Tuesday, February 08, 2005
ARMS CROSSED OVER CHEST IN COMMUNION LINE
Thanks to a reader who was curious and did some digging. She turned to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament with this question:
A question came up on a website regarding the "arms crossed over chest"
by those who will not be receiving communion when they are in the
communion line. Your website has two "answer" postings that are on
this subject but don't quite answer the question I have in mind.
I understand from my parish pastor, and confirmed by your answers
posted, that it would be best for those not receiving communion to
remain in the pews ... even children when possible. That communion
isn't the time for blessings for people not receiving communion.
But what about Catholic special ceremonies. When my children received
their First communion and their father, who is not Catholic,
participated in the ceremonies, he was advised to cross his arms across
his chest to alert the Priest that he would not be receiving communion.
Is this a "new" practice of recent times due to increase in
interfaith marriages, or has this "symbol/sign" been practiced from
some time within the Church? Just wondering.
If it has been a practiced or one that was practiced prior to Vatican
II, or one instituted after Vatican II, would you please provide
information on the documents that reference this practice. A history
on its development/purpose would be greatly appreciated.
Here is the response she received:
It seems to be "new" - like the later part of the 20th century - and
in the life of the church, that's pretty new. We did not have it in
my childhood--- I"m nearly 40. It was added as a sign of hospitality
yet, in rethinking the practice of the last 15 years, people are
starting to feel that it is not a helpful symbol.
I think it did start to help interfaith marriages -- however, it is
being discouraged.
Hope this helps.
Additionally there are these comments at the website:
There is no provision for blessing people who are not able to receive Holy Communion in the Eucharistic liturgy- in fact, in a few short minutes they will be blessed during the closing rites of the Mass. This makes the blessing repetitious, a concept that was removed with the renewed liturgy of Paul VI. (The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy removed all useless repetition from the liturgy, which included multiple "signing of the cross," blessings, etc.).
The communion procession is very specific, representing that sign of the pilgrim people being nourished for the journey of faith. To come up for something that will not be received, or to join in something that one will not be participating further shows division and the feeling of being unnourished. A blessing and the reception of Holy Communion are not the same and are of different importance. Reception of Holy Communion means full membership and communion with the Church. This is a reason why people from non-Catholic churches are not able to receive - they are not a member of the Catholic Church.
Another reason, of late, why it is not helpful to have children blessed is the protection of them. Many who were abused as children, now as parents, frown on the practice of having strangers or Communion Ministers touching their children without their permission at church. The appropriate place for blessing objects or people is after the Mass. Children should want to be blessed and not forced to be touched by any one.
There is this one as well:
It has become a custom in some churches to have those who do not receive communion do this practice and receive a blessing. Lots of times, it is done to children who have not received their First Communion.
It is not in the rubrics of the Mass, nor appropriate. (It is not envisioned in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal 2002.) In fact, it is rather patronizing. If anything it symbolizes more the division between those who may receive communion and those who may not. Receiving a "token" blessing at this moment also seems to become "superstitious" when all are blessed in a few short minutes with the "final blessing" of the Mass. Children in some places prefer the blessing to Holy Communion, and have stated that they "do not want to take communion because it doesn't taste good." They prefer the blessing to Holy Communion.
At one point in the history of the church and it's worship, those who were not Catholic would be dismissed after, what we call today, the "Liturgy of the Word." Then it was also called the "Liturgy of the catechumen." This was so that the divisions would not be highlighted around the table of the Lord. Also, in our day, with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Young People, it seems also inappropriate to add this ritual, sending a mixed message to children that it is OK for priests to touch them.
In some cultures, the parents present the infant or child after Mass for a blessing. This is appropriate because the parents are asking specifically and in a different context.
The question remains, where did this begin within the Roman Catholic Church. And why?
