Could Anyone Bless Any Object?
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsCould Anyone Bless Any Object?
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsSPIRITUALITY
Could anyone
blessing any object?
Isabelle CousturiéAug 18, 2018
Blessings are part of the life of the Church; they are a
reminder of the goodness of God. The priests bless
people, places, objects... Here is a summary of the 'rules' that
to respect.
Q
Perhaps you are wearing the medal that was blessed on the day of your baptism. Maybe
also have a rosary or a set of ten that was blessed during a
pilgrimage... You may have even had your car or house blessed. But what
Does that really mean?
The word 'bless' comes from the Latin 'bene dicere', meaning 'to speak well'. So it could
to say that, during the first days of His creation, when 'God saw that it was
good", God spoke well of His creation, that is, He blessed it. In the Old
Testament, God blesses Abraham through the mediation of Melchizedek (Gn
14,19-20) and, in the book of Numbers(Nm6,24-26God entrusts the blessing to Aaron
of the Levites, which Jews and Christians have preserved.
The blessing is not reserved for the priests either; thus Isaac gives his blessing.
paternalGn27,27In the Gospels, Jesus pronounces a blessing before
the foods, according to Jewish traditionMt14,19; 26,26; Lc9,16).
God did not take this blessing away from humanity, even after the original sin.
Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, destroyed the curse that the
man and woman had caused each other in the Garden of Eden due to their fault. He
He poured out a blessing upon us that sanctifies us. Thus began our
thanks to Christ we become holy.
But our sanctification is not acquired: it is the Holy Spirit who acts in
we to make ourselves increasingly holy. He does it through the sacraments,
but also through sacramentals, that is to say, 'the sacred signs'
instituted by the Church whose purpose is to prepare men to receive the fruit of
the sacraments and sanctifying the various circumstances of life" (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, no. 1677.
Blessings are part of these sacraments. Specifically, the blessing is
a reminder of the goodness of God: that is why it always includes 'the praise of
God for His works and His gifts, and the intercession of the Church for men
they may make use of the gifts of God according to the spirit of the Gospels.
What can be blessed?
The Church can bless people (families, the sick, missionaries, catechists,
associations, pilgrims...), animals, places (places of work, fields, premises
of associations, seminars...) and objects (working tools, vehicles,
technical facilities, objects of piety…
But be careful, a blessed place or object should not be the subject of superstition: the
The church reminds us that the purpose of these blessings is the sanctification of the
people who will make use of them. Therefore, one cannot bless an object
who intends to disobey the commandments of God (for example, a
firearm or its ammunition.
Who can bless?
The blessing is part of the common priesthood of the baptized: that is, in
absence of a priest, certain blessings (that do not pertain to either the diocese or the
the parish, nor the community, nor the objects) can be pronounced by the
lay people. However, when a priest is present, he must preside over the
ceremony.
In this case, only the priest is authorized to make a sign of the cross over
objects or people, to put their hands on them and to extend their hands during
the prayer. If a layperson is presiding, they keep their hands together during the
ceremony.
With whom?
Since the blessing is a liturgical act, it is preferable that it takes place in a
community environment: in some cases, it is even a requirement. The Church
it is recommended to be carried out in the presence of at least one believer.
What is the structure?
A blessing traditionally begins with a reading of the Word of God.
Continue with a sentence of praise and a petition for intercession. Each
blessing has a long rite and a short rite, which can be used according to
the solemnity that one wishes to give to the ceremony.
Some blessings to do at home
Family blessing, which can be said by the father or the mother.
of family:
Reading:
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (...) There the Lord bestows
with his blessing, life forever.” (Psalm 133: 1-3)
Or:
The Lord tells us, through his Apostle Paul (Phil 2:2): 'Have the same mind.'
love, one heart, one thought.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
R/ Now and forever
We bless you, Lord, because your Son, by becoming man, shared the life of
family and knew their worries and joys. We now plead with you, Lord, in
favor this family: keep it and protect it, so that, strengthened with your grace, it may rejoice
of prosperity, live in harmony and, as a domestic Church, be in the world
witness of your glory. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
R/ Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, descend
about you.
R/ Amen.
Parents, you can bless your children with the formula
next, tracing the sign of the cross on his forehead:
Holy Father, inexhaustible source of life and author of all good, we bless you and you
we give thanks, because you have wanted to enliven our communion of love with the gift
of the children; we ask that these young members of our family
find in domestic society the path by which they always tend towards
the best and may they reach one day, with your help, the goal they have set.
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
R/ Amen.
Blessings of the table:
Before the meal, everyone checks in, then:
Bless us, Lord, and bless these foods that by your goodness we are about to take.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Or else:
Protect us, Lord, our God, and grant us the sustenance that our needs.
weakness. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Or well:
Bless us, Lord, and these gifts of yours that we are about to take and that
we have received from your generosity. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
After the meal, everyone makes the sign of the cross, then:
We thank you, Almighty God, for all your blessings. You who live and
reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Or well:
We have been satisfied, Lord, with the goods you have given us; fill us also with
your mercy. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Tags:BLESSINGDUMMIES LITURGY