The "Book of Blessings"

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Has anyone heard anything at all concerning a possible re-write of this? You know, so that the prayers read such that they’re actually blessing something - as opposed to the extremely vague language in the current version?
 
Nope. I really wish they would, but I don’t see it is considered a priority which is a shame. It’s almost like the backlash against clericalism led to a fear of highlighting that aspect of Holy Orders.
 
Gorgias said:
The volume Blessings, in the Roman Ritual hasn’t been abrogated, has it? It “actually blesses” things…! 😉
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The Catchism explains what a blessing is:

1678 Among the sacramentals blessings occupy an important place. They include both praise of God for his works and gifts, and the Church’s intercession for men that they may be able to use God’s gifts according to the spirit of the Gospel.

1671 Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. …

1672 Certain blessings have a lasting importance because they consecrate persons to God, or reserve objects and places for liturgical use. …
 
Gorgias said:
The volume Blessings, in the Roman Ritual hasn’t been abrogated, has it? It “actually blesses” things…! 😉
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Yes, it was abrogated (when Bl Paul VI promulgated the new “Book of Blessings” he mentioned that in the introductory letter). However, that’s mostly irrelevant now.

HH Benedict in Summorum Pontificum restored its use.

Here are the relevant paragraphs (I put them in a specific order)
  1. The use of the Pontificale Romanum, the Rituale Romanum, as well as the Caeremoniale Episcoporum in effect in 1962, is permitted, in keeping with n. 28 of this Instruction, and always respecting n. 31 of the same Instruction.
  2. Furthermore, by virtue of its character of special law, within its own area, the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum derogates from those provisions of law, connected with the sacred Rites, promulgated from 1962 onwards and incompatible with the rubrics of the liturgical books in effect in 1962.
  3. Only in Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life which are under the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, and in those which use the liturgical books of the forma extraordinaria, is the use of the Pontificale Romanum of 1962 for the conferral of minor and major orders permitted.
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_commissions/ecclsdei/documents/rc_com_ecclsdei_doc_20110430_istr-universae-ecclesiae_en.html
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Has anyone heard anything at all concerning a possible re-write of this? You know, so that the prayers read such that they’re actually blessing something - as opposed to the extremely vague language in the current version?
Click to expand...
Yes.

A decree issued in 2002 addressed this issue.

Priests are instructed to add a blessing when a blessing is lacking (which is nearly always).

Therefore, it’s a given that the Holy See is (now, finally after so many years) officially aware of the problem.

Here is the text of the Decree, with an unofficial translation.

notitiae.ipsissima-verba.org/show/135

It is actually an admission that the Book of Blessings doesn’t bless anything. 🤷

What is the next step? Good question. I think that it’s a given that when the ritual is revised again (whenever that might be) the issue will be addressed. I say it’s a “given” because it would make no sense for the Congregation to issue a Decree and then not follow its own Decree.

However, whether or not such a revision will go far enough to restore a true sense of blessing to the texts is a matter of speculation at this point. I think the signs are good but still we just won’t know until it happens.
 
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