Blessings at Communion?

Question: When ministers of the Eucharist bless children during Communion, should they do so while holding the host? It seems to be done differently in different areas. Is there a general rule, or does it depend on the bishops in the dioceses?

Answer by Fr Thomas Plastow SJ: This is a complex question. In order to do it justice, we must first define our expressions clearly. Please excuse me if you think this looks like nitpicking!

Lay people who are commissioned to distribute Holy Communion at Mass, take Communion to the sick, and preside at a Sunday service in the absence of a priest or deacon are called “extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion”. This title does not exactly roll off the tongue, but its purpose is:

• firstly, to distinguish the ordinary ministers (bishops, priests, deacons) from the extraordinary (acolytes and temporary lay ministers), and
• secondly, to distinguish the Eucharist (the Mass) from Holy Communion (what is consumed).

Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, only priests distributed Communion at Mass. The communicant knelt, the priest said “Corpus Christi” while blessing the communicant with the host, and then he placed the host on the communicant’s tongue. Those who were not going to receive did not approach the altar.

The situation today

Today we have a peculiar arrangement in which most parishioners come forward at Communion time. Some of those who request a blessing will cross their arms over their chests, but often the priest and extraordinary ministers are left guessing what an individual is doing there.

In the past 20 years or so, we have moved from the priest blessing babies held in the arms of communicants to the blessing of all the children who follow behind their parents, to the blessing of adults who may be non-Catholic visitors, or Catholics who feel unworthy to receive.

One can understand parents being unwilling to leave small children in the pew, but does everyone have to come forward? Isn’t it absurd when a person requests a blessing during Holy Communion, comes up again during the announcements for a birthday blessing, and returns to her place in time for the Final Blessing?

Some extraordinary ministers feel they are unable to bless people, thinking this should be done by the priest. The priest then finds himself taking care of all the blessings while the lay ministers see to the Communions! Suspecting that they cannot impart a blessing, some extraordinary ministers resort to blessing individuals with the sacred host.

Their false modesty results in “mini-Benedictions of the Blessed Sacrament”, which are not permitted. Ordinary ministers may lead Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, while extraordinary ministers may only expose and repose the ciborium or monstrance, not bless with it.

In many countries it is common for older people to bless younger ones, especially members of their own families. This is why the Vatican permits lay ministers to ask God to bless other individuals. So, every extraordinary minister has the right to bless those who come forward — but not with the host.

This having been said, I think it’s time we catechised the faithful about the meaning of the blessings at Mass, and questioned all these individualistic blessings. What are they meant to achieve, especially when a communal blessing is going to be imparted at the end of Mass?