Can a lay person bless a candle?

[Sirach2]

In 1917, that may have been Francisco’s understanding. He was not learned. The latest CCC with the article I quoted to you (#1669) is much more relevant today and is a valid source. So is Fr. Alar’s teaching that I quoted above.

 

[porthos11]

In 1917, that may have been Francisco’s understanding. He was not learned. The latest CCC with the article I quoted to you (#1669) is much more relevant today and is a valid source. So is Fr. Alar’s teaching that I quoted above.

You cannot take CCC n. 1669 in isolation. In fact it is quite clear from n. 1669 that there are degrees in blessings such that the more they pertain to ecclesiastical life, they become more reserved to ordained clergy.

In addition to the Catechism, the authoritiative resource is the Book of Blessings. There, it explicitly indicates if any particular order of blessing can be performed by a layman or a deacon. Priests and bishops have blanket authority to preside over all blessings. Deacons and laypeople need to be explicitly granted this in the rite’s rubrics.

In the Order of Blessings for elements associated with devotion (which includes candles) (SBB 1171ff) explicitly grants this authority to deacons (SBB 1172) but not to laypeople, and it makes sense. Items that are blessed for the purpose of devotion become holy objects and set apart for sacred use. This is an example of something higher in the ecclesiastical life (namely, the blessing of a sacramental) that only a one in holy orders is permitted to do so as by their ordination, they have the authority to set aside objects for sacred use in the name of the Church.

A layman can privately pray to God to bless a candle, but it does not make it a sacred object in and of itself.

 

[Sirach2]

A layman can privately pray to God to bless a candle, but it does make it a sacred object in and of itself.

Are you saying it does or does not make it a sacred object …

Wouldn’t a person want to use it as a sacred object, namely for prayer? I had the sense the OP wanted to do just that.

 

[porthos11]

porthos11:

A layman can privately pray to God to bless a candle, but it does make it a sacred object in and of itself.

Are you saying it does or does not make it a sacred object …

Wouldn’t a person want to use it as a sacred object, namely for prayer? I had the sense the OP wanted to do just that.

Does not, sorry. I have corrected my post.

To the second point, sure. I use beeswax candles myself for prayer, and they are unblessed, just for the sole reason that I have not taken them to a priest to have them blessed. I use them for a sacred purpose; I do not burn them any other time. The incense I have is also unblessed but that doesn’t stop me from burning it from time to time during Lauds and Vespers. I use them both for a sacred purpose. I still believe the smoke of the incense represents my layman’s prayers ascending to the Throne.

However, I am fully aware that because they have not received the blessing of a priest or deacon, they are not sacred objects, or sacramentals. Are they valuable? Yes absolutely; they dispose me and aid me in prayer. But as a layman, I have no authority to set apart any object as holy in the name of the Church.

 

[Sirach2]

But as a layman, I have no authority to set apart any object as holy in the name of the Church.

How do you account for Fr. Alar’s teaching, then? He instructed the laity how to bless the Divine Mercy image before putting it on one’s front door. He went into detail with asking God to bless it, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Is he wrong? Or do you consider the blessed D.M. image not a holy object, once it is blessed? What about the CCC #1669?

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless. 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).

I guess it would depend on what you consider ecclesial and sacramental life. I wouldn’t think blessing a candle would apply in this case, nor the D.M. image for one’s door. Nor the epiphany blessing of one’s home.

I feel bad that there is confusion now, and this doesn’t help the OP. In most instances, I would think he has the authority to bless a candle, since it is not used for ecclesial or sacramental life.

 

[porthos11]

Devotions are most certainly ecclesial life. You cannot take CCC 1669 in pieces. Read it in full: the laity may preside at certain blessings. Not all. To know what those blessings are, you must have the Book of Blessings or Shorter Book of Blessings. The rubrics explicitly note if a layman is authorized for any given rite.

The blessing of a home is a good example. Because it calls down God’s blessing on the home as a dwelling, but does not set it apart (as one would, for example, a monastery), a layman, preferably the father of the house can preside over blessing it. So, for example, is the St. Blase blessing of throats: laymen are permitted that blessing as well. Parents most certainly bless their children, and family members can bless their sick loved ones, outside of a sacramental rite.

But a layman cannot bless, for example, a St. Benedict Medal. The Book of Blessings grants this explicitly to Deacons or higher. A layman cannot “make” Holy Water. A layman may most certainly ask for God’s blessing on a candle or image (Lord, bless this image…) and that most certainly counts for something. But it does not make it a “blessed object” in the same way it would be when blessed by one with the authority of Holy Orders. And he cannot use the rite of the Church for blessing objects of devotion, which is reserved to clergy. I did not bless my own Breviary; I took it to a priest for his blessing because the book is specifically set apart for a sacred purpose. A lay person can only pray to God to bless the object; a priest would actually use his authority to impart God’s blessing on it and set it apart.

Articles of religious devotion (a Divine Mercy image would fall under this category, as would crucifixes and icons) are also blessings reserved to Deacon and higher. Again, one may pray in his own words for God’s blessing over it, but cannot bless them on his own authority.

And for all his lack of learning, Francisco was right: today, as in 1917, only clergy can bless Rosaries (SBB n. 884).

 

[Sirach2]

@edward_george1

Father, can you please help us out here? The last three posts are the subject matter that is causing some confusion. How do you interpret #1669 in the Catechism wrt laypeople blessing a candle or other objects not for ecclesial or sacramental use.

 

[Sirach2]

And for all his lack of learning, Francisco was right: today, as in 1917, only clergy can bless Rosaries.

Canon Law Canon 1168 The minister of the sacramentals is a cleric who has the requisite power. In accordance with the liturgical books and subject to the judgment of the local Ordinary, certain sacramentals can also be administered by lay people who possess the appropriate qualities.

Generally speaking, I would agree with this. Keep in mind that Francisco was only 10 years old when he died, and I don’t believe he would be considered a qualified lay person to invoke any blessings whatsoever.

Father Alar, MIC, gives this further direction: With the situation in various places and dioceses, if you are not able to have a priest bless it, “the Church allows you to invoke a blessing yourself. The Catechism of the Catholic Church [#1669] teaches that lay people, on account of their baptismal priesthood, may administer certain blessings.”

In light of the pandemic, access to a priest for the OP to have his candle blessed is highly unlikely. As Father Alar gave this instruction in light of the current situation world-wide, I trust this priest’s direction. In other normal circumstances, the OP may decide to have a priest bless it.

I hope this discussion between us, Porthos, will not cause scrupulosity in the minds of our readers. I trust our clergy’s instruction (Fr. Alar) is in every way lawful for these times.

 

[CRM_Brother]

While we may not be able to attend mass for the blessing of candles, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your candle will not be blessed. Immediate proximity is not a requirement for the blessing of a priest. Nor is the direct sprinkling of holy water. The first example I can think of with regards to this was World Youth Day 2013. Pope Francis was on one end of Copacabana beach and the end of the crowd was at the end of the beach, two and a half miles away. Pope Francis imparted his blessing via Jumbotrons set up along the beach and it was still a valid blessing. The requirement for the blessing of a priest is the specific intention to bless.

If you watch mass live over the internet and the priest personally intends to bless the candles of all those watching over livestream, then your candles are also blessed.