Q: I would
like to know how ministers are to treat those who don’t receive communion in
the communion line. We have heard many things:
don’t touch them, can’t make the sign of the cross over them, simply say, God
Bless you, etc. What would be the best practice – thanks.
==
A: There are
many ways to do this, but we have no guidelines from the Vatican, the USCCB or
any other source. At communion minister training, I tell people that I
distribute communion with my right hand, and, if a non-communicant comes
forward, I trace the sign of the cross on their forehead with my left hand,
saying nothing.
It is clearly not appropriate for a lay person to use the
entire hand to make a blessing in the manner of a priest. I wish priests would
not use their hand in blessing because I think that confuses the purpose of
communion.
But there’s no rule.