Blessings

[Montbrai]

Hi

I’m new to your site and this is my question. Can a lay person perform a blessing to another lay person. By a blessing I mean int he manner that a priest uses, i.e. making the sign of the cross over the recipient.

Thanks

 

[Eilish_Maura]

See this link to the Ask An Apologist area:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=122933

“Can anyone other than a priest give a blessing?”

 

[cameron_lansing]

The Book of Blessings and the formulas in the other ritual texts provide that only the ordained make the sign of the cross over the person(s) or item(s). When a lay person conducts such rites, he or she signs him or herself only, and the language of the blessing itself is modified from that used by a cleric.

 

[markadm]

cameron_lansing: it should, of course, be pointed out that parents, for example, can bless their children.

 

[cameron_lansing]

cameron_lansing: it should, of course, be pointed out that parents, for example, can bless their children.

Of course. I would even hazard to say that they should bless their children and often. While a blessing is so provided in the Book of Blessings and parents could perform it, they need not turn to any ritual text. If a mother or father made the sign of the cross over their child(ren) at home, acting as the domestic Church, I do not think that would be problemmatic.

 

[antonyfatima]

Hi

I’m new to your site and this is my question. Can a lay person perform a blessing to another lay person. By a blessing I mean int he manner that a priest uses, i.e. making the sign of the cross over the recipient.

Thanks

There is no fault in it i think, because in south India all aged persons are blessing the newly married couple,birth days other joyfull occations and to who want their blessings, are blessing them with singn of cross such as the priest.whoever giving the blessing are having in their mind the LORD OUR JESUS CHRIST.