Comments on: Can Laypeople Bless Religious Articles? http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/ Catholic News, Catholic Articles, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Content, Catholic Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22210 Guest Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:33:11 +0000 #comment-22210 <p>I'm glad to see that lay people can bless certain sacramentals.  When I pray the Liturgy of the Hours prayers, I light a candle of the liturgical color for the day.  The candles are small thin candles sold at a local organic food store that seem to be for New Age purposes - each candle is to be burned for a certain reason.  I think it's important to bless each candle before first lighting it to convert it for a Christian purpose.  So I've been doing it - I go through a lot of these candles, and I didn't see a need to keep running to a priest to have them blessed.</p><p>I'm glad to see that my blessings have been legitimate.  <img src="/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" width="18" height="18" /></p> I'm glad to see that lay people can bless certain sacramentals.  When I pray the Liturgy of the Hours prayers, I light a candle of the liturgical color for the day.  The candles are small thin candles sold at a local organic food store that seem to be for New Age purposes – each candle is to be burned for a certain reason.  I think it's important to bless each candle before first lighting it to convert it for a Christian purpose.  So I've been doing it – I go through a lot of these candles, and I didn't see a need to keep running to a priest to have them blessed.

I'm glad to see that my blessings have been legitimate.  Smile

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22141 Guest Sat, 03 Nov 2007 03:40:11 +0000 #comment-22141 <p>Cooky:</p><p>     Pardon me for this, but I was just noticing the 642 on your nick and wondering if you had been in the Navy?  Keep on blessing. :)</p><p> </p><p> </p> Cooky:

     Pardon me for this, but I was just noticing the 642 on your nick and wondering if you had been in the Navy?  Keep on blessing. :)

 

 

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22094 Guest Fri, 02 Nov 2007 06:23:11 +0000 #comment-22094 <em>God loves you .</em> Ahh - blessings! I love to mark children on their foreheads with a cross, and smile into their beautiful faces. I wonder which of us is really getting blessed. I have an old-world Polish pastor. What a delightful man. But, you have to be careful. He is known to keep a 'bucket' of holy water near the altar, with this big hyssop branch in it. He blesses in showers! And, he never fails to pronounce heart warming blessings on the bearer as well as the sacramental. As PTR notes, blessings are prayers with great effect. For the moment, the one pronouncing and gesturing in blessing is 'alter Christus', and everyone can perceive God's glory and pleasure. God bless you all, to His glory and our salvation. <em>Remember, I love you, too .</em> In the Suffering of Christ, and in His hope of His Resurrection, <em>Pristinus Sapienter</em> (wljewell @newcesite.com or ... yahoo.com) God loves you .

Ahh – blessings! I love to mark children on their foreheads with a cross, and smile into their beautiful faces. I wonder which of us is really getting blessed.

I have an old-world Polish pastor. What a delightful man. But, you have to be careful. He is known to keep a ‘bucket’ of holy water near the altar, with this big hyssop branch in it. He blesses in showers! And, he never fails to pronounce heart warming blessings on the bearer as well as the sacramental.

As PTR notes, blessings are prayers with great effect. For the moment, the one pronouncing and gesturing in blessing is ‘alter Christus’, and everyone can perceive God’s glory and pleasure.

God bless you all, to His glory and our salvation.

Remember, I love you, too .

In the Suffering of Christ, and in His hope of His Resurrection,

Pristinus Sapienter

(wljewell @newcesite.com or … yahoo.com)

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22075 Guest Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:23:11 +0000 #comment-22075 <p>My wife and I often bless our children, out loud, calling on the graces from their Baptism and our Holy Matrimony, as well as all of our Guardian Angels and, of course, the Holy Spirit.</p><p>It is effective!</p> My wife and I often bless our children, out loud, calling on the graces from their Baptism and our Holy Matrimony, as well as all of our Guardian Angels and, of course, the Holy Spirit.

It is effective!

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22071 Guest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:28:11 +0000 #comment-22071 <p><u>Cooky642</u>: Thank you for that! Today in mass Father suggested that we do this when our children are sleeping...make the sign of the cross on their foreheads and call them by name and tell them that they are a child of God. I loved it so much, I did it several times. My daughter blushed, but recieved it none-the-less. My son loved it and did it back, joyfully.</p><p>If I can remember, I would love to imitate your blessing...it seems eccentric to some, but we are eccentric to the world anyway. So why not something to bless out loud and openly, with much love?<img src="/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" width="18" height="18" /></p> Cooky642: Thank you for that! Today in mass Father suggested that we do this when our children are sleeping…make the sign of the cross on their foreheads and call them by name and tell them that they are a child of God. I loved it so much, I did it several times. My daughter blushed, but recieved it none-the-less. My son loved it and did it back, joyfully.

If I can remember, I would love to imitate your blessing…it seems eccentric to some, but we are eccentric to the world anyway. So why not something to bless out loud and openly, with much love?Laughing

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22070 Guest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:23:11 +0000 #comment-22070 <p>The difference between the Priesthood of the ordained and of the layman is not one of degree, but of kind (Pope Pius XI).  That is to say it is substantially different.  In practical terms, it can be described this way:  The blessing of the layman is the blessing of their state of grace (not to be minimized objectively), while the blessing of the priest is a blessing (or a washing) in the blood of Christ.  With this in mind, it would seem obvious which blessing I would want and the Church would require for most sacramentals.  (Of course, there is also the liturgical aspect of sacramentals as well.)</p><p>  On the other hand, the Father is the priest of his own household, and it would not be false humility for the priest to defer to him at grace before meals.  The priesthood and fatherhood go all the way back to Adam together, and Christ has now not only renewed it in the order of the firstborn of Melchisedek, but elevated it in His person to His Divine Sonship, marking not only the completion of the mission of Man (male and female), but also the transition point into Eternity.  The good to be derived from the blessing is not the dignity of office, but the transforming power of Christ.  Those of us who do not share in the distribution of this transforming grace by virtue of Orders, still exercise our priesthood in Christ through prayer and sacrifice and holiness of person.  </p> The difference between the Priesthood of the ordained and of the layman is not one of degree, but of kind (Pope Pius XI).  That is to say it is substantially different.  In practical terms, it can be described this way:  The blessing of the layman is the blessing of their state of grace (not to be minimized objectively), while the blessing of the priest is a blessing (or a washing) in the blood of Christ.  With this in mind, it would seem obvious which blessing I would want and the Church would require for most sacramentals.  (Of course, there is also the liturgical aspect of sacramentals as well.)

  On the other hand, the Father is the priest of his own household, and it would not be false humility for the priest to defer to him at grace before meals.  The priesthood and fatherhood go all the way back to Adam together, and Christ has now not only renewed it in the order of the firstborn of Melchisedek, but elevated it in His person to His Divine Sonship, marking not only the completion of the mission of Man (male and female), but also the transition point into Eternity.  The good to be derived from the blessing is not the dignity of office, but the transforming power of Christ.  Those of us who do not share in the distribution of this transforming grace by virtue of Orders, still exercise our priesthood in Christ through prayer and sacrifice and holiness of person. 

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22065 Guest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:34:11 +0000 #comment-22065 Technically, the laity CAN baptize.  However, the ORDINARY means is through the priest or deacon.  But in cases of emergency (i.e. eminent death, and no priest/deacon around), the laity can baptize.  Technically, the laity CAN baptize.  However, the ORDINARY means is through the priest or deacon.  But in cases of emergency (i.e. eminent death, and no priest/deacon around), the laity can baptize. 

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22061 Guest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:46:11 +0000 #comment-22061 I must be missing something here with the prior postings. First off the head of the household is THE FATHER otherwise the scripture is being called into question. Secondly, a priestly blessing does not signify that the priest has "a corner on the market." It has nothing to do with the person of the priest, however it has everything to do with the Holy Orders he recieved and that he is another Christ! Christ works through him and we deny this if we think we can do it ourselves because no priest is available. A priest is not being humble by having a lay person do the blessings. This is false humility and a form of pride as he is denying Christ works through Holy Orders. Do not down play the powers or graces given to the priest through Holy Orders. We can NOT take upon ourselves what Christ intended in priesthood. It will never be the same even if we can't find a priest. We can never change bread and wine into the Eucharist, or forgive sins, etc.. Ave Maria! I must be missing something here with the prior postings. First off the head of the household is THE FATHER otherwise the scripture is being called into question. Secondly, a priestly blessing does not signify that the priest has "a corner on the market." It has nothing to do with the person of the priest, however it has everything to do with the Holy Orders he recieved and that he is another Christ! Christ works through him and we deny this if we think we can do it ourselves because no priest is available. A priest is not being humble by having a lay person do the blessings. This is false humility and a form of pride as he is denying Christ works through Holy Orders. Do not down play the powers or graces given to the priest through Holy Orders. We can NOT take upon ourselves what Christ intended in priesthood. It will never be the same even if we can't find a priest. We can never change bread and wine into the Eucharist, or forgive sins, etc.. Ave Maria!

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-22056 Guest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:42:11 +0000 #comment-22056 <p>I think the point is that an article (Rosary, Bible, food) is not more or lessed blessed by a person than by, say, a Deacon or Priest.  I have been told as such.  But I understand the wanting of a religious to do it.  It seems to make the item more "holy".  Although I think that every thing we have (Sacramental or otherwise) should be blessed by as many people as possible!  Priests don't have the market cornered on blessing things - or even such miracles as healing.  Laity cannot consecrate or absolve, baptise, etc., but we can do all the signs and wonders worked through us by the Holy Spirit.</p><p> </p><p>Bless away!</p> I think the point is that an article (Rosary, Bible, food) is not more or lessed blessed by a person than by, say, a Deacon or Priest.  I have been told as such.  But I understand the wanting of a religious to do it.  It seems to make the item more "holy".  Although I think that every thing we have (Sacramental or otherwise) should be blessed by as many people as possible!  Priests don't have the market cornered on blessing things – or even such miracles as healing.  Laity cannot consecrate or absolve, baptise, etc., but we can do all the signs and wonders worked through us by the Holy Spirit.

 

Bless away!

]]> By: Guest http://catholicexchange.com/2007/11/01/82732/comment-page-1/#comment-4072 Guest Fri, 12 Jan 2007 02:45:01 +0000 #comment-4072 Thank you, Noel! I loved it! As for blessings, you and fishman both missed the point. Yes, sacramentals should ordinarily be blessed by a priest or deacon. Get it done, no matter how hard they are to "corner"! However, there are blessings that normally are the provence of the laity. For instance, my grandchildren are rarely taken to church, and when they are, it's to a Protestant church. Better something than nothing. When I visit, I never fail to make the sign of the cross on their foreheads when they go to bed and ask God to give them a good rest, sweet dreams, and a good next day. The eldest is pushing 18 and I think he'd prefer that I stop, but, until he asks me, I plan to keep on blessing. If the grandchildren have an over-night guest, I always ask the guest if I can bless him or her, too. So far, I've never been turned down. Thank you, Noel! I loved it!
As for blessings, you and fishman both missed the point. Yes, sacramentals should ordinarily be blessed by a priest or deacon. Get it done, no matter how hard they are to “corner”!
However, there are blessings that normally are the provence of the laity. For instance, my grandchildren are rarely taken to church, and when they are, it’s to a Protestant church. Better something than nothing. When I visit, I never fail to make the sign of the cross on their foreheads when they go to bed and ask God to give them a good rest, sweet dreams, and a good next day. The eldest is pushing 18 and I think he’d prefer that I stop, but, until he asks me, I plan to keep on blessing. If the grandchildren have an over-night guest, I always ask the guest if I can bless him or her, too. So far, I’ve never been turned down.

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