abstains from drinking from the cup after the reception of the host, and instead goes to the the cup, arms crossed over the breast, bows, and receives a blessing. Personal piety aside, that is setting another bad example.
Why? First of all, it is not necessary to receive under both species. Secondly, as every Catholic should know, when we receive either the sacred host, or the precious blood, be it only the smallest fragment of the body, or the slightest drop of the precious blood, we receive the entire body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. It is really that simple.
Don't be making up new rituals.
***
Bonus chat: I also noted the American flag was placed front and forward this weekend. Though we are coming up on the 4th of July, and concern for religious freedom aside, I'm wondering if the Church isn't getting too political?
Oh! Oh! And a big thank you to Michael Voris for wrecking "Amazing Grace" for me - a song I used to be able to tolerate until his spiel about how bad it is. His tirade comes to mind everytime they use the song at Mass: Nice way to foster negative feelings at the beginning of Mass, Mike. Yes, I blame you for that.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Teresa of Jesus
