Can I get an icon of the Holy Family consecrated by a priest?

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mgagnon181

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I have a couple of related questions:
  1. Can I have a local priest consecrate (as opposed to bless) an icon of the Holy Family to then place in my home?
  2. What is the actual difference between blessing and consecrating a sacred image?
 
You asked if you could get an image consecrated rather than blessed, but then ask what the difference is. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of such a distinction. What do you think is the difference?

-Fr ACEGC
 
Assuming you mean an eastern icon, byzantines usually bless items by placing them n the altar for Divine Liturgy, rather than a separate act by clergy.

Also, an actual icon is already a prayer, and a window between Heaven and Earth. I’m not sure what the significance of blessing it would be (but maybe it’s a good thing).

When we reverence them, its an effort to join the prayer.

If it came off a printer or press, it’s a copy of an icon, not an icon.
 
Perhaps he’s thinking of the Eastern practice, referenced in the post above mine, of placing the icon on the altar… but I’m not sure if the term consecration is used in that context. It’s certainly more solemn than a simple blessing over an icon or sacramental as typically happens in the Latin Church.
 
Icons are blessed and are prayers themselves as they are written.

Iconographers follow a practice of prayer and fasting when writing them; and use specific methods and natural materials (like egg tempura).
They bridge the divide between heaven and earth; and do not need additional blessing/consecration or anything of the sort.
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There is a pious custom of leaving an icon on the Holy Table for 30 days; but it is just that, a pious custom. An icon that has rested on the Holy Table is no more blessed, or holy, or “better,” than one that has not.

One of the more difficult effects of the pandemic has been venerating icons without kissing them,
Fr. Deacon Christopher
 
I was reading an article from a priest exorcist that strongly suggests obtaining an icon of the Holy Family, having it “blessed and consecrated” by a priest and placed in a central place in your home. A quote from the article:
" The representation must be blessed and consecrated. Many priests in the Church today don’t know how to bless and consecrate. A simple prayer from a priest will do. With holy water or blessed oil, he can say, ‘With this blessed oil (holy water), I consecrate this image to the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.’ "
 
mgagnon181 said:
A simple prayer from a priest will do. With holy water or blessed oil, he can say, ‘With this blessed oil (holy water), I consecrate this image to the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.’ "
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If you believe this to be the case because of what you read somewhere, what is your thread about? You seem to be asking a question you already think you know the answer to. A priest has answered you and you respond with a quote basically saying that many priests not know how to do their job.
 
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Can you link to the article? It could be that many priests don’t know how to bless and consecrate an image because many priests have never heard of the idea. I know about blessing images, but I wasn’t aware there was some way to make them somehow more blessed.
 
Sorry to upset you. I had asked my local priest about getting the image consecrated and he was confused. But that’s not a definitive answer because, well, let’s just say I’ve also heard my local priests speak heresy from the pulpit. So they are not a reliable source of info.
 
Yes. The priest said, during his homily that the Blood in the chalice, after Consecration, is the blood of Mary. Now he most likely meant something about that the human DNA Christ received from his mom. But when approached by multiple people he just brushed it all off and didn’t offer any clarification. Further, in confessions he regularly told people that their sins weren’t real sins. I’m talking things like pornography. So, again, I have a lack of trust for my local priests and their theological acumen.
 
I recently bought a St Benedict medal. I’m EC. So is it ok having the medal blessed by a EC priest? or should I have it blessed by traditional Latin priest?
 
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