Question: My question is a follow-up to this 2007 article on deacons. You mention that in the presence of the priest, the deacon should not bless or give the Benediction blessing after adoration. Where can we read more on this topic? Because I have seen a norm where the deacon will take care of adoration, preside vespers or morning prayer, and then immediately give the blessing as they are ordinary ministers of these offices. A priest might or might not be present, and because there is some uncertainty to his presence and to give the deacons more opportunity to preside over the liturgy and give the priest a kind of rest, why would the priest necessarily need to preside? Does this mean that if a bishop was present at adoration, he ought to give the blessing instead of the priest? What if the priest was older? What about when people are asking for blessings for their families and religious articles and cars after Mass? Should all be directed to the priest, who is already extremely busy on Sunday with Masses and confessions, or is it all right for the deacon to take care of these? — P.T., Washington, D.C.
