Quick answer for apostolic blessing question?

[IrishAm]

Can anyone help, please . . . I am fortunate enough to attend the Papal Mass in DC tomorrow and several friends have given me items (rosaries, primarily) saying the Holy Father will bless them sometime during the Mass (or before or afterwards).

Is this true? When might I expect that to happen? Will I know when it is happening? Do I need to do anything? I would not want to disappoint anyone because of my lack of knowledge – one rosary in particular was purchased just for the event by a loving young Godfather to give to his niece on her First Communion next month.

Your help is so appreciated.

(I saw His Holiness today in the motorcade leaving the White House – it was wonderful. Also saw three busloads of bishops and cardinals leaving the White House. People were waving and they were waving and blessing them back – lots of smiles and lots of joy. Oh, and when you hear about the protesters – I was in Lafayette Park and there must have been all of 20 protesters in total. Hardly the big turn out they threatened. They were kept in a certain area and there were more mounted police officers keeping an eye on them than there were protesters.)

 

[oblsbdc]

Usually the Holy Father offers his apostolic blessing at an audience or such event. It is accepted that his blessing to persons is also a blessing for devotional objects. In Saint Peter square you might see pilgrims holding up rosaries or the like for the apostolic blessing. He usually says something like “I willingly impart my apostolic blessing on you and your family…”

At a papal Mass I’m not sure. An additional blessing, outside the Mass, would be pretty obvious. I think the apostolic blessing at the end of Mass would suffice for a blessing of holy objects. A blessing is a blessing and I’m sure the Holy Father doesn’t object to pilgrims assumption of blessings for devotional items - even if not explicit. Remeber, the Faith is generous, not restrictive.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Usually the Holy Father offers his apostolic blessing at an audience or such event. It is accepted that his blessing to persons is also a blessing for devotional objects. In Saint Peter square you might see pilgrims holding up rosaries or the like for the apostolic blessing. He usually says something like “I willingly impart my apostolic blessing on you and your family…”

At a papal Mass I’m not sure. An additional blessing, outside the Mass, would be pretty obvious. I think the apostolic blessing at the end of Mass would suffice for a blessing of holy objects. A blessing is a blessing and I’m sure the Holy Father doesn’t object to pilgrims assumption of blessings for devotional items - even if not explicit. Remeber, the Faith is generous, not restrictive.

At the papal Mass I attended. It was clearly announced that the Holy Father will impart his Apostolic Blessing on everyone and any religious objects you may have. We were told to hold up any objects we wished to be blessed.

 

[IrishAm]

Thank you so much for your responses. I hadn’t been too concerned until this evening – but then the little girl’s First Communion rosary (and her uncle adding his own rosary for blessing) suddenly seemed like a great responsibility for me. I actually think this young man would be a wonderful priest – and that has me wanting to be very, very, sure that the power of an apostolic blessing is given to his rosary, too. (See what happens when you start thinking too much? )