Talking About Closed Communion

[Mark of the Cross]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1295383665' post='2201515']
Thanks, everyone for your thoughtful responses. They were really helpful to me. At the same time, I got to see my confessor this weekend and we talked about this some. I think the reason it's always so awkward is because I'm afraid of a negative response -- as I mentioned earlier, in many circumstances it's a very fragile situation with a person who is very skittish about the Church and I only have one shot, if that makes sense.

I have the best of intentions, but sometimes it just comes out wrong.
[/quote]

Also make sure that those people do not underestimate the power of a blessing, which also is more than symbolic. Some of my most powerful experiences of feeling the presence of Jesus has been while giving the blessing of Jesus to a child or someone searching. One lady told me that she never forgot the time I blessed one of her children. The 'power' of Christ's love seemed to hit me like a lightening bolt and run down my arm and into the child and the amazing thing is she felt it also. So I was not delusional! It is said that God loves all people equally, but somehow I feel children have a rather strong edge over us. 'Blessed are the little ones, for their angels behold the face of God in Heaven!'
We are not short changing anyone by offering a blessing in lieu of the Eucharist.