Author Topic: A History of Blessing Infants and Children At Communion (Read 1057 times)

GGMoreno · « **on:** April 19, 2015, 10:36:03 PM »

Hello All,

Does anyone have an idea when this practice started? I ran into this at Novus Ordo parishes. I thought it was part and parcel. Then, I ran into it at FSSP. I thought, perhaps the bishops are requesting this from them. As of late, I have found this in Society chapels across the states. Any idea where and when this practice began?

Thanks.

Nadir · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2015, 12:25:06 AM »

I have only ever seen this at the Novus OPrdo. It was not done when the person receiving knelt at the communion rail. Usually one parent would go to Communion while the other looked after small children in the pew, then the other parent would go up to receive.

Dolores · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2015, 08:03:48 AM »

I have seen this at all manner of traditional Masses. My grandmother says it was done when she was young (pre-VII).

GGMoreno · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2015, 10:35:28 AM »

Thank you, Delores. So I guess this is part of the norm for Latin Mass?

Dolores · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2015, 03:50:49 PM »

Quote from: GGMoreno

Thank you, Delores. So I guess this is part of the norm for Latin Mass?

Yes, at least where I have been, and where my grandmother grew up. I doubt very much that there are any rubrics on the matter, considering that there are really no rubrics at all concerning distribution of Communion to the congregation at Mass.

TKGS · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2015, 07:22:56 PM »

When I was young (this was during Vatican 2), few parents ever brought younger than about 5 years old children into the church during Mass at our parish. Some parents went to different Masses (remember that back then many parishes had several Masses each Sunday). A few volunteers also babysat younger children during one or two of the Masses (I can't remember for sure, though they definitely babysat during the 10:00 am High Mass).

I doubt that there was a universal practice one way or another when it came to taking babies and children to the communion rail, but, given the testimony above, it does not appear to be a Novus Ordo innovation.

GGMoreno · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2015, 10:42:46 PM »

Thank you. This is good information. I am glad to be corrected.

Quasimodo · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:08:32 AM »

It is common. When I bring a child forward I'm not bringing them up for a blessing. I'm bringing them because I don't trust them in the pew unsupervised. I prefer not to bring them to the rail, but sometimes it's unavoidable with 7 kids under 4.

clare · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:35:59 AM »

I've seen it often at SSPX chapels over the last 15 years (i.e. since I've been attending). Some priests do it, some don't. Custom may vary, as they say! I like the practice, personally.

TKGS · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:55:44 AM »

I can imagine no valid objection to a priest giving an impromptu blessing to the children. I, too, have seen that some priests give a blessing and others do not. I've never seen anyone complain either way.

Here are practices in the Novus Ordo that I do object to:

1. When I was still mired in the Novus Ordo, I never saw one of the ordinary laymen give any kind of blessing to young children or babies in arms when giving communion standing in the queue. However, I was in a parish that was run by a nun (who one wouldn't know was a nun just by looking at her, though she always wore a skirt and jacket that matched the color of the vestments) who would hold the communion host and "bless" people not receiving communion with the host.

2. In the Novus Ordo it is often encouraged that everyone go to communion (so as not to be conspicuous in remaining in the pew) but, if the person believes he should not receive communion for any reason, the person folds his arms across his or her chest (as opposed to holding his hands out to receive the wafer) and the priest will bless the individual. I've even seen people do this to a layman handing out communion who, rather embarrassingly, "blessed" the individual.

Quasimodo · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2015, 07:46:43 AM »

I prefer to not take the kids up unless I have to. It seems strange to me for someone to go up for a blessing when it isn't time for a blessing, but time for Communion. The children get to receive a blessing from the pew along with everyone else anyway.