This is a genuinely important question — and the honest answer may surprise many well-meaning Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs). There's a real distinction between what has become common parish practice and what Church law and the Congregation for Divine Worship (CDW) actually teach. Here's the full picture, presented with clarity and charity:

⚠️ The Key Truth: EMHCs Cannot Give Sacramental Blessings

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, who are always laity, cannot give sacramental blessings within Mass. This is grounded directly in Canon Law.

Canon 1169 of the Code of Canon Law addresses this directly: those marked with the episcopal character and presbyters permitted by law can perform consecrations and dedications validly; any presbyter can impart blessings except those reserved to the Roman Pontiff or bishops; a deacon can impart only those blessings expressly permitted by law.

Notice who is missing from that list — the laity. There is simply no allowance whatsoever for a lay person or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to impart blessings upon the faithful. Only the priest or a deacon (and only under certain circumstances) can give blessings.

The Congregation for Divine Worship (CDW) has weighed in clearly: the CDW clarifies that there should not be separate blessings for any person during the Communion rite, stating that "lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings," and emphasizes that the final blessing at the conclusion of the Mass occurs "just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion."

There is nothing in the Church's liturgy that calls for those not receiving Communion to present themselves for a special blessing — in fact, it actually disrupts the liturgical action taking place.

Why This Practice Became So Common

Several sources affirm that the custom was popularized by Dale Fushek, who founded Life Teen in the early 1980s. The practice spread throughout the U.S. and beyond, and today it is so common that some parishes have codified it in their own instructions. Good intentions drove it — but widespread adoption does not equal liturgical licitness.

What an EMHC Should Do Instead

When someone approaches with arms folded across the chest:

1. Do not attempt a formal blessing — that belongs to ordained ministers.
2. A kind word is permitted — some parish guidelines suggest simple phrases that are not formal blessings. Some parishes have instructed EMHCs to say something like "Receive the Lord Jesus in your heart" or "Jesus loves you" to children — these words are not blessings but rather admonitions and joyful declarations.
3. Do not make the Sign of the Cross over the person — making the Sign of the Cross is reserved for clergy only.
4. Do not touch the person — do not touch the communicant, as touching anything besides the hosts has the potential to contaminate your hands.
5. Do not hold the Blessed Sacrament while doing anything — do not hold the Precious Body while giving any kind of blessing or gesture.

The Beautiful Reality

Technically speaking, it is not proper for a minister to offer a blessing while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed — because Christ present in the Sacrament is Himself the highest blessing. The Eucharist itself radiates the grace of God. The most loving thing an EMHC can do for someone not receiving is to reverently continue the distribution and trust that everyone in the congregation will receive a blessing at the end of Mass just a few minutes later, whether they have received the Eucharist or not. Let this blessing be enough.

Practical Recommendation

If there is uncertainty about what the pastor or diocese permits, bring this question directly to the pastor or liturgy coordinator. The explanation of why EMHCs should not bless non-communicants should actually be a part of EMHC training. The better-formed an EMHC is, the more reverently and beautifully this sacred ministry is carried out.

Here is something worth reflecting on: If the Eucharist truly is the source and summit of the Christian life — the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ — does it make sense that any gesture or word from a lay minister could be a greater sign of God's love than simply being in the presence of the Lord Himself during the Communion Rite? What does that say about how we should help people understand what they are truly encountering at Mass?

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