WHAT IS THE
CHURCH’S POSITION REGARDING BLESSINGS ?
When I asked her why
she wanted this done, she answered: “When I put this
salt in my salt shaker, all the food that it flavors will
contain graces from God. And as for the oil, I use
it for healing what ails me”. What is the
Church’s position regarding such blessings, or the
blessing of medals, water, candles, etc? What
special properties does such an action impart to
inanimate objects? *** There are many rituals of benediction, some of which are quite recent. The Church allows blessings of living beings and also inanimate objects. The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses sacramentals, which include the blessings you question. In our faith, we assume that sincere prayers will obtain grace and blessings from the Lord. Without prayer, such actions are empty of meaning and border on superstition. We are not only spiritual beings. Our bodies with our physical senses need concrete signs and actions to sanctify our everyday life and activity. There are seven sacraments, efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. They signify important stages in our earthly life, nurture our faith life, provide healing and direction. Within the seven, the Eucharist has a central place. It is the sacrament of all sacraments. Sacramentals, however, are instituted by the Church, signifying effects which are obtained through the intercession and prayers of the Church. They help us to sanctify the many things around us that are useful to our daily living. They “always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, or the sprinkling of holy water” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No 1668). Sacramentals “prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No 1670). Among them are the blessings of persons, objects, meals, places, etc. Other sacramentals have lasting importance because they ‘consecrate’ persons to God, or reserve objects and places for liturgical use, for example a church or an altar. When a blessing is given by a priest, representing Christ, it imparts a particular importance to the action. But lay people are also called to bless. For example, spouses may bless one another, parents may bless their children at bedtime, etc., and blessings can be given in solemn moments such as the beginning of the New Year, etc. (Can. 1168). In addition to the sacraments instituted by Christ and the sacramentals instituted by the Church, a few words should be added here regarding other forms of religious practice, sometimes termed para-sacramentals because they are like sacramentals and are used in popular devotions, like the salt and olive oil blessed for this lady. These days we hear more and more about the increase in popular devotions, with joyous assemblies of people, special events and celebrations. We must not look down upon this kind of piety, because there is great value in it. Even the popes have attested to the sense of God’s presence, trust in him, sincere and spontaneous worship, and generosity of spirit within these devotions. It is true that we must be cautious not to slip into superstitious or excessively sentimental devotions. Popular devotions will always exist. They support our faith and are an extremely valuable resource for evangelization. They are a grace and a calling, says the Pope. Therefore, as long as the focus is on the liturgy, a form of public worship, the Church approves of the veneration of relics, processions, and sacred objects such as statues, rosaries, medals, pictures, candles, palms, holy oil, holy water, etc., because all these things nourish our prayers and encourage a closer relationship with the Lord and the saints in heaven. They enrich Christian life. |