Can parents bless their children?

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929dad

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I’ve read some websites that seem credible that seem to indicate that is it OK for parents to bless their children.
For example

catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=772

I’m hoping someone here will be able to point me toward some documentation that verifies this practice. It seems like such a natural part of parenting and the call to pass on the faith to our children.

Thanks.
 
Yes most certainly.

Read Card. Ratzinger’s (now Pope of course) book “the Spirit of the Liturgy” …

One can for example trace the sign of the cross on their forehead…
 
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 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).173
 
Bookcat said:
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 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).173
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172 Cf. ⇒ Gen 12:2; ⇒ Lk 6:28; ⇒ Rom 12:14; ⇒ 1 Pet 3:9.

173 Cf. SC 79; ⇒ CIC, can. 1168; De Ben 16, 18.
 
Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page xxviii, n. 17.
“. . . Other laymen and laywomen, in virtue of the universal priesthood, a dignity they possess because of their baptism and confirmation, may celebrate certain blessings, as indicated in the respective orders of blessings, by use of the rites and formularies designated for a lay minister. Such laypersons exercise this ministry in virtue of their office (for example, parents on behalf of their children) or by reason of some special liturgical ministry or in fulfillment of a particular charge in the Church, as is the case in many places with religious or catechists appointed by decision of the local Ordinary, after ascertaining their proper pastoral formation and prudence in the apostolate.”
 
Filipino Catholics have been blessing their children for hundreds of years. It is a sign of respect to ask for an adult’s right hand, place the hand on one’s forehead, and ask for a blessing. The grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, godfather/godmother then imparts a simple “God bless you.” It is a practice parents teach at an early age to their children so that they show respect to all their elders, not just parents, but to all elders. God bless.
 
I grew up in a German Catholic area, and it was quite common to bless the children using holy water at bedtime.
 
It’s pretty common every where for parents to bless their children (in my experience).
 
Thanks for the posts. I was hoping to find some official document, but it’s clear to me that this is not only allowed, it’s a great thing to do.

That’s very good because my wife and I give our son a blessing each night. He’s not old enough to realize what’s going on yet, but it’s really touching to us to pray a blessing on him each day. I’m really glad to know we can continue the practice.
 
929dad said:
Thanks for the posts. I was hoping to find some official document, but it’s clear to me that this is not only allowed, it’s a great thing to do.

That’s very good because my wife and I give our son a blessing each night. He’s not old enough to realize what’s going on yet, but it’s really touching to us to pray a blessing on him each day. I’m really glad to know we can continue the practice.
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The third post gave the official document in case you missed it.
 
While I was growing up, my dad would make a cross on my forehead at bedtime. Now, with my children, I do the same and I have added to it by taking holy water, making a cross on their foreheads and saying,“You are a child of God.” They now do the same to my husband and I. 😃
 
Yes, we bless our children by making the sign of the Cross upon their foreheads.
 
My Protestant mother used to say the priestly blessing from the book of Numbers before putting me to bed when I was a child … “The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you…”

I’ve always remembered that and loved it as a child.

I was wondering, now that I have a daughter of my own, is that one “off limits” to laity?
 
Ludwig_Isidore said:
My Protestant mother used to say the priestly blessing from the book of Numbers before putting me to bed when I was a child … “The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you…”

I’ve always remembered that and loved it as a child.

I was wondering, now that I have a daughter of my own, is that one “off limits” to laity?
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🙂
 
Ludwig_Isidore said:
My Protestant mother used to say the priestly blessing from the book of Numbers before putting me to bed when I was a child … “The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you…”

I’ve always remembered that and loved it as a child.

I was wondering, now that I have a daughter of my own, is that one “off limits” to laity?
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Each of the churches in union with rome has different rules on how, but laity blessings are almost always supposed to be done in a different wording.

They are supposed to be supplicative, rather than imperative.

So, instead of “May the lord bless you and keep you” “We ask that the Lord bless you and keep you.”
 
My friend’s mother used to bless her children everyday right before school in the schoolyard with the old Irish Blessing. She said it was because anything could happen between now and the end of school, and she wanted that to be the last thing they would remember of her. Kind of morbid, but it did start a few other parents doing it as well.
 
Aramis said:
Each of the churches in union with rome has different rules on how, but laity blessings are almost always supposed to be done in a different wording.

They are supposed to be supplicative, rather than imperative.

So, instead of “May the lord bless you and keep you” “We ask that the Lord bless you and keep you.”
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In general you are correct, but one exception is a parent’s blessing of his/her child.
 
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