Parental Blessing--Okay for Grandparents Too?

[DaveBj]

In recent discussions on blessings, the bottom line is that the only people who can bless are those with holy orders–deacons, priests, etc., with one exception–parents can bless their children. Would it also be allowable for grandparents to bless their grandchildren, when the grandchildren are staying with them for an extended period? What would be the procedure?

DaveBj

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Dave,

According to the Book of Blessings there are a great many blessings that a layperson may give. I’m not sure where you got the idea that only clergy could bless. Do you not say grace before meals? That’s a blessing of food. When someone sneezes do you say “God bless you”? That’s asking God to bless someone.

Parents/grandparents who want to bless children can simply say “May God bless and keep you!” and make the sign of the cross with their thumb on the child’s forehead. There is a beautiful blessing for sons or daughters in the Book of Blessings and the short form has the parents (or other lay ministers) signing themselves with the sign of the cross while saying: “May the Lord Jesus, who loved children, bless us and keep us in his love, now and forever.” All reply “Amen.”

Deacon Ed