Blessed Sacramentals

[CatholicCajun]

I have had several people say they do not get their items blessed by a Priest or Deacon. They just use Holy Water and bless it themselves. Can they do this? I thought for it to be a Sacramental it had to be blessed by a Priest or Deacon.

 

[Bookcat]

You are correct. And add Bishop.

 

[MtnDwellar]

According to the Catechism:

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.174 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).175

 

[porthos11]

According to the Catechism:

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.174 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).175

And sacramentals for use in prayer, such as they are set apart for a religious use, such as Rosaries, Scapulars, medals, etc. fall into the religious use category, which reserves their blessings to the clergy. The Book of Blessings would confirm as much.

So if one has a medal (especially an exorcized one), scapular, etc., laymen cannot just sprinkle holy water and consider it blessed. On the other hand, things like foods, cars, machinery that are not for religious use but whose owner would still want to invoke God’s blessings can use the formularies as permitted for laymen. Other obvious examples are parents blessing their children, guardians blessing their wards, friends invoking God’s blessings on the occasions of birthdays, engagements, illness (not the sacrament), etc.; all these can be administered by laymen.

 

[Bookcat]

According to the Catechism:

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.174 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).175

Yes and the blessing of such sacramentals is such an example of the last part.