Which blessings from the Book of Blessings may lay people give?

[Myqyl]

I just had a horrific thought. Does this mean that when I take my 6 year old up to Communion and she crosses her arms and “receives a blessing” from a Lay Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist that she is actually not receiving anything at all? Should I be ignoring the ushers and ensuring that she only receive this blessing from a priest or deacon?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Diaconia]

If she goes to an EMHC, she’s the recipient of a prayer at most, or perhaps a kind word “God bless,” rather than a blessing.

Only a priest or deacon can ***give ***an actual blessing. A member of the laity can ***ask ***God to bless someone.

On a related note, the Vatican has said these Communion line blessings are not to occur anyway. There are several threads about it if you want to do a search.

God bless,

 

[FrDavid96]

Father David,

Please send your blessing to me and my children,

Father, the situation that I have is that some of my catholic customs and traditions are ancient. They were brought to the new world by the Spanish priests who brought christianity and helped to spread it in the new world. In another forum I participated on a thread about the sign of the cross. I described how I do the sign of the cross. No one had ever heard of such a way. You could hear the crickets.

Now, you know how difficult it can be to participate in forums. I participate to learn and to share and to pray. If I with my ignorance can be of service to anyone: the glory belongs to God. I am going to cut down on my participation. My grandmother, for instance, did not invent what I am saying. No matter how many people join the chorus and try to get recognition for their knowledge.

Regarding the sign of the cross, a poster found an ancient document dating back to the 16th century which was a translation to English from the latin that showed how to do the sign of the cross and it was the way I do it. So, everyone was happy. In fact, Saint Teresa of Avila never wrote about how she did the sign of the cross but I am sure she did it the way I do it.

What I am trying to say is that it is difficult for me to just accept that millions of people that have the Catholic traditions that I have are wrong and have been wrong for centuries. I have to ask myself; if the blessings of my elders do not have any value and are equivalent to anyone in the world who wishes to pray for me - then why the tradition? This tradition, Father, is rooted in the latin culture, there are poems and songs. It is embedded in the language it is part of family life and societies. Why? If it has no meaning?

…

Please keep in mind how I opened my most recent post to you. I believe that we’re saying the same thing. What is done in your culture is perfectly legitimate. I am not disputing that–far from it.

What you describe being done by parents, grandparents, etc. is a prayer for someone. We’re both saying that. We’re likewise both saying that this prayer is not the same thing as receiving a blessing from a priest or deacon.

All I am trying to point-out is that the prayer which you describe is not a blessing that one would receive from a cleric. Even thought people might use the word “blessing” in a very generic sense, it isn’t a blessing-proper; instead it’s a prayer asking for God’s graces upon the person–and that’s a good thing indeed.

 

[FrDavid96]

I just had a horrific thought. Does this mean that when I take my 6 year old up to Communion and she crosses her arms and “receives a blessing” from a Lay Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist that she is actually not receiving anything at all? Should I be ignoring the ushers and ensuring that she only receive this blessing from a priest or deacon?

Thanks

Mike

She isn’t receiving anything because the person who pretends to give a blessing is incapable of doing so. (And I’ll leave it at that.)

Please do see the sticky here on the liturgy forum for a copy of the Vatican’s letter, and read it for yourself.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m sorry you felt I was being sarcastic. I was actually being very sincere. At this point I’m not at all sure I should be saying “Bless us oh Lord and these Thy gifts…” anymore and am VERY worried that I have passed this down to my children. Last night was the first meal I’ve had with my children where I simply said “Lord, thank you for this food. Amen”. It felt unnatural. I’ve been trying to figure out how I should tell them that we, as non-clergy, can not ask for God’s blessing on each other, ourselves, or our meals and that we must have clergy do it for us. This is likely the biggest crisis of faith I’ve had in a decade.

Going forward, and until I figure this all out, i will sign my post simply…

Mike

Mike,
You’re fine. “Grace before Meals” is a very good prayer, and one which parents should be teaching their children.

Anyone can “ask for God’s blessing.” When you say this prayer before a meal, you are not pretending to “bless the food” so you aren’t doing anything improper (not by any means).

 

[Myqyl]

I don’t mean to be thick about this, but I’m not sure I have this straight yet, so please be patient with me

It’s ok for me to ask God to bless my children and my food, but it won’t actually be blessed? Is this to say that God will say no when I ask? If so, shouldn’t I not be asking for something that God will refuse if I’m not clergy?

Sorry, but I am VERY confused by this revelation. I had always assumed that God bestowed Blessings for those that ask, and Scripture seems to say that too… What am i missing?

 

[Myqyl]

I don’t mean to be thick about this, but I’m not sure I have this straight yet, so please be patient with me

It’s ok for me to ask God to bless my children and my food, but it won’t actually be blessed? Is this to say that God will say no when I ask? If so, shouldn’t I not be asking for something that God will refuse if I’m not clergy?

Sorry, but I am VERY confused by this revelation. I had always assumed that God bestowed Blessings for those that ask, and Scripture seems to say that too… What am I missing?

Thanks

Mike

 

[benedictgal]

I don’t mean to be thick about this, but I’m not sure I have this straight yet, so please be patient with me

It’s ok for me to ask God to bless my children and my food, but it won’t actually be blessed? Is this to say that God will say no when I ask? If so, shouldn’t I not be asking for something that God will refuse if I’m not clergy?

Sorry, but I am VERY confused by this revelation. I had always assumed that God bestowed Blessings for those that ask, and Scripture seems to say that too… What am i missing?

Mygyl, we can ask God to bless people and things; however, only a deacon, priest or bishop can impart a blessing. When I go out to eat with a priest friend of mine, he says the blessing and literally blesses the food set before us. When I go eat (not having him with me), I say the “Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts…”, but I do nothing.

Unfortunately, as I am reading the various responses, there seems to be a confusion in these threads between the ministerial (ordained) priesthood and the common priesthood.

 

[FrDavid96]

I don’t mean to be thick about this, but I’m not sure I have this straight yet, so please be patient with me

It’s ok for me to ask God to bless my children and my food, but it won’t actually be blessed? Is this to say that God will say no when I ask? If so, shouldn’t I not be asking for something that God will refuse if I’m not clergy?

Sorry, but I am VERY confused by this revelation. I had always assumed that God bestowed Blessings for those that ask, and Scripture seems to say that too… What am i missing?

OK. What’s missing here is an understanding of the word “blessing.” If we mean blessing in the sense that something is spiritually different after the blessing than it was before, then this can only be done by a priest or deacon. Let us take an obvious example. Let’s say that someone takes a piece of land and wants to make it a cemetery. If a priest blesses the land and dedicates it as such, that becomes “hallowed ground” It is blessed land. It is different than it was before. It would be inappropriate to then allow that land to be used for a purely secular purpose.

Here’s an example from the other extreme. Let’s say that someone says a prayer on behalf of someone else. Someone drops a few dollars into a donation can and the holder says “thanks, and may God bless you.” This isn’t a blessing as such. It is asking God to bestow His blessings upon someone else. Nothing wrong with this; everything right with this. The distinction is that the person who receives that greeting is not any different than before (that’s not to discount God’s graces either); it’s just saying that the person does not become a “blessed person.”

Another example that we’ve already discussed. Someone says “Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts…” Again, a good thing. But at the same time, the food itself does not become blessed food. We consume it, and when we’re done, we discard the scraps. The food is no different after that prayer than it was before that prayer. When we say “bless…these gifts” we do not mean that in the sense that the food is changed spiritually into something different.

On Holy Saturday, Catholics have their Easter foods blessed by a priest or deacon. This is different than Grace before a meal. When we do this, the food becomes blessed food–it is spiritually different than it was before. It is now a special food; it is dedicated to a particular spiritual purpose (ie, celebrating the Resurrection.) If a slice of bread falls on the floor, we don’t just pick it up and throw it in the trash can–because it is blessed food.

It isn’t that God is saying “no, I won’t bless this food.” It is a matter of saying that we aren’t literally asking God to “bless” the food, even though we use the word–that is an expression of a shortcoming in our language because we use the same word to describe two different (but related) realities. We aren’t asking for a blessing that changes the food–and that’s the key element here. We are asking for a blessing in the generic sense of the word, not a blessing that makes ordinary food into holy food. That last sentence sounds akward, but it’s the best I can come up with at the moment.

Perhaps yet another example will help. Let’s say someone says Grace before a meal, and on the table is a glass of water. We would not say that the water on the table becomes ‘Holy Water’ because someone “said the blessing.” I can’t imagine any rational person who has half a glass leftover taking the water into the church and pouring it into the Holy Water font because it is “blessed water.” The leftover water is just poured down the sink and we think nothing of it. On the other hand, if you bring a bottle of Holy Water home from church, you wouldn’t just casually pour it down the sink. You know that this water is different than it was before. It isn’t ordinary water, it’s Holy Water. It has been blessed.

 

[Diaconia]

Unfortunately, as I am reading the various responses, there seems to be a confusion in these threads between the ministerial (ordained) priesthood and the common priesthood.

I nominate this quote for “snippet of the year!”

God bless,

 

[Myqyl]

Thank you, I think I’m getting it. Let me know if I have this straight…

If I say Grace (Bless us oh Lord and these Thy gifts…) I am asking God to bless the food and the people eating, which God very well may (or may not) do. But this does not change the nature of the food (or the people) into Sacramentals in the same way having a preist or deacon bless a rosary or water would. God’s blessing may lend Grace to those so “blessed” but does not change them into ordained ministers… God’s blessing may impart a grace to the food so “blessed” but it is not changing it’s status from “food and drink” into “Holy Food”. And when I slip into my children’s rooms at night and make the sign of the cross and whisper “May God bless and keep you all the days of your lives”, I am not transforming them into “Holy People” or ordaining them in any way, but should God choose to answer that prayer they will become “Blessed”… By God, not me…

However, when clergy “blesses” food, drink, people, etc, they are blessed BY THE PRIEST (or deacon) and they become “Holy” through that blessing.

So I can not “bless” anything. I can ask God to bless something and if He sees fit, it will be Blessed. A Priest or deacon can actually bless something “themselves” and not request that God do it.

Is that right? If so, my crisis is over and I will sign my post…

May God bless and guide us.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you, I think I’m getting it. Let me know if I have this straight…

If I say Grace (Bless us oh Lord and these Thy gifts…) I am asking God to bless the food and the people eating, which God very well may (or may not) do. But this does not change the nature of the food (or the people) into Sacramentals in the same way having a preist or deacon bless a rosary or water would. God’s blessing may lend Grace to those so “blessed” but does not change them into ordained ministers… God’s blessing may impart a grace to the food so “blessed” but it is not changing it’s status from “food and drink” into “Holy Food”. And when I slip into my children’s rooms at night and make the sign of the cross and whisper “May God bless and keep you all the days of your lives”, I am not transforming them into “Holy People” or ordaining them in any way, but should God choose to answer that prayer they will become “Blessed”… By God, not me…

However, when clergy “blesses” food, drink, people, etc, they are blessed BY THE PRIEST (or deacon) and they become “Holy” through that blessing.

So I can not “bless” anything. I can ask God to bless something and if He sees fit, it will be Blessed. A Priest or deacon can actually bless something “themselves” and not request that God do it.

Is that right? If so, my crisis is over and I will sign my post…

May God bless and guide us.

Yes

 

[John_Lilburne]

Hi All,

I understand that lay people may give certain blessings.

Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless.172 Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons). [CCC 1669]

However, I would like to have a clear list of which blessings lay people may give and the formulas for such blessings. I have read that “[t[he Church’s Book of Blessings lists the blessings that may be given by lay people (p.xxviii)” (http://aquietmoment.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/can-lay-people-give-blessings/

), but I have been unable to find such a list.

Can anyone help me out?
I think this is a complete list of the blessings from the Book of Blessings that a lay minister may give. Some blessings I have put “USA” to indicate that these are approved for use in the United States of America. They are not in the Latin edition of this liturgical book, which can be used in any country. The paragraph number refers to blessing being given by a lay person. For the first “44. The present order may be used by a priest or deacon. It may also be used by a layperson, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister.”

Chapter 1, I, Order for the Blessing of a Family, n. 44.
Chapter 1, III, Order for the Blessing of a Married Couple, n. 115.
Chapter 1, IV, Order for the Blessing of Children, n. 136.
Chapter 1, V, Order for the Blessing of Sons and Daughters “176. The present order may be used by the parents or by a priest or deacon.”
Chapter 1, VI, Order for the Blessing of an Engaged Couple, n. 197.
Chapter 1, VII, Order for the Blessing of Parents Before Childbirth (USA), n. 217.
Chapter 1, VIII, Order for the Blessing of a Mother Before Childbrith and After Childbirth, n. 238.
Chapter 1, IX, Order for the Blessing of Parents After a Miscarriage (USA), n. 281.
Chapter 1, X, Order for the Blessing of Parents and an Adopted Child (USA), n. 305.
Chapter 1, XI, Order for the Blessing on the Occasion of a Birthday (USA), n. 325 “… prayers designated for a lay minister, or by a family member.”
Chapter 1, XII, Order for the Blessing of Elderly People Confined to their Homes, n. 345.
Chapter 2, Orders for the Blessing of the Sick, n. 378.
Chapter 4, II, Order of Blessing for a Catechetical or Prayer Meeting, n. 512.
Chapter 4, III, Blessings of Catechumens (USA), n. 520, “… by a priest, a deacon, or a qualified catechist appointed by the bishop.”
Chapter 5, Order for the Blessing of Students and Teachers (USA), “525 The blessing may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister.”
Chapter 6, Orders for the Blessing of Those Gathered at a Meeting (USA), II Order for the Blessing of Ecumenical Groups, n. 555.
Chapter 9, Order for the Blessing of Travelers, n. 618.
Chapter 11, Order for the Blessing of a New Home, n. 661.

Chapter 21: “the various means of transportation” (n. 854) objects mentioned are: bridge, highway, street, railway, airport, motor vehicle, airplane, boat and ship.
Chapter 22: “boats and fishing gear” (a USA blessing, n. 880)
Chapter 23: “technical installations or equipment” (chapter 23, n. 901) objects mentioned: “any kind of technical equipment”, “a central energy source or power house”, “a reservoir or water system”.
Chapter 24: “tools or other equipment for work” (n. 921).
Chapter 25: animals (n. 943).
Chapter 26: fields and flocks (n. 968)
Chapter 27: “seeds at planting time” (a USA blessing, n. 988)
Chapter 30: meals. “1030. Christians, whether alone or with companions at table, say grace before and after meals to thank God for his goodness …”. The First Plan has, before the meal:
“The one presiding then signs himself with the sign of the cross (a priest or deacon also makes the sign of the cross over the food) and says:
Bless + us, O Lord, and these your gifts …” (n. 1033).

Chapter 46: a scapular. “1488. The blessing and conferral of a scapular should, if at all possible, be carried out in a communal celebration. Whenever the conferral is a way of receiving members of the faithful into a confraternity of a religious order or institute, this reception must be carried out by a member of that institute or else by a minister deputed by the competent authority of the institute.” Objects mentioned: scapular, habit.

Chapter 47: an advent wreath (a USA blessing, n. 1516).
Chapter 48: a Christmas manger or nativity scene (a USA blessing, n. 1546).
Chapter 49: a Christmas tree (a USA blessing, n. 1575).
Chapter 50: “homes during the Christmas and Easter seasons” (a USA blessing, n. 1600).
Chapter 53: food on Saint Joseph’s table (a USA blessing, n. 1681).
Chapter 54: “food for the first meal of Easter” (a USA blessing, n. 1706).
Chapter 57: a gravestone or monument at a cemetery “(November 2), Memorial Day, or on the Anniversary of Death or Burial” (a USA blessing, n. 1737).

Chapter 58, Order for the Blessing of Food for Thanksgiving Day (USA), “1758 This blessing may be given by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister.”
Chapter 70, Order for a Blessing in Thanksgiving, n. 1967.
Chapter 71, Order for a Blessing to be Used in Various Circumstances, n. 1986. “1984. … The purpose of the rite is to sanctify through the celebration of a blessing those situations in life not explicitly indicated in the rites already given …”.

From Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8.

 

[BigDave31]

Hi I am a fairly new catholic. Entered the church 5 years ago. I have a habit of saying “God Bless You” to the pastor as I greet him in leaving mass. Now I am kind of embarrassed at thinking I have been wrong in doing this. But actually in thinking it over I know that I cannot bless him and that is why I say “God bless you”. Can’t God hear me and if He so will then bless the pastor? Maybe it will be safer to not say that any more. I love being catholic but, so many technicalities.

 

[stephraim]

This might clear up some of the confusion in the English word “bless”:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/bless

 

[rungood4u]

Just had a similar discussion with someone 2 weeks ago. Apparently, a deacon told her that lay people could bless holy objects and that the priest/deacon’s blessing was not needed.

iiiiiikes!

Anyway tried to clarify that the ordinary ministers of the church: bishops, priest and deacons, may GIVE blessings as they stand in the office of Holy Orders. But we, the laity may ask for God’s blessings on people/ things. The difference being they have the authority to do so, where we need to ask God to do it.

So bestowing a blessings vs asking God for one.

So, if there was not priest around, we could ask God to bless something and sprinkle Holy Water on it, and if I understand correctly, it would not necessarily have the status of a “blessed object”, but we would have to trust that God in His mercy would take care of things until such time as we can reach a priest to do it for us.

Yet, I do still have a bit of unclarity myself as in the New Testament, it states “Bless those who curse you” Implying that there is authority which we have been given as well.

We, through baptism, do participate in the offices of: prophet, priest and king…??? Not sure how it all fits in…

Basically, things are not completely black and white. Interesting question to wrestle with though. Would be open for more clarity here.

 

[Chris_Patterson]

Hey Gang,

I appreciate the discussion on blessings, and the teaching that you guys are giving.

As best as I can tell, the main point is that for a specific blessing to have “power,” that blessing needs to be given by a priest (and maybe a deacon?). Lay persons can ask God to bless, but they don’t have the authority required for the “blessing” to have power in and of itself.

My question relates to patriarchal blessings in the Old Testament: Isaac’s blessing of Jacob in Genesis 22:28; or Jacob’s blessing of his sons in Genesis 49. Those seem to be prophetic blessings that had power in a similar manner that a priest’s blessing has power. Isaac’s blessing of Jacob, in fact, couldn’t be “re-blessed” to Esau.

So, here are my questions:

1. Were those blessings by Isaac and Jacob similar to blessings able to be performed only by a priest?
2. Do you believe (and, more importantly, does the Church teach) that the blessings of Isaac and Jacob had or released God’s power in the lives of the blessed?
3. If those blessings did have power, were they powerful because Isaac and Jacob had authority as fathers to bless, or because they were prophets of sorts themselves, or for some other reason.

Anyway, I’d like to hear your guys thoughts. I’m going to ask my own priest, too, but I’d like your (name removed by moderator)ut and instruction as well.

Thanks!

In His love,

 

[Shin]

From what I understand parents may have the authority to give real blessings to their children.

Children can’t bless their parents, but parents their children yes.

*I may be wrong *on this but I believe I heard this from a traditional priest. It wouldn’t be a priestly blessing but it would be a real blessing.

I hesitate to say more because I do not thoroughly understand the issue, far from it, just the opposite – it seems that blessings, consecrations, curses, etc. all this spiritual stuff has especially become obscure these days.

And the ‘Book of Blessings’ shows part of why.

Hopefully someone with more info will chime in.

 

[Mary_Cooney]

I think this means the Irish Blessing said for anyone by a priest, bishop or deacon is a blessing, but the same words said with the same intention by a layman or woman is a prayer. The person, for whom the prayer is said by a layman or woman, is not blessed.
The blessing of St. Francis or the blessing of St. Patrick are not blessings if said by a lay person. A blessing said for food we eat, and for those who prepare it, and for those who grow it, is not a blessing, but a prayer. The food is not blessed, nor are those who eat it, or who prepared it, or who grew it. Is the problem the English language?

God Bless You! Saying so is a blessing, and does not cause it to happen even if 2 or 3 are gathered in God’s name, even through the efficacy of Jesus and His Name. I am hearing the result is without any blessing unless one is a priest, bishop or deacon. All others just Hope. While we have Faith, Hope and Love, and understand that the greatest of these is Love, it may be true true only so to speak. From some, we hear we can only Hope when we ask, singly or in a group of 2 or more, that God will answer our prayers of blessing. In the Our Father, when we say, “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name,” are we hoping also? The Our Father is a blessing. We are asking that the Father be blessed, honored, glorified, exalted because God’s is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Do we need to ask a priest, deacon or bishop to say this for us?

Let us hope that God does not get confused about who is saying the blessing. Even though God is not a respecter of persons, and even though all Baptized persons are priests, prophets and kings, it sounds like someone needs to remind God that there are standards. Is it like the Parable of the Good Samaritan who told the innkeeper to give the broken man “what ever he needs?” What if it were a blessing? The Samaritan, no matter what good words or works he brought to bear, was the gift-giver least able, the one least authoritative, the only one not ordained in some way, and the one who in reality was the enemy. The lawyer, who wanted to know “who is important here?” was told by Jesus about both the “who” and the “what” with the command: “Go and do likewise.” Do we need to take the Word of God with a grain of salt? Standards are standards. WWJD

 

[Regina0206]

Originally posted by Benedictgal
Mygyl, we can ask God to bless people and things; however, only a deacon, priest or bishop can impart a blessing. When I go out to eat with a priest friend of mine, he says the blessing and literally blesses the food set before us. When I go eat (not having him with me), I say the “Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts…”, but I do nothing.

Unfortunately, as I am reading the various responses, there seems to be a confusion in these threads between the ministerial (ordained) priesthood and the common priesthood.

What do you do with the leftovers when your priest friend blesses the food. As from what I have gathered in reading the replies, when a priest/deacon blesses the food, it becomes blessed food and is spiritually different.