Blessings

[Just_One_Touch]

I heard that someone was coming to a Catholic church a little while ago, and a religion teacher at the nearby school said that he would be giving a papal blessing, but he isn’t the pope. What’s going on here?

 

[FightingFat]

Absolutely no idea!

 

[larsenl1]

I heard that someone was coming to a Catholic church a little while ago, and a religion teacher at the nearby school said that he would be giving a papal blessing, but he isn’t the pope. What’s going on here?

I would ask the teacher directly what he/she said. It sounds like this is second hand information.

Our priest has handed out rosaries that received a papal blessing, for example, when he visited the Vatican.

 

[surfinpure]

An official Papal blessing is a framed certificate a couple or family can hang in their home that represents an obtained blessing from the Pope himself. I don’t know how to go about getting one of these, but two families we know have them, and it is not uncommon for them to be given at major wedding anniversary celebrations. A priest would have to go through the process to obtain these from the Vatican beforehand (not something one can just whip up, obviously).

My guess is somebody was due to receive one of these blessings, since that’s the only way someone besides the Pope can “give” a Papal blessing - as a formal presentation.

Hope this helps.

mary

Edit: Just found this other thread. Apparently they can be obtained through the chancery for special occasions. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=53833

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I recall that years ago the priest leading a retreat or mission was often empowered by the pope to give a papal blessing at the closing rites.

 

[thistle]

I heard that someone was coming to a Catholic church a little while ago, and a religion teacher at the nearby school said that he would be giving a papal blessing, but he isn’t the pope. What’s going on here?

I assume there will be a fee to cover all the adminstrative work but anyway below is what a Papal Blessing is.

Papal Blessings, or Benediction Papalis, are inscribed certificates conferred by the Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church to honor baptisms, confirmations, marriages, anniversaries and other special celebrations of the faith’s baptized members.

Appearance

A Papal Blessing features hand painted calligraphy on parchment with the papal seal and signature, and the current Pope’s picture.

Application

Catholics can apply for a blessing through their Chancery Office. You are advised to apply at least three months and possibly six months before the event because the request must be processed at the Chancery and then sent to Rome where the blessings are issued.

Requirements

The Chancery Office will help with paperwork, questions, selecting the blessing language and choosing the style of certificate. You will need the name of your priest, parish, town and country to witness that you are Catholic.