What is the protocol for having an item blessed by a priest?

[KimberlyCat]

I recently bought a beautiful crucifix for my home and I would like a priest to bless it. Do I need to make an appointment with him? Can I just pull it out of my purse after Mass and ask him to bless it right then and there? BTW I’m not Catholic but will be starting RCIA in the fall.

 

[ringil]

“Father, could you bless this for me?”

 

[Francis_C_1]

I have asked our parish priest to bless items just after mass and he has been happy to do this, Rosary etc. It only takes a few seconds, mind you I make a point of trying to do this when he has seen most people and he does not look too busy. By the way good luck with the RCIA and God bless.

 

[Eduardo06sp]

The priests at my local church, the priests have people come to him, outside (by the back of the church, after the closing procession).

If I were you, I’d go to the back of the church after a Sunday Mass (or Saturday evening), and if you know that he goes outside, wait for him there.
Maybe greet him, and say something like, “Hello Father X, will you please bless this crucifix for me?”.
Then, when he’s done, shake his hand, give him thanks, and just walk away.

 

[KimberlyCat]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Rich_C]

I would ask father when he has time to do it right.

Whenever father blessed something for us at church, he takes us back to the sacristy, puts on his stole, gets his holy water and his book and follows the Church’s formula for blessing that object.

Simply waving his hand in the sign of the cross is nice but it isn’t quite the same thing, IMO.

 

[Chatter163]

In our FSSP parish, we have a tray outside the sacristy where people leave things to be blessed, and a bin where the priests leave items that they have blessed. Parishioners are asked to put their names on the items. They usually do this after Mass and the items are picked up within minutes, but sometimes it happens later. Occasionally items stay there for days or even weeks.

 

[zab]

I would ask father when he has time to do it right.

Whenever father blessed something for us at church, he takes us back to the sacristy, puts on his stole, gets his holy water and his book and follows the Church’s formula for blessing that object.

Simply waving his hand in the sign of the cross is nice but it isn’t quite the same thing, IMO.

I think that we need to be careful not to imply that a priest’s blessing is somehow lessened if he does not use holy water, wear his stole and read from his book of blessings. Although I admit that it does make me feel better, too.

 

[zab]

I recently bought a beautiful crucifix for my home and I would like a priest to bless it. Do I need to make an appointment with him? Can I just pull it out of my purse after Mass and ask him to bless it right then and there? BTW I’m not Catholic but will be starting RCIA in the fall.

Most priests can be approached after Mass, as other posters have said, to bless an object that you have with you. If I have something that I would like to be blessed, I wait until everyone has greeted Father after Mass so if someone has a quick word to speak to him they won’t have to wait on me. However, it is possible that a priest may have his way of doing things, for example, to make an appointment. That is usually out of the ordinary. But It never hurts to ask.

 

[PJM]

=KimberlyCat;11860209]I recently bought a beautiful crucifix for my home and I would like a priest to bless it. Do I need to make an appointment with him? Can I just pull it out of my purse after Mass and ask him to bless it right then and there? BTW I’m not Catholic but will be starting RCIA in the fall.

Bring it to Mass and catch fater after Mass and just ask him to bless it. He’ll be delighted to do so

 

[catholictiger]

I think that we need to be careful not to imply that a priest’s blessing is somehow lessened if he does not use holy water, wear his stole and read from his book of blessings. Although I admit that it does make me feel better, too.

a blessing is a blessing, sure a blessing rite would be better but with the amount of stuff priest are asked to bless it is more particle to give a quick blessing.

if you want something more liturgical than ask him I’m sure he would be fine with it.

 

[zab]

a blessing is a blessing, sure a blessing rite would be better but with the amount of stuff priest are asked to bless it is more particle to give a quick blessing.

if you want something more liturgical than ask him I’m sure he would be fine with it.

glad you agree.

 

[Rich_C]

I think that we need to be careful not to imply that a priest’s blessing is somehow lessened if he does not use holy water, wear his stole and read from his book of blessings. Although I admit that it does make me feel better, too.

I wasn’t implying it, I was asserting it.

Holy water really is holy. And we have to ask for God to grant us things. “Ask you shall receive.” The petitions contained in the official blessings (especially the old ones, which are still approved under certain circumstances) ask for all kinds of protections that we need.

Just getting “I bless this rosary/crucifix/etc. in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” is getting only a fraction of what the official blessing entails.