Who Has The "power"

[premed_jakey]

I have only seen Priests and Deacons do it, but if you use extraordinary Eucharistic ministers, they are able to bless those who dont receive the Eucharist right? So is it only for priests and deacons, and lay who are distributing the Eucharist, or can any lay Catholic do it?

[Theoketos]

When a member of the clergy bless they do so in a different manner then a lay person because their priesthood allows them to act in the person of Christ. It is a much more efficacious sacramental blessing coming from an [i]ordained [/i] minister.

However, all Christians, by virtue of their baptism may call down blessing upon each other. I say this because intercessory prayer is a very good and holy thing. A colloquial usage of this 'power' would be asking a blessing of health on a person whom has just sneezed.

Though honestly, it bothers me when extraordinary minister 'blesses' my daughter. (Thankfully my parish has no more then one per mass usually.) I do not think that they should do such actions. Why you ask? It is not called for in the GIRM. AND the congregation receives a sacramental blessing from the priest very soon at the end of Mass. And finally and most importantly, because it is the clericalization of the laity. It confuses the true vocation of the Laity. (Which is not to do the sacred ministries proper to priests, but shine the light of the Gospel on the secular order). Anything that confuses this vocation is a tremendous danger and should be avoided diligently.