Other rites and blessings outside of Mass context

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At my local Church (Fransican Friary) they hold a weekly novena to at Anthony after mass and then afterwards the congregation have the host (I think) inside a small perspherical capsule held against there forehead and a blessing recited. The priest wipe it with white line in between each person and recites “May the peace of Jesus etc” but it is almost inaudible to be able to tell you what the blessing is. I just know afterwards I feel completely “Reinforced” In my faith, and in my love of the Lord and my neighbours and to all of god’s creation. After suffering for a long time with troubeaome dreams I also usually have a peaceful night’s rest after attwnifn this “Blessing/Sacrament” and … The evil one increases his assault on me, And I stand even firmer in my determination to cleave to god

I am not sure what this is called or what are the requirements for recieving this, but I usually go forth (in state of grace and having received communion but I am not yet confirmed though awaiting the sacrament of confirmation this year) and the priest touches my head and says the prayer and I feel I am in Jesus unmistakeble presence.

Is this a blessing of the sacrament? Or is this annointing with holy oil? Or both?

I have recently returned to the faith after being away for most of my teens and adults life and many of the sacraments are new to me. I could ask the congregation but I admit I am a little embarassed to seem so unkowledgeable sometimes as most of the attendees have not had … Massive gaps in their time away from church like my 23+ year period of Prodigality in the wilderness.

Any help much appreciated, thank you.

God bless.
 
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You should ask the Friars about it. It doesn’t seem like they would do this with a Host, because it’s after Mass…when Christ has been received in the Eucharist. It would seem more likely that it’s a relic of St. Anthony?
 
Ah ok that would of course make more sense. I feel a bit silly asking to be honest, as I have been forward several times. I wondered if it the blessed sacrament reaserved for exposition (rather than the one just consumed in the mass) inside the little perspex capsule may be what it used (just to clarify) I know nothing of course 😄
 
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You can always ask the priest questions about relics and why we have them in the altar and “gold boxes”. Why is it a tradition to bless someone holding a relic of a saint? How was it determined that X saint´s relic is placed in my parish altar? At the same time ask about “ordinary” blessings and sacramental blessings.
 
This is almost certainly a blessing with a relic. A number of churches do this after Mass. Usually when I see it at parish churches the priest says something like, “I have the relic of St. X for anyone who would like to come forward to venerate it” (usually people kiss or touch the relic, it gets wiped in between people like you describe) or “I have the relic of St. Y and I will bless all of you with it today at the end of Mass” so people know what’s going on. Since this is a weekly novena to St. Anthony it would make total sense that people get blessed at the end with a relic of St. Anthony, but it could also be a relic of the True Cross or of some other saint associated with the Franciscan order.

I have never seen the Host used for blessing in this way or any similar way.

Ask the priest, or if he is not available try asking one of the other regular novena-goers.
 
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We have an amazing number of those at our tiny parish.

Both our priest and a religious brother have a relic of the True Cross (and contrary to popular mythology, there are not enough to build a cathedral; something like 2/3 is unaccounted for). One is one of two known to have an imperial seal . . .

We have a few others that come out as well.

hawk
 
Fr. Heilman has an awesome story about how his brother-in-law’s father (edited, I found the story online and corrected myself) found a relic of the True Cross in the ruins of some monastery in WWII Europe. Apparently he moved a crucifix that had fallen down from the wall, the top of Jesus’ head fell off and some little capsule rolled out which the dad kept because he didn’t know what it was. Later he took it to some convent to ask what it was and when the sisters saw it they all started just going down on their knees. Fr. Heilman uses it it to bless people now. (I am giving Father the benefit of the doubt on this story as it almost sounds too good to be true but it’s plausible.)

 
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That sounds like a likely place to have hidden it under the circumstances.

Also, they will generally be in a recognizable small container with an authenticity tag from the Vatican.
 
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