Priests do not bless sacramentals?

[englishredrose]

No offense to anyone, but it sounds like people are really jumping the gun here. All we know is what the secretary said, and nothing has come directly from the priest himself. People are saying to write the Bishop, complain this way and that, but they’re saying this based on a post about something a secretary said. I’d say talk to the priest and go from there. And asking advice on internet forums about something like this is not necessarily going to net you the best course of action, and could well lead others to gossip.

-ACEGC

as i first stated, ask him direct. (as well as asking other stuff)

 

[floresco]

Based on your previous posts MomandWife, Catholics do a lot of unbelievable things in your world. Personally I would only believe you if you gave the name of the Parish and I could check myself.

You seem to be asking this new poster to break the forum rules. She might not be totally familiar with the rules and not realize that posting the name of her parish would get her in trouble here.

BTW, I read her three previous posts and your comment does not make any sense to me.

 

[Catholic90]

You seem to be asking this new poster to break the forum rules. She might not be totally familiar with the rules and not realize that posting the name of her parish would get her in trouble here.

BTW, I read her three previous posts and your comment does not make any sense to me.

The pattern seems to be posting rather controversial things inciting lots of emotional posts from people, but never returning to address anyone or answer questions.

 

[asd72]

You seem to be asking this new poster to break the forum rules. She might not be totally familiar with the rules and not realize that posting the name of her parish would get her in trouble here.

BTW, I read her three previous posts and your comment does not make any sense to me.

It is a rule you are not allowed to reveal which Parish you attend? Or is it you are not to reveal the name of the Parish if you are discussing any irregularly there?

I am sceptical by nature and perhaps it is uncharitable to reveal I don’t believe someone, maybe it’s best to just to ignore such posts.

 

[superamazingman]

The Roman Gradual is one of the official prayer books of the Church and it contains in it blessings for sacramentals like water, palms, fruits, seeds, chalk, gold, etc. which are to be done on special feast days or whenever the blessing is short and can be done on the fly.

Either find another priest and parish or you can report to the Bishop that a certain priest is neglecting his service to his flock and entertaining some rather strange ideas concerning the nature of the priesthood and the nature of sacramentals. It’s not superstition. It’s a long-standing Tradition of the Church such that it’s even been codified into one of the Church’s official prayer books, the Graduale Romanum.

He sounds like he’s going Protestant.

I assume you mean the Rituale Romanum.

The Graduale Romanum is the official music book of the church.

But do report him to the bishop, even if you’re books are mixed up.

 

[floresco]

The pattern seems to be posting rather controversial things inciting lots of emotional posts from people, but never returning to address anyone or answer questions.

It is hard to establish a pattern with just three posts. In her first thread she posted an OP and returned later in the thread to respond. In another thread she posted just an OP.

With this much information, it is just as likely that she has been discouraged from posting by people calling her a liar and otherwise attacking her, as that she is a troll. I think it would be good to withhold judgment.

 

[DJK100]

Since we are Christians can’t we just bless our own stuff, like say, Lord bless my rosary,
I mean were allowed to baptist in an emergency.

@LuvtoSew — Not really. That is why Jesus instituted a Sacramental priesthood.

As for the OP, talk to your priest face to face first before you do anything rash like write the bishop or change parishes. Even if your Priest still insists he doesn’t do that it is up to you to try and educate him. Show him the Catechesim. If he still refuses Church teaching then go the Bishop.

 

[floresco]

It is a rule you are not allowed to reveal which Parish you attend? Or is it you are not to reveal the name of the Parish if you are discussing any irregularly there?

I am sceptical by nature and perhaps it is uncharitable to reveal I don’t believe someone, maybe it’s best to just to ignore such posts.

The rules do not allow

Identifying individual parishes, clergy, or hierarchs as “unfaithful to the Magisterium”, guilty of “liturgical abuse”, or otherwise engaged in unacceptable or unpopular practices, based on personal “knowledge” or opinion

In general, it is probably better to keep one’s suspicions to oneself.

 

[superamazingman]

As for the OP, talk to your priest face to face first before you do anything rash like write the bishop or change parishes. Even if your Priest still insists he doesn’t do that it is up to you to try and educate him. Show him the Catechesim. If he still refuses Church teaching then go the Bishop.

Uhh, I don’t know about that. What would happen if someone else called the parish, one who doesn’t know as much about the faith? They would leave thinking that priests do not bless things anymore. The bishop is the guardian of all the souls in his diocese, and if things like this happen, he is responsible. He has a right to know.

 

[agnes_therese]

But do report him to the bishop, even if you’re books are mixed up.

I would suggest she speak to the priest first. To report him based on what the secretary said, without any first-hand knowledge, seems a bit hasty. We don’t even know if the priest knows the secretary is saying that. Why do we want to assume the worst?

 

[DJK100]

Uhh, I don’t know about that. What would happen if someone else called the parish, one who doesn’t know as much about the faith? They would leave thinking that priests do not bless things anymore. The bishop is the guardian of all the souls in his diocese, and if things like this happen, he is responsible. He has a right to know.

My point is right now it is gosip. We don’t know that the priest actually said what the receptionist is claiming. It could be that she never talked to the priest or that she misunderstoond what the priest said or presented an errant situation to the priest. That is why you should go to the Priest first and address the issue. If you hear it from him and he is still in error. Show him the Catechism. He he refuses to change then you go to the bishop. But jumping right to the Bishop without going to the horses mouth first is how rumors get started and misinformation propagates.

For example, what if a coworker told your boss that you were misinforming clients based on what the receptionist said you said. Would you not like a chance to clear it with your your clients/coworkers before they go to your boss? Particularly if the receptionist misinforming people without your knowledge. Same situation applies. I am not saying don’t tell the bishop but I am saying you should at least confirm that what the receptionist said the priest is doing is ACTUALLY what the priest is doing. Basically, verify your facts before you create a scandle.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Here we go again…



If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

 

[EasterJoy]

I called my parish yesterday and asked if I could make an appointment for our priest to bless a couple of crucifixes and rosaries I have. The parish receptionist acted like she didn’t know what I was talking about. “You want him to do what?” “With your crucifix?” “What exactly do you need?” I explained very carefully that I had a few sacramental items that I’d like him to briefly bless - no big deal - and that I could drop by at any time for just a moment. She said, “I’m going to have to ask him if he can do that” and said she’d call me back.



A couple of hours later she called to say that the priest did not bless people’s personal belongings because it constituted a superstition and that there was no point. She said if I wanted a blessing then I should get into Father’s line for communion at Mass. I protested politely and asked if I could make an appointment to speak with the priest and she said that he was not taking private appointments. She said I could come to reconciliation if I needed to speak with him.

Does this seem normal?

Your pastor’s secretary told you that he is “not taking private appointments”, to the point that he was not available for someone to come by the parish offices to have some explicitly religious items blessed for one of his own parishioners? On top of this, his secretary is telling you that if you want rosaries blessed, you ought to ask to have that done during Holy Communion?

What you’re describing is not normal. Someone’s well-being is not doing well here…maybe the pastor himself, maybe just the people who need him. In case he is not aware, call the vicar of clergy for your diocese, describe this interchange, and ask if everything is quite OK with your pastor. Once you have let him know what’s up in your parish, you can just call another parish and ask if the priest could spare a few minutes to bless some sacramentals for you. I expect it will be no problem.

 

[bcprincess]

A blessed object carries with it the prayer of the Church, and is efficacious when used properly, with faith.

The Pope has been known to bless the odd sacramental, maybe the priest should nip round and tell him he’s naughty :slapfight:

 

[superamazingman]

I would suggest she speak to the priest first. To report him based on what the secretary said, without any first-hand knowledge, seems a bit hasty. We don’t even know if the priest knows the secretary is saying that. Why do we want to assume the worst?

Sorry, I meant to write the bishop if the priest’s story is consistent with the secretary.

 

[hannajomar]

If the sacramentals are small enough to bring to Mass with you, you can just ask the priest before or after Mass. People in my parish do this all the time. I’ve never seen a priest refuse to bless a sacramental. Assuming he blesses the items, It would be a good idea to bring up your experience with the receptionist to him. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, she might have misunderstood what you said, misunderstood what he said, or some of both. In charity, she should be given correct knowledge about what the priests do. If he refuses to bless the items, I would bring the matter to another priest.

 

[tafan]

Since we are Christians can’t we just bless our own stuff, like say, Lord bless my rosary,
I mean were allowed to baptist in an emergency.

You can ask God through prayer to bless anything. A priest, since he is acting in th person of Christ, can confer a blessing directly. Big difference.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Yeah MomandWife - you have posted four times and I am a little taken aback at this point:

Today it is a priest that does not bless Sacramentals.

In this thread you have a friend with a Eucharist Scrapbook

And then in this thread you have a woman from a Church called “REALITY” trying to pray over you and evangelize you who you practically took her head off.

I am wondering if maybe there is not something you are missing about your own behavior that might be sending the people around you to extremes or if maybe there is something you are perceiving incorrectly due to a language barrier of some sort or a hearing issue. I mean this in all kinds of charity as sometimes these things do happen and this is how people pick on them. God bless you.

 

[englishredrose]

As another poster has already pointed out… The RealJuliane “here we go again”


The opening poster has posted something and you 've all given heated replies without given the opening poster a chance to reply back. Are you really wanting to help or are you just wanting to have your say?

If someone has already posted contact the priest… then why say it again? If someone has said, write to the bishop, then why say it again…?. What is the point of duplicate posts if you are really wanting to help? Sounds like you are more wanting to join in the discussion giving very little thought to how it might help the opening poster. If you have an alternative suggestion to make then fine go ahead and make the post. But to simply say what already been said, what is the point of that?

lets give the opening poster a chance to reply back before jumping to anymore conclusions and if they don’t reply back then so be it rather than wasting our energies on fruitless arguments we can focus our energies on listening to each other. Amen

 

[gh4]

Ok, I’m bothered MORE by the fact that the OP can’t make an appointment to see her priest. I thought all priests were available to speak with if you made an appointment. If this priest won’t talk to the OP privately and won’t bless items like rosaries or crucifixes then there’s a problem.
I think she should approach him after mass or maybe before mass. And if he than confirms what the secretary told her, then I would contact the bishop.
Our priest will bless things that don’t take anything real special after mass on Saturdays or Sundays.