What's Up With the Hitler-type Salute/Blessing at Mass? [Blessing of Catachumens]

March 25, 2007

[lightman]

Bellamy, though, was a socialist. As were those of the National Socialist party of Germany.

[Deo volente]

Theologically this is quite confusing since it confuses the priestly blessing and a lay blessing. They are not the same thing and these attempts at this so-called solidarity only blurs the line between the ordained priesthood and the priesthood of the faithful.

Absolutely, and that is the goal of the modernists, to destroy that crucial distinction and thus to destroy the ministerial priesthood.

Many priests are now changing the words of the final blessing at Mass to say instead, "May Almighty God bless us..." instead of "bless you", since they don't want to appear to be different in any way from the congregation.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate the ministerial male priesthood and to open it up to everyone, especially women.

Here in Los Angeles, that goal is on a fast track with the large number of priests retiring, a dearth of vocations, and the growing number of parishes run by "Parish Life Directors", almost all of them women. In just a few years from now, there will be a handful of priests to serve 5 million Catholics, if something is not done to correct the situation.

[rogator]

"It is a extention of the hand to show the congregation is praying for those candidates and catechumens (sp) who are in the RCIA program."

Can you tell me where in the rubrics that I can find the directive for this gesture?

[A.A. Cunningham]

There was a time when the Bellamy salute was exercised while reciting the Pledge of Allegience.

[The_Reader_David]

Viewed from the Christian East, this strikes me as an innovation by some local who is tone-deaf when it comes to liturgics:

Priests (east and west) pray with both hands raised, deacons with one hand raised, and the rest of us (even those of us in minor orders) are supposed to just leave our hands down.

[lastchance]

I stand corrected. I was replying to the assertion that it was a NAZI salute. You are right the rubrics ( as far as I can find) simply call for the celebrant to extend his hands in blessing of the RCIA participants during the Rite of Welcoming. As in all things I submit fully to the teachings of Holy Mother Church. If any practice has not been forbidden or expressly allowed I submit to the ruling of my Bishop.

[rogator]

"If any practice has not been forbidden or expressly allowed I submit to the ruling of my Bishop."

Good way to look at it, especially the expressly allowed part.
Its kind of hard for the Church to expressly forbid every hare brained practice of every "liturgist" in the world. I hope you have a good bishop.
My practice is if its not in the rubrics, I don't do it.

[Salvation]

**Where the heck did this come from? **

Do you believe that you have blessings within you to give these people?

Of course you do, so do all of us.

All the priest is doing, (Doesn't sound like he did too good of a job of it, however, in your case.) is asking you to extend you hand in prayer over those catechumens and candidates.

Have you ever been to a healing Mass. The priest extends his hands over your head and prays for the healing of (physical, spiritual, emotional -- whatever the need.) over the person seeking the healing.

This is doing the same thing, but the priest is asking all to join in giving some of their holiness/grace to those coming into the church.

[rogator]

"This is doing the same thing, but the priest is asking all to join in giving some of their holiness/grace to those coming into the church."

Actually, he is asking all to violate Church liturgical law.
It is not in the rubrics and it is contrary to the instructions in the Book of Blessings.

[lastchance]

Yes I do have a good Bishop. I am in the Diocese of Palm Beach. I truly don't know what I would do if I had ever been under the shepherding of a Bishop such as Weakland or others who have caused such scandal to the faithful.

Then God for the charism of Infallibility given to our Holy Father.

[lastchance]

Whoops. That should read Thank God.

[TexasKamaAina]

Bellamy, though, was a socialist.

As were those of the National Socialist party of Germany.

Precisely.