Can lay persons bless things?

[HAnne]

I blessed my cat last night. he sneezed and I said, Bless You.
then the secretary said, bless you, you fuzzy hunter of mice.

Thank you Father - that was a much needed bit of levity.

FWIW, I do not have the papers here on hand but the ceremonies we have been performing in my son’s Reconciliation class have had us repeatedly bless our children using holy water, claim them in the name of Christ, etc. The program is by Resources for Christian Living. We have been greatly encouraged through these materials and our catechist to bless our children daily as other posters have described.

If this is not a Catholic practice, then I would love to have the resources to go back and say so. We are new to the faith and I do not want my son and I to be learning false teaching.

 

[DCNBILL]

He won’t be able to show the use of making the cross over something or someone by laity, since no valid such proof exists.

Laity properly make the sign of the cross upon themself when invoking the trinity in a blessing prayer.

A cleric GIVES god’s blessing. A layman only asks for it.

Prior to the mid 20th century, the church taught that blessings were exclusively the province of the priest and bishop, except for one particular deaconal blessing.

the 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia points out the immemorial tradition, and the basis. Canon Law (current) shows that immemorial customs have force of law.

The Current CCC makes note that certain sacramentals include blessings by laity, namely blessing of meals, warns against using the priestly gestures, and notes that the prescribed forms are to be followed.

The CIC notes the following:

Can. 1168 The minister of sacramentals is a cleric who has been provided with the requisite power. According to the norm of the liturgical books and to the judgment of the local ordinary lay persons who possess the appropriate qualities can also administer some sacramentals.
It requires the norm of the liturgical book AND the judgement of the bishop.

Except for those certain blessing which are themselves permitted to the laity by centenial or longer tradition, like the blessing of meals as given in the 1890 Baltimore Catechism… But that’s done with hands folded, unless you’re a cleric.

Maybe not over someone but the Rite of Baptism does call for parents and Godparents to make the sign of the Cross on the childs forehead as stated from the text below. This would seem to be a blessing.

Celebrant: N., the Christian community welcomes you with great joy. In its name I claim you for Christ our Saviour by the sign of the cross. I now trace the cross on your forehead, and invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.

 

[DCNBILL]

I blessed my cat last night. he sneezed and I said, Bless You.
then the secretary said, bless you, you fuzzy hunter of mice.

I hope the secretary was talking to the cat as well!

 

[Bookcat]

A Baptized lay person…can Bless. He is a Christian. Called in fact to bless and be a blessing…(not commenting directly on the examples…but in general …of course only in proper ways)

The blessing here of course is different than that of the ministerial Priesthood.

And one can not “Bless Sacramentals”…like medals etc…

But for sure pray…“ask the blessing of God” etc…bless your children etc…

“every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.” (CCC1669)

The sign of the cross has been used since the very early days… Early Christians would use it all the time…

in the early Church it was made on the fore head with a + (and still is at the Gospel…and one can of course always use do it this way too personally outside formal liturgical times…i do…)

“let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are travelling, and when we are at rest”.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (300’s AD)

In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupies us, we mark our forehead with the sign of the cross."

–Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 220 AD)

“Making the sign of the cross – as we will do during the blessing – means saying a visible and public “yes” to the One who died and rose for us, to God who in the humility and weakness of His love is the Almightly, stronger than all the power and intelligence of the world.”

-Pope Benedict XVI
Angelus
September 11, 2005

he also talks about it when he was Cardinal in the Spirit of the Liturgy…as a renewal of baptism…as a shield…etc…and about blessing…go read that chapter!

CCC vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c4a1.htm

 

[stephraim]

Tracing a cross on a child’s forehead is allowed by the USCCB’s Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers, “Prayer for Baptized Children.”

Just checked, and the tracing of a cross on the child’s forehead is in the Order for the Blessing of Sons and Daughters from the Book of Blessings (which does have recognitio). Interestingly enough, the cross is traced, then the prayer of blessing is said with hands joined, then the concluding prayer is said while signing oneself with the Sign of the Cross.

RCIA Orders also include signing of the senses by laity, but the celebrant then blesses them with the Sign of the Cross (as below).

Remember though, tracing a cross on a forehead is different from the blessing a priest gives: “If he blesses others or some object, he points the little finger at the person or thing to be blessed and in blessing extends the whole right hand with all the fingers joined and fully extended” (CB, no. 108, note 81).

 

[stephraim]

The sign of the cross has been used since the very early days…

That’s why there’s an indulgence attached to it, and why I prefer to sign myself rather than “[pointing] the little finger at the person or thing to be blessed and in blessing [extending] the whole right hand with all the fingers joined and fully extended.”

 

[Matthew_Holford]

ANY person may ask God to bless another person (or group of persons), or an object.

That is exactly what a Priest is doing, he is asking God to bless whatever he is intending to be blessed. The priest does NOT bless anything himself, he doesn’t have the power to do so. Only God can actually bless something.

Even in Latin, the blessing at the end of the Mass states, “May Almighty God Bless You, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. In other words, the Priest is asking God to bless the congregation, he is not doing it himself.

I blessed my daughters each and every night during their nighttime prayers. I put my hands on their heads, and asked God to please bless them and to look after them during the night.

Blessing something is not a sacrament. It is not even close to being a sacrament. A medal, cross, etc. is a “sacramental object”, but wearing one is not a sacrament. If anyone thinks that blessings are a sacrament, I would suggest that they take some classes on the Catholic Faith.

I might be mistaken but without going back and reading all the previous posts in the thread I don’t think anyone has said blessings are sacraments. Anyway, I don’t think going down that particular road helps because there’s two sacraments laypersons can administer anyway.

I sure we’re all aware that blessings are sacramentals. However, I think one only has to look at the different blessings at the end of say Lauds and Vespers that sacred ministers and laypersons can give - that to me demonstrates the Church’s mind with regard to laypersons giving blessings.

 

[Aramis]

I might be mistaken but without going back and reading all the previous posts in the thread I don’t think anyone has said blessings are sacraments. Anyway, I don’t think going down that particular road helps because there’s two sacraments laypersons can administer anyway.

I sure we’re all aware that blessings are sacramentals. However, I think one only has to look at the different blessings at the end of say Lauds and Vespers that sacred ministers and laypersons can give - that to me demonstrates the Church’s mind with regard to laypersons giving blessings.

The Eastern Churches often change the opening lines of formal prayer.

For example, byzantine use:
Priest with Deacon
D: Reverend Father, Give the Blessing!
P: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and forever! *
all: Amen

Anyone else
Leader: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, Our God, Have mercy on us!
All: Amen!

• Exact wording varies slightly from Church Sui Iuris to Church Sui Iuris, and even translation to translation within certain ones.

 

[FrCorey]

I hope the secretary was talking to the cat as well!

well, either the watch cat or the short hairy janitor we have…

 

[Reuben_J]

I blessed my cat last night. he sneezed and I said, Bless You.
then the secretary said, bless you, you fuzzy hunter of mice.

Remind me of the prohibition of prayer in the school. One day during the assembly a student was asked to make a speech. After a deafening silence, she started to sneeze, and followed by a thunderous chorus, “God bless you”.

 

[ibsys2562]

Quite true. We are able to both pray AND bless. Sadly some people have been taught to either reject this truth or minimize it. All too often lay blessings are spoken of in terms of not being as “good” as a blessing from a cleric or as “good” as a sacrificial liturgy. Or they are talked about only in the context of taking place at the expense of a cleric-blessing or a sacrificial liturgy which is typically not the case at all. Those are very negative ways to look at lay blessings which themselves are very much a gifts from God.

As a laymen when I bless my kids or wife I say “May almighty God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen” while making the sign of the cross over them with my right hand.

Before anyone suggests otherwise, these blessings do not come at the expense of cleric-blessings or taking part of sacrificial liturgies. I hate those false zero-sum positions that some people try to use to sell their personal preferences. And yes, this blessing is allowed by the Church – a great gift from God.

---

it support tampa
lotus notes support

 

[HAnne]

well, either the watch cat or the short hairy janitor we have…

Father Corey - you crack me up!!!

On a side note so glad to see all these affirmations of the practice of blessing family members. Our son just LOVES this practice and we enjoy doing it! Thanks to all of you!!!

 

[PbloPicasso]

From the Liturgy of the Hours

Dismissal

If a priest or deacon preseides, he dismisses the people
The Lord be with you.
–And also with you.

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirt.
–Amen.

Alternate
Go in peace.
–Thanks be to God

In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation.
Morning (or Evening) Prayer concludes.
May the Lord Bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
–Amen

Bishops impart an Apostolic blessing, Priests and Deacons impart a blessing with faculties from the bishop, and baptized Christians impart a blessing from the will of God (not the same as clergy). Parents as head of the domestic church impart blessing upon their children, but as parents, like Abraham, Isaac, etc., not ordained clergy. If there is any grace imparted from the laity then it is less than from clergy. That’s the way I understand it. Many historical people have blessed many things from the will, setting it apart from the ordinary. I believe in the grace of God that works through us because of our Baptism, and other sacraments. All other blessings are simply of the will. Whether they have a place in the mass or else … Seems like a lot of hot air to me, except for parents blessing their own children. I bless my own children after prayers, nightly, and trace a cross on their heads. I also splash them with holy water. It’s a sign of our faith just as when we make the sign of the cross before and after prayers. I’m making an impression on them that even though I love them very much, God loves them even more.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Today, I have read the prænotanda to several blessings in the Roman Ritual: Book of Blessings and the answer to the OP’s original question (“can lay persons bless things?”) is yes. What I find less clear is whether the words may be accompanied by any gestures, such as outstretching one’s hand towards the person or object to be blessed, or signs, such as making the sign of the cross over the person or object, or if the layperson should keep their hands joined.

 

[stephraim]

Today, I have read the prænotanda to several blessings in the Roman Ritual: Book of Blessings and the answer to the OP’s original question (“can lay persons bless things?”) is yes. What I find less clear is whether the words may be accompanied by any gestures, such as outstretching one’s hand towards the person or object to be blessed, or signs, such as making the sign of the cross over the person or object, or if the layperson should keep their hands joined.

Yes, and I think that’s the real crux of the problem. The blessings specify that laity say the blessings with “hands joined.” That’s all. The problem is that most don’t even specify when a priest is to make the sign of the cross over the object/person (although Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university testifies to a CDWDS document that states “the sign of the cross is made when the word ‘bless’ is used, or, if this word is lacking, at the end of the prayer”). I don’t know if that’s in Notitiae or not. Some blessings specify that parents may trace the sign of the cross on their children’s forehead prior to the prayer of blessing. Other than that, it seems that the prayers of blessing are said with “hands joined.” That’s all the instructions given, except that there’s usually an alternate concluding formula laity say while signing themselves with the sign of the cross.

So, can laity bless? Yes, though **liturgically **only invocatively using the prescribed formula and with “hands joined.”

A bishop, priest, and (in some instances) deacons “blesses others or some object, he points the little finger at the person or thing to be blessed and in blessing extends the whole right hand with all the fingers joined and fully extended” (CB, no. 108, note 81).

 

[stephraim]

This site has several scans of Blessings from the Book of Blessings.

 

[PbloPicasso]

I wonder if St. Benedict was a priest or deacon when he went around crossing everything. If Jews can do all sorts of gestures, I’m sure the same is true with baptized Christians. We do cross ourselves you know. So I believe the blessing does carry some weight, but not the same as the ordained.

 

[Remington]

As a laymen when I bless my kids or wife I say “May almighty God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen” while making the sign of the cross over them with my right hand.

Before anyone suggests otherwise, these blessings do not come at the expense of cleric-blessings or taking part of sacrificial liturgies. I hate those false zero-sum positions that some people try to use to sell their personal preferences. And yes, this blessing is allowed by the Church – a great gift from God.

Absolutely!

 

[stephraim]

Actually, the prayer of blessing from the Order for the Blessing of Sons and Daughters is:

190 As circumstances suggest, the parents may trace the sign of the cross on their children’s foreheard; they then say the prayer of blessing.

Father,
inexhaustible source of life and author of all good,
we bless you and we thank you
for brightening our communion of love by your gift of children.

Grant that our children (child) will find in the life of this family such inspiration
that they (he/she) will strive always for what is right and good
and one day, by your grace,
reach their (his/her) home in heaven.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

192 The parents conclude the rite by signing themselves with the sign of the cross and saying:

May the Lord Jesus, who loved chidlren,
bless us and keep us in his love,
now and for ever.
R/. Amen.

The Short Formulary is this:

194 As circumstances suggest, the following short blessing formulary may be used.

May the Lord keep you
and make you grow in his love,
so that you may live worthy of the calling he has given you,
now and forever.
R/. Amen.

 

[PabloPira]

Today, I have read the prænotanda to several blessings in the Roman Ritual: Book of Blessings and the answer to the OP’s original question (“can lay persons bless things?”) is yes. What I find less clear is whether the words may be accompanied by any gestures, such as outstretching one’s hand towards the person or object to be blessed, or signs, such as making the sign of the cross over the person or object, or if the layperson should keep their hands joined.

Keeping your hands joined is a gesture as well

If you can read Spanish, this is a ritual that includes quite a few blessings to be administered by lay people:

sanpablo.org.ve/es/catalogo/1/196

Usually it instructs you to read the words with your hands joined, I think it mentions making the sign of the Cross in some of the blessings for meals. This book includes blessings for meals, work instruments, children (three different ones at least: everyday, when going a trip and special occasions) , christmas tree and nacimiento (a huge nativity scene you can find in Spanish speaking homes), pets, …

JP