Blessings by the laity OK?

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Is it proper for the laity to administer blessings (like a parent to a child), and if so, are there any “rules” or guidelines to reference? Can these blessings be given in public?
 
Steve Girone:
Is it proper for the laity to administer blessings (like a parent to a child), and if so, are there any “rules” or guidelines to reference? Can these blessings be given in public?
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Well, Steve… here’s my take…

Recall the declaration in the Epistle of James, wherein he reminds us that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman} avails much.

It would be ignoring that fact, or saying James was a liar, or saying God couldn’t work through a layperson to bless someone. God can work through some of the most amazingly unworthy or unsuspecting vessels!

If a blessing is said - especially as a prayerful one - by a layperson in that frame of mind, there is no reason why we should expect it would not have the desired effect.

Note that this is different from pronouncing or declaring a blessing in the name of the Church. That is what bishops and priests do, and to a quite limited extent, deacons. The laity don’t have the authority of the Church to pronounce blessings on behalf of the Church. Which is way different from not being able to give a blessing by praying to God that the blessing will be given.
 
Steve Girone:
Is it proper for the laity to administer blessings (like a parent to a child), and if so, are there any “rules” or guidelines to reference? Can these blessings be given in public?
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Depends on the context.

It becomes error when its done in the context of the abuse of ‘clericalization of the laity’ such as in the communion line with the EXTRA unnecessary lay distributors. In Mass the laity should not be conferring blessings.

Otherwise in classrooms and such its been common practice for laity to bless children. For such an example.
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but another person can not bless another person regardless the setting with the sign of the cross unless the person giving the blessing is a priest? (Just like at the end of mass the priest says “May almighty God Bless you…” and makes the sign of the cross).
 
My priest gave up his life, he made solemn vows to God. I will never accept a blessing by anyone but him. NEVER.
 
Some good replies. Thanks.

For those who are opposed to blessings by the laity (and I’m not talking about during the Mass), I’m wondering if there is some specific “official” reference that could be pointed out to support your positions (not that I disagree, I’m mostly just curious and looking for solid answers).
 
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EddieArent:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but another person can not bless another person regardless the setting with the sign of the cross unless the person giving the blessing is a priest? (Just like at the end of mass the priest says “May almighty God Bless you…” and makes the sign of the cross).
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There is no prohibition against the sign of the cross unless it is used in such a fashion as to usurp the authority of the clergy, as another poster has mentioned. If one is not imitating clergy, “playing” clergy for lack of a better term, it is perfectly permissible. It has been done for a long, long time. Lay people cannot pronounce blessings in the name of the Church. Outside that, there is no restriction on lay people asking God to bless something or someone, whether they use the sign of the cross of not.
 
I would recommed the “Book of Blessings”. It specifies the format and who the proper ministers are for each type of Blessing.
 
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mgy100:
My priest gave up his life, he made solemn vows to God. I will never accept a blessing by anyone but him. NEVER.
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How holy of you! No doubt God will be extremely pleased, probably enough to take some time off your trip in purgatory. Imagine! How uppity could you get - I mean ALLOWING some poor slob of a layman to ask God to bless you! How DARE he??!! :confused:

You really think God expects you to REFUSE someone’s blessing? :eek:

I suggest some learning - and some growing up. You’re in danger of showing self-righteousness and/or arrogance.
 
Reply: Sign of the Cross;

“When a priest is ordained, his hands are anointed with holy oil to give them the power to confer blessings by the sign of the cross. In the administration of all the sacraments this holy sign is used at least once, and in some of them it is employed [more than once. For example, in the Sacrament of the Sick the priest anoints the sick person with oil using a small sign of the cross on the forehead and on the palms of the hands].”

landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/sign_of_the_cross.htm
 
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EddieArent:
Reply: Sign of the Cross;

" For example, in the Sacrament of the Sick the priest anoints the sick person with oil using a small sign of the cross on the forehead and on the palms of the hands]."

A lay EM did this to the patient when showing me how he gives the Eucharist to a shut-in. I was a little surprised. It wasn’t in the book for that particular rite. It seemed very priestly.

Was he wrong to do this? (Or is this basically what the argument is about here?)
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EddieArent:
Reply: Sign of the Cross;

“When a priest is ordained, his hands are anointed with holy oil to give them the power to confer blessings by the sign of the cross. In the administration of all the sacraments this holy sign is used at least once, and in some of them it is employed [more than once. For example, in the Sacrament of the Sick the priest anoints the sick person with oil using a small sign of the cross on the forehead and on the palms of the hands].”

landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/sign_of_the_cross.htm
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Great info, Eddie! 👍

This explains very well what happens when a priest is ordained and given the ability to pronounce blessings in the name of and on behalf of the Church.

However, readers should understand that it is NOT a prohibition against use of the sign of the cross by laity. When you make the sign of the cross upon entering church, beginning or ending a prayer, or at other times, is it not called “blessing oneself?”

Check the article here: newadvent.org/cathen/13785a.htm

See also this site: stisidore-yubacity.org/signofthecross.htm

For more catechetical reference, see: landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/a_blessing_of_persons.htm

Check out: cin.org/mateo/9306232.html
Note Fr Mateo’s comment toward limiting the use of the sign of the cross toward others is within the context of the Mass.

blessedsacrament.com/theology/q179.html

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0243.html

I HOPE this can answer the question(s) posed. It is certain that laity CAN and SHOULD give blessings. They do it in a more limited scope than clergy, but that they can, do, and should do it is without question.

For those, like one of the earlier posters, who feel they can’t accept that, that is a personal decision. But it is NOT a decision that is taught or required by the Catholic Church.
 
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EddieArent:
Reply: Sign of the Cross;

“When a priest is ordained, his hands are anointed with holy oil to give them the power to confer blessings by the sign of the cross. In the administration of all the sacraments this holy sign is used at least once, and in some of them it is employed [more than once. For example, in the Sacrament of the Sick the priest anoints the sick person with oil using a small sign of the cross on the forehead and on the palms of the hands].”

landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/sign_of_the_cross.htm
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Actually, Eddie a priest’s hands are not anointed to give blessings, but to confect the Eucharist. It’s a misconception many people hold, but the ability to bless things, people, etc. is not tied to having their hands anointed.

This is evidenced by the fact that deacons can bless all sorts of things & people yet they do not have their hands anointed. The power to bless comes through the Holy Spirit that the ordaining bishop infuses the minister (deacon OR priest) with. This is why either a priest or deacon can give Benediction, but a lay person cannot bless the people with the monstrance. Giving a blessing requires the exercise of sacred orders, whereas requesting a blessing can be done by anyone.

Some people also incorrectly think that they should only receive Holy Communion from a priest because his hands were anointed. Again they were anointed to offer Mass, not to distribute Communion. This is evidenced by the fact that the deacon has the charge of the care of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the deacon who retrieves the Blessed Sacrament from the tabranacle, replaces it, purifies the vessels, and takes Holy Communion to the sick.

But as one previous poster mentioned the simple answer is to look in the Book of Blessings. Nearly every blessing contained in it can be given by a deacon or priest. Furthermore, the Book of Blessings gives explicit instruction as to whether a lay person can give the blessing, and if so, gives the proper form and words for it. Only a cleric (bishop, priest or deacon) makes the Sign of the Cross over the person or object being blessed. This is because only an official minister of the Church can pronounce a blessing in the name of the Church.

It’s a bit of a fine distinction, but this is what it amounts to: a lay person requests a blessing upon someone (say their child), whereas a cleric gives a blessing to someone (because of the exercise of sacred power that was poured upon them at their ordination) in the name of the Church.

That’s also the reason that only a cleric greets the people with the words “the Lord be with you.” If a layperson were to read the Gospel during a Communion service at a nursing home, for instance, they would not use the clerical greeting, which is an official action of extending peace and blessing upon the people who are about to hear the holy Gospel.

Sorry for the long post, but in the end it’s as simple as this, the Book of Blessings directs who can give what blessings, and what words and actions they would take.

And since I am indeed, a cleric I can properly end this post with:

May almighty God bless you all,
 
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Servant1:
How holy of you! No doubt God will be extremely pleased, probably enough to take some time off your trip in purgatory. Imagine! How uppity could you get - I mean ALLOWING some poor slob of a layman to ask God to bless you! How DARE he??!! :confused:

You really think God expects you to REFUSE someone’s blessing? :eek:

I suggest some learning - and some growing up. You’re in danger of showing self-righteousness and/or arrogance.
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Nice charitable response.
 
“Lay persons” who are parents and Godparents of someone being baptized place the sign of the cross on the childs head at the entrance to the church. Sponsors also place the sign of the cross during a rite of initiation at Mass, they bless the persons forehead, eyes, mouth, shoulders, hands, heart, and feet, that they might serve God and the Church. I will gladly accept any blessings that come my way.

May God Bless you all…😃
 
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Diaconia:
… This is because only an official minister of the Church can pronounce a blessing in the name of the Church.

It’s a bit of a fine distinction, but this is what it amounts to: a lay person requests a blessing upon someone (say their child), whereas a cleric gives a blessing to someone (because of the exercise of sacred power that was poured upon them at their ordination) in the name of the Church.
And since I am indeed, a cleric I can properly end this post with:

May almighty God bless you all,
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👍 Good post, Fr Deacon! You said more clearly several of the things I was trying to say - especially including the above.

And, as I am a layman, using the subjunctive “MAY” and asking a blessing rather than pronouncing in the name of the Church, I,too can legitimately end my post with a hearty:

May God bless you, and us all!
 
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Stu:
Nice charitable response.
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That’s true, Stu. My response was not very charitable. I could have thought of a gentler way to chide a brother or sister, who, in spite of the wrong tone I took, needed some attitude adjustment.

Perhaps it did provide an example of the self-righteousness I was trying to point out to the one to whom I was responding. I was no less charitable than that one.

But we know two wrongs don’t make a right, do they?

Your point is well made, and is taken in the way in which I trust you made iit - with no will will whatever, and with an appeal to the mercies of God for me and all sinners.
 
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Servant1:
That’s true, Stu. My response was not very charitable. I could have thought of a gentler way to chide a brother or sister, who, in spite of the wrong tone I took, needed some attitude adjustment.

Perhaps it did provide an example of the self-righteousness I was trying to point out to the one to whom I was responding. I was no less charitable than that one.

But we know two wrongs don’t make a right, do they?

Your point is well made, and is taken in the way in which I trust you made iit - with no will will whatever, and with an appeal to the mercies of God for me and all sinners.
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I applaud your response. Especially since I too can have a rather quick and sharp tongue at times.

Merry Christmas.
 
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