How do I receive a blessing from the priest?

[Edmundus1581]

Originally Posted by liturgyluver

Thank you for doing this. I am really annoyed the way some people have seized on the letter and given it an authority it clearly doesn't merit, and then got angry when I have pointed this out. I even checked the position with the Archbishops Office in England and they confirmed that what you said above AND that Rome is fully aware that this practice continues. Thanks again.

Thankyou, and I agree. The moderator of Liturgy and Sacraments has responded to my request, by adding the follow up response from Rome (2009) to the original letter (2008).

[paperwight66]

Originally Posted by Edmundus1581

Thankyou, and I agree. The moderator of Liturgy and Sacraments has responded to my request, by adding the follow up response from Rome (2009) to the original letter (2008).

That's excellent. Well done.

[Zundrah]

"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 can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin)."


Although the letter as such is not legally binding, some of its points, such as No. 2 on the prohibition of lay ministers giving liturgical blessings, are merely restatements of existing law and as such are already obligatory.

Are we sure though that this finally is the latest info on the topic?

[Edmundus1581]

Originally Posted by Zundrah

Are we sure though that this finally is the latest info on the topic?

99.999% sure.

I have responded to three threads on this the last few months, and done many google searches on "blessings holy communion", etc. and, as far as I can tell, there has been nothing official since Blessings at Holy Communion[Zenit], of March 24 2009.

BTW, I'm not sure if you noticed in your extract that the statement re "existing laws" refers to "such as No. 2", even though it appears beside no. 5, which you included.

Finally, just a personal note on why I bother. It's not because I want to advocate any particular position on the matter. Each time it is has been because a non-Catholic has innocently asked whether they are permitted to (or, in this case), how to, and has been told definitely "No" on the basis of the private letter of 2009, thus giving it an authority which it does not claim . I simply wanted to set their mind at ease that they are permitted to, if the parish priest allows it.