Many otherwise orthodox commentators have forgotten Christian anthropology. People are simultaneously individual and social. As such, relationships exist and those relationships are the social dimension of the human person. These relationships come is all shapes and sizes, and exist prior to any ceremony.
Some cases for consideration:
- can a graduating class be blessed?
- can a man and his widowed mother come in for a blessing?
- can a woman and her mother-in-law receive a blessing?
- can a group of friends going on mission work receive a blessing (what if it's only two people)?
- can apostolate groups receive a blessing?
I'd suggest that Fernandez's example is provided for ministers who may have scruples, and gives them a way of individualizing blessings while still responding in a welcoming way (although if they use the blessing as written, is it still spontaneous?).
Many otherwise orthodox commentators have forgotten Christian anthropology. People are simultaneously individual and social. As such, relationships exist and those relationships are the social dimension of the human person. These relationships come is all shapes and sizes, and exist prior to any ceremony.
Some cases for consideration:
- can a graduating class be blessed?
- can a man and his widowed mother come in for a blessing?
- can a woman and her mother-in-law receive a blessing?
- can a group of friends going on mission work receive a blessing (what if it's only two people)?
- can apostolate groups receive a blessing?
I'd suggest that Fernandez's example is provided for ministers who may have scruples, and gives them a way of individualizing blessings while still responding in a welcoming way (although if they use the blessing as written, is it still spontaneous?).