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Dear Friend in Christ Jesus,
First, you are very welcome to our humble Catholic site! We are glad you asked your
great questions which are not misguided at all but quite on target!
In response to your question concerning blessings by lay people the short answer
is this:
Yes, you can bless and ask for blessings; not only that but you are actually encouraged to do so!
The bishop and priest, as you are aware, give the blessing at the end of Mass. This
blessing, as in all blessings bishops and priests give, are a formal extension, if
I may use that wording, of the great Blessing (Todah-Berakah) which they
celebrate at each Mass — which we call the Eucharistic Prayer. The deacon in turn has
the ability to bless certain sacramentals in his ministry of service to the Church.
The laity however, as baptized, confirmed members of the Church are united to and
participate in Christ's threefold work (or office) of prophet, priest and king, specific
to their calling. As a priestly people [and not ministerial priests] they are ordered
[in the sense of connected] to worship of our Blessed Triune God and assist in
the sanctification of the world.
This might sound heavy so let's give some practical examples. We have always encouraged the faithful to:
- make the Sign of the Cross
- use of Holy Water
- pray morning and evening prayers
- say the Morning Offering, and
- say the blessing before and after meals.
Well the good news is this — there are many other opportunities
as well. Parents blessing their children is an ancient tradition
that needs to be renewed. When?
- In the morning before they or you part
- at night as they go to bed, and
- any other major event in their lives or special occasions of
the family!
A prayerful heart and your finger, to make the
Sign of the Cross on their forehead, and perhaps even some holy water — especially
if they are sick [here I am speaking about little stuff like even
colds, etc.] If they are very, very sick they, like us, need the sacrament
of the sick.
There are blessings of:
- birthdays
- anniversaries (of any major event which is good)
- remembering the dead relatives and friends
- going to cemeteries
- blessings of Christmas trees or manger scenes
- the Epiphany blessing of homes [another page] by laity with chalk and holy water
over the front door [beginning with, for example, 20 then the letters
MGB for Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar (the traditional names
of the three Wise men) then the numbers 07].
These are but a few of many. All can be found in a book by the
National Bishops Conference:
Catholic
Household Blessings and Prayers
Included in this book of Household Blessings are blessings of pets.
Pets are expressions of both God's marvelous power and goodness in
creation but also man's dominion over the creatures of this earth
in their:
- domestication
- naming of them, and
- our love and care for
them.
It is a real exercise in stewardship.
So my friend — bless the Lord at all times and continue His blessing
to all the world!
Father Francis
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