Online blessing objects/sacramentals

[fin]

According to Fr Z, this isn’t okay. i ask because yesterday via Facebook live, people were supposed to have their water, oil, salt be blessed, including myself. But the signal was poor and the blessing did not get finished, there was a second attempt but it also did not finish. Now, other ioceses have opportunities for online sacramental blessings. Does anyone have any more info whether online blessings work for these or are valid?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Priests and bishops can bless people through technology. For example, at the end of every rosary being said by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia rosary group during this time, the priest or bishop who is present will bless everyone who is tuned in through Zoom platform or telephone. We have been blessed so far by several priests, an Auxiliary Bishop, and the Archbishop.

However, I have never heard of objects or sacramentals being blessed via technology. You have to have the item in the presence of the priest doing the blessing. For example, one of the local priests who has streaming Masses is planning to bless Easter food baskets like he does each year, and in order to have the food blessed you have to drive it to the church and park in the lot with your food in the car and your windows up and he can bless it. But he can’t bless it through the Facebook Live platform. I think Fr. Z is right that this is not allowed.