What would be the right way to request a proper blessing for a particular item?

[YoungTradCath]

For example, this Sunday (in the US, -_-) is Epiphany. What would be the correct manner for requesting a proper blessing for chalk, gold (not that I have any lol), or myrrh? I know many people ask for a blessing for something after mass, and the priest will simply make a sign of the cross over the item. What would be the procedure to request the fuller, proper, blessing for a specific item?

 

[Incomplete]

I have never asked for a blessing for an item where a full blessing wasn’t said. Many of the blessings have been incredibly beautiful. I had no idea that a lot of priests just made a sign of the cross. I’ll be watching this thread with interest.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I have never asked for a blessing for an item where a full blessing wasn’t said. Many of the blessings have been incredibly beautiful. I had no idea that a lot of priests just made a sign of the cross. I’ll be watching this thread with interest.

I see the simple sign of the cross thing a lot, as people ask for blessings many times as they’re going out of the church after mass.

 

[Cathryn]

You could ask Father to use his Book of Blessings. My priest keeps his usually in the sacristy. He also needs his holy water. Just ask.

 

[pablope]

For example, this Sunday (in the US, -_-) is Epiphany. What would be the correct manner for requesting a proper blessing for chalk, gold (not that I have any lol), or myrrh? I know many people ask for a blessing for something after mass, and the priest will simply make a sign of the cross over the item. What would be the procedure to request the fuller, proper, blessing for a specific item?

Just come up and ask after the Mass, if father can spend a few minutes to bless your items. he has to go back to the sacristy anyway to remove his vestments.

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

At my wonderful FSSP parish, our pastor blesses the chalk and holy water just for the marking of the lintels, at the Epiphany Mass (or more likely, after Mass), which will be Friday evening. We didn’t even have to ask!

 

[TrueLight]

At my wonderful FSSP parish, our pastor blesses the chalk and holy water just for the marking of the lintels, at the Epiphany Mass (or more likely, after Mass), which will be Friday evening. We didn’t even have to ask!

Yeah. I was trying to refrain from saying he should seek an FSSP priest.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I see the simple sign of the cross thing a lot, as people ask for blessings many times as they’re going out of the church after mass.

Just because all you see is a sign of the cross, doesn’t mean the priest doesn’t also say a blessing.

If you expect the priest to do a “fuller, proper” blessing, you should make an appointment. Directly before and directly after Mass are busy times for priests, with lots of people wanting his attention. Call and ask if he’ll be available half an hour before Mass, then you can get the chalk, etc blessed without distrupting his pre-Mass preparations.

 

[GwenL]

For example, this Sunday (in the US, -_-) is Epiphany. What would be the correct manner for requesting a proper blessing for chalk, gold (not that I have any lol), or myrrh? I know many people ask for a blessing for something after mass, and the priest will simply make a sign of the cross over the item. What would be the procedure to request the fuller, proper, blessing for a specific item?

umm…via email? That’s what I did.

 

[jimrob]

We have a Book of Blessings which seems to have blessings for everything from a newly engaged couple to kitchen utensils. However, the words used are of secondary importance. If a priest or deacon imparts God’s blessing on an item or occasion, it remains just as blessed whatever words he uses.

 

[jpjd]

What would be the procedure to request the fuller, proper, blessing for a specific item?

What is a “fuller” blessing? Do some blessings have more quality, or “more blessing” in them, than other blessings?

 

[GwenL]

What is a “fuller” blessing? Do some blessings have more quality, or “more blessing” in them, than other blessings?

I think OP meant the “special” or “particular” blessing for items for Epiphany. There are specific blessings used for chalk, water, incense, etc. for people to take home to do the Epiphany house blessing.

YTC: ask your priest. I did so via email. “Father, when will you be blessing chalk, water, and incense for Epiphany.” If it’s not in the Book of Blessings (I don’t have one at hand this moment), find and print one off the internet for him to use. If he’s not planning on a special time for this, ask to see him after Sunday Mass to do it for you. You might start/restart a tradition at your parish.

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

Father told us today (at the FSSP TLM mass) that the holy water that is blessed for Epiphany was “more powerful” than regular holy water. He said the ritual for the blessing of the Epiphany holy water took 20 minutes. He encouraged us all to take bottle per family, and I was lucky enough to get the very last one. I wonder what special occasion I will be saving it for…

I didn’t take the blessed chalk, as I wanted to make sure that families with children got that. I used my own chalk, as I always have done, to mark the lintels and my mailbox. I learned that custom in Germany, when I was stationed there 33 years ago. I would see the villiage homes all marked after Epiphany. The custom was for the children to leave their shoes out, and the Wise Men put treats in them and mark the house.

In Spain, where my family is from, the Wise Men bring “Christmas” gifts on the night of 6th of January, and fill shoes with candy. My kids always wondered why they were the only kids at their Catholic school who were visited by the Wise Men. I told them it was because they were the only ones who know to leave out apples and carrots for the camels.

 

[porthos11]

Yeah. I was trying to refrain from saying he should seek an FSSP priest.

Unfortunately, for specific blessings (e.g. Epiphany), I second the recommendation to seek out an FSSP priest as well. There are indeed some blessings with really powerful language in the 1962 Ritual that mentions specific intentions (especially to exorcize). This is also why I seek out an FSSP priest to have my St. Benedict medals blessed because of the explicit exorcisms.

I would, however have no issues seeking out any priest, FSSP or otherwise to bless other items (e.g. Rosaries) and I don’t think I would seek out the FSSP priest to bless my Ordinary Form Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Unfortunately, for specific blessings (e.g. Epiphany), I second the recommendation to seek out an FSSP priest as well. There are indeed some blessings with really powerful language in the 1962 Ritual that mentions specific intentions (especially to exorcize). This is also why I seek out an FSSP priest to have my St. Benedict medals blessed because of the explicit exorcisms.

This is actually all true.

 

[Cristiano]

I think that people here are mixing up a lot of different things.The blessing of common objects is different from the blessing of the water and the salt. The blessing of water and salt is somehow different different between the OF and the EF. The blessing of the St. Benedict medal is independent of the OF vs. EF, there is a very specific blessing for the medal.

In regard to my OF parish we usually have the blessed chalk with a printout of the words for the blessing ready when you exit the Church. My priest is a simple diocesan priest and he uses the EF formula when he blesses the water and salt. I do not think that every time you need to seek an FSSP priest to have something done in a more traditional manner, often it is easier to simply ask your diocesan priest and you can get the same results, there are a lot of holy diocesan priests willing to help.