A reader writes:
Every year, our pastor offers the blessing of throats on the feast of St. Blaise. The folks at Mass line up in two rows, just like for communion, and the priest gives blessings on one side while a woman from the congregation gives blessings on the other side.
My understanding of canon 1169 is that only ordained persons can give blessings. (Oh, I should have mentioned that the woman in question is not a priest or a deacon.) So I worry that the non-priest blessing throats is in fact simulating a sacred thing, and that there is some kind of sacriledge involved.
Let’s start with canon 1169, since you mention it. Here ’tis:
Can. 1169 §1. Those marked with the episcopal character and presbyters permitted by law or legitimate grant can perform consecrations and dedications validly.
§2. Any presbyter can impart blessings except those reserved to the Roman Pontiff or bishops.
§3. A deacon can impart only those blessings expressly permitted by law.
If that’s all the law said then your conclusion that only a cleric can give sacramentals like the St. Blase blessing would be arguable, but that’s not all that the law says. There is also canon 1168:
Can. 1168 The minister of sacramentals is a cleric
who has been provided with the requisite power. According to the norm of the
liturgical books and to the judgment of the local ordinary lay persons who
possess the appropriate qualities can also administer some sacramentals.
So the question is: Is the St. Blase blessing one that the liturgical books empower lay people to give?
Yes.
The Book of Blessings provides the following:
1626 The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. If the blessing is conferred during Mass, the blessing follows the homily and general intercessions, or, for pastoral reasons, the prayer of blessing may take the place of the final blessing of the Mass. When the blessing is given outside Mass, it is preceded by a brief celebration of the word of God. If the blessing is to be celebrated at Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer, it is given after the reading and responsory (and homily) and before the gospel canticle.
While we at it, let’s clear up a few other potential worries that folks might have based on what they see and hear at Mass today regarding the St. Blase blessing.
1627 The blessing may be given by touching the throat of each person with two candles blessed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2) and which have been joined together in the form of a cross.
1628 If, for pastoral reasons, each individual cannot be blessed in the manner described in no. 1627, for example when great numbers are gathered for the blessing or when thememorial of Saint Blase occurs on a Sunday, a priest or deacon may give the blessing to all assembled by extending hands, without the crossed candles, over the people while saying the prayer of blessing. A lay minister says the prayer proper to lay ministers without making the sign of the cross.
1629 The blessing may also be given to the sick or the elderly in their homes when they cannot attend the parish celebration.
1633 . . . During trhe blessing suitable psalms or other suitable songs may be sung.
Hope this helps!
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