Can Deacons still bless rosaries?

[Persephone1881]

My uncle was ordained as a Permanent Deacon this past weekend and when my sister asked him to bless her rosary, he told her that there was a new rule or whatever that said that Deacons ordained from that point on could no longer bless rosaries. Not that we don’t believe my uncle, but he had a stroke a couple years ago and he doesn’t always comprehend things like he used to. My mother ran into one of the Deacons from her church today and asked him about it and he said he hadn’t heard any such thing, though he wouldn’t have been affected by the new rule (should such a thing exist) anyway since Deacons ordained before the rule were grandfathered in and can still do rosary blessings. I’ve tried to look up the answer online, but couldn’t really find anything. Everything I found that said Deacons could bless rosaries was at least a year old and could easily be outdated if this rule was just passed recently.

 

[OldRedleg]

I have not heard of the Vatican or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops making any changes.

There are things that the Catholic Church says a Deacon CAN do and then there are the things that the Bishop LETS the Deacon do in his diocese. A Bishop grants his Deacon’s faculties (or permissions) to do certain things. Some Bishops will grant there Deacons full faculties to do everything that the Church says they can do. Other Bishops, for whatever reason, will place restrictions on their Deacons. This may be what has happened in your diocese. The Bishop may have withheld the faculty to Deacons to bless rosaries.

As to your question, according to the 1983 Code of Canon Law: “A deacon can impart only those blessings expressly permitted by law” (CIC 1169 §3).

When performing liturgical rites allowed to be performed by Deacons they may perform the nuptial blessing in Holy Matrimony, and may bless holy water in baptism. They may also perform blessings in the funeral rites.

The Book of Blessings (published by Congregation for Divine Worship) decrees that deacons may bless certain sacramentals. The Congregation for the Divine Worship lists out those sacramentals that a deacon may bless.

It states that deacons may bless rosaries (BOB §1465). Other items that Deacon’s can bless include “medals, small crucifixes statues or pictures that will be displayed elsewhere than in a church or chapel, scapulars, rosaries, or other articles used in religious devotions” (BOB §1442).

Deacons may also bless holy water, but only outside the context of Holy Mass (BOB §1390) and may bless the private home of a Christian (BOB §661).

 

[Michael96]

I think it’s lovely to have homes or sacred possessions blessed by a priest. But surely we can all bless homes/possessions as well?

God bless you all

 

[Pax_Vobiscum_57]

Congratulations to your uncle! May he have a long and fruitful ministry!

Now, to the question at hand. There are no prohibitions against deacons blessing sacramentals, but the blessings really come about by use of the sacramental.

 

[Persephone1881]

There are things that the Catholic Church says a Deacon CAN do and then there are the things that the Bishop LETS the Deacon do in his diocese. A Bishop grants his Deacon’s faculties (or permissions) to do certain things. Some Bishops will grant there Deacons full faculties to do everything that the Church says they can do. Other Bishops, for whatever reason, will place restrictions on their Deacons. This may be what has happened in your diocese. The Bishop may have withheld the faculty to Deacons to bless rosaries.

Ah, this may very well have been the case since my uncle is a Deacon in a completely different state (and so obviously a different Diocese) than the Deacon from my parents’ church. Thank you.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Not that we don’t believe my uncle, but he had a stroke a couple years ago and he doesn’t always comprehend things like he used to.

If his mental faculties are impaired as much as you are implying, how did he get ordained?

 

[Persephone1881]

I didn’t say he doesn’t understand anything. It was a mild stroke and he functions normally for the most part. Besides, if those in charge of his Deaconate program had any doubts about his ability to perform this ministry, I don’t think they would have let him be ordained. Afterall, they were able to see whatever differences are there since he had to start the program over after the stroke due to time lost for recovery.

 

[Dicerning]

I didn’t say he doesn’t understand anything. It was a mild stroke and he functions normally for the most part. Besides, if those in charge of his Deaconate program had any doubts about his ability to perform this ministry, I don’t think they would have let him be ordained. Afterall, they were able to see whatever differences are there since he had to start the program over after the stroke due to time lost for recovery.

Priests recieve their faculties to bless when they become (tansitional) deacons.

So the blessing is the same with a priest of deacon.

 

[plato3]

My uncle was ordained as a Permanent Deacon this past weekend and when my sister asked him to bless her rosary, he told her that there was a new rule or whatever that said that Deacons ordained from that point on could no longer bless rosaries. Not that we don’t believe my uncle, but he had a stroke a couple years ago and he doesn’t always comprehend things like he used to. My mother ran into one of the Deacons from her church today and asked him about it and he said he hadn’t heard any such thing, though he wouldn’t have been affected by the new rule (should such a thing exist) anyway since Deacons ordained before the rule were grandfathered in and can still do rosary blessings. I’ve tried to look up the answer online, but couldn’t really find anything. Everything I found that said Deacons could bless rosaries was at least a year old and could easily be outdated if this rule was just passed recently.

As was mentioned, permanent deacons can bless rosaries. They have the same faculties as (transitional)deacons. But it’s more than that. There is a book called, “The Book of Blessings” and there are many more blessings that priests, deacons, and in some cases lay persons are allowed to do. Deacons also bless houses, animals, cars, businesses, meetings, boats Etc. The list is too long. It is a great help to the overworked priest to have the deacon go out and do these blessings. I am glad to do them for my pastor.

deacon tony

 

[Aramis]

As was mentioned, permanent deacons can bless rosaries. They have the same faculties as (transitional)deacons. But it’s more than that. There is a book called, “The Book of Blessings” and there are many more blessings that priests, deacons, and in some cases lay persons are allowed to do. Deacons also bless houses, animals, cars, businesses, meetings, boats Etc. The list is too long. It is a great help to the overworked priest to have the deacon go out and do these blessings. I am glad to do them for my pastor.

deacon tony

Just a word of warning: Each of the Churches Sui Iuris (all 23, counting Romans) has its own rules for who can bless what. So while Roman deacons may, that doesn’t mean every Catholic Deacon can.

 

[thistle]

Canon Law:

Can. 1169

§2 Any priest can impart blessings, except for those reserved to the Roman Pontiff or to Bishops.

§3 A deacon can impart only those blessings which are expressly permitted to him by law.

 

[Aramis]

Note that in the CCEO (Canon law for the Eastern Churches in Union with Rome), there is no admonishment on deacons giving blessings, other than deacons having their place in the liturgies and it being defined within the liturgical books and particular law.

The default, therefore, in the East is "Only if it’s in the liturgical and/or paraliturgical books of that particular church.

 

[FrDavid96]

Note that in the CCEO (Canon law for the Eastern Churches in Union with Rome), there is no admonishment on deacons giving blessings, other than deacons having their place in the liturgies and it being defined within the liturgical books and particular law.

The default, therefore, in the East is "Only if it’s in the liturgical and/or paraliturgical books of that particular church.

I agree that such is the case, “by default”

However, in the Traditions of the East, deacons may not bless. It’s one of those examples of how the Code of Canons (CCOE) does not adequately express the proper Traditions of the East. Very unfortunate.