V
Vespero
Guest
Hello,
I have noticed that where the Church has traditionally (pre Vatican Council 2) blessed items/objects using the Rituale Romanum, the formula is different in the Book of Blessings (USA). The formula blesses the people when they use the items, not the items themselves in many cases.
I have the Book of Blessings and the formula that I have noticed the blessing on the people rather than the objects are:
Type of Blessing PG# (Liturgical Press)
A Building Site: 235
A House: 241
A Seminary: 249
A Library: 279
A Social Communications Center: 306
A Bridge, Highway, Street, or Airport: 319
A Car: 319
A Ship: 320
Technican Equipment: 336
An Electric Plant: 337
A Water System? 337
Tools: 344
Seeds: 368
Presider’s Chair: 432
A Lectern: 438
A Confessional: 445
Church Doors: 452
A Cross: 461
An Image of Christ: 471
An Image of Mary: 477
An Image of a Saint: 484
Vestments and Hymnals: 503
Stations of the Cross: 528
Religous Articles: 547 (more solemn rite)
Rosary Beads: 556 (more solemn rite)
A Scapular: 565
An Advent Wreath: 575
Food: 671
Wine: 672
Oil: 673
Other Items: 673
The formula for these blessings mention “blessing the people when they use the items”,“blessing those who made it”, “bless us when we look at it”, etc.
The most concerning formulary change for a blessing outside of Holy Mass is the blessing for holy water which NOW reads:
Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God,
Who in Christ, the living water of salvation blessed and transformed us.
Grant that, when we are sprinkled with this water or make
use of it,
we will be refreshed inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit
and continue to walk in the new life we received at baptism.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
Amen
The newer rite for blessing holy water DURING Mass specifically asks God to bless the water.
The traditional (pre-Vatican 2 rite) for making holy water outside Mass reads:
O water, creature of God, I exorcise you in the name of God the Father + almighty, and in the name of Jesus + Christ His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit. I exorcise you so that you may put to flight all the power of the Enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that Enemy with his apostate angels: through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.
…in thy kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of Thy blessing + into this element made ready for many kinds of purification. May this, thy creature become an agent of divine grace in the service of Thy mysteries…
It this to assume that the new holy water is only a sacramental when being used by the faithful?
What is the logic behind blessing the people in the new formulae instead of blessing the items themselves? In many cases you can’t even bless an item without those who will be using the things there (ie bridges or roads) according to the General Instruction. I don’t understand how blessing the people when they use it is the same as blessing the ITEM. As far as I know my Rosary was turned into a sacramental when it was blessed (using the traditional formula btw) whether or not I use it to pray with or I’m buried with it.
What about blessings not found in the new Rituale Romanum/Book of Blessings such as the blessing for Epiphany chalk and salt? It is permissible for a priest to use the formula found in the Rituale Romanum before the Vatican 2 reform? If not, what formula would the priest use and where is the prohibition for the use of traditional rites not recomposed in the new rite?
There are obviously some rites in the Book of Blessings which may be administered by a layperson. Is there a prohibition for a layMAN wearing a cassock (without collar) and surplice when presiding at a blessing seeing as how this is a liturgical function such as Administration of Holy Communion Outise Mass with Liturgy of the Word or the Liturgy of the Hours celebrated in community led by an ordained minister where laymen are assisting (thurifers,etc)?
Thanks,
Jason
I have noticed that where the Church has traditionally (pre Vatican Council 2) blessed items/objects using the Rituale Romanum, the formula is different in the Book of Blessings (USA). The formula blesses the people when they use the items, not the items themselves in many cases.
I have the Book of Blessings and the formula that I have noticed the blessing on the people rather than the objects are:
Type of Blessing PG# (Liturgical Press)
A Building Site: 235
A House: 241
A Seminary: 249
A Library: 279
A Social Communications Center: 306
A Bridge, Highway, Street, or Airport: 319
A Car: 319
A Ship: 320
Technican Equipment: 336
An Electric Plant: 337
A Water System? 337
Tools: 344
Seeds: 368
Presider’s Chair: 432
A Lectern: 438
A Confessional: 445
Church Doors: 452
A Cross: 461
An Image of Christ: 471
An Image of Mary: 477
An Image of a Saint: 484
Vestments and Hymnals: 503
Stations of the Cross: 528
Religous Articles: 547 (more solemn rite)
Rosary Beads: 556 (more solemn rite)
A Scapular: 565
An Advent Wreath: 575
Food: 671
Wine: 672
Oil: 673
Other Items: 673
The formula for these blessings mention “blessing the people when they use the items”,“blessing those who made it”, “bless us when we look at it”, etc.
The most concerning formulary change for a blessing outside of Holy Mass is the blessing for holy water which NOW reads:
Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God,
Who in Christ, the living water of salvation blessed and transformed us.
Grant that, when we are sprinkled with this water or make
use of it,
we will be refreshed inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit
and continue to walk in the new life we received at baptism.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
Amen
The newer rite for blessing holy water DURING Mass specifically asks God to bless the water.
The traditional (pre-Vatican 2 rite) for making holy water outside Mass reads:
O water, creature of God, I exorcise you in the name of God the Father + almighty, and in the name of Jesus + Christ His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit. I exorcise you so that you may put to flight all the power of the Enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that Enemy with his apostate angels: through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.
…in thy kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of Thy blessing + into this element made ready for many kinds of purification. May this, thy creature become an agent of divine grace in the service of Thy mysteries…
It this to assume that the new holy water is only a sacramental when being used by the faithful?
What is the logic behind blessing the people in the new formulae instead of blessing the items themselves? In many cases you can’t even bless an item without those who will be using the things there (ie bridges or roads) according to the General Instruction. I don’t understand how blessing the people when they use it is the same as blessing the ITEM. As far as I know my Rosary was turned into a sacramental when it was blessed (using the traditional formula btw) whether or not I use it to pray with or I’m buried with it.
What about blessings not found in the new Rituale Romanum/Book of Blessings such as the blessing for Epiphany chalk and salt? It is permissible for a priest to use the formula found in the Rituale Romanum before the Vatican 2 reform? If not, what formula would the priest use and where is the prohibition for the use of traditional rites not recomposed in the new rite?
There are obviously some rites in the Book of Blessings which may be administered by a layperson. Is there a prohibition for a layMAN wearing a cassock (without collar) and surplice when presiding at a blessing seeing as how this is a liturgical function such as Administration of Holy Communion Outise Mass with Liturgy of the Word or the Liturgy of the Hours celebrated in community led by an ordained minister where laymen are assisting (thurifers,etc)?
Thanks,
Jason