Lay "Blessings"

Started by drummerboy, February 02, 2025, 11:05:14 AM

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drummerboy

So, for certain scenarios where it's just impractical to get something blessed, can laity at least pray that God blesses something?  I'm thinking of certain exorcism or deliverance prayers where the laity switch the words "command" to something like "may God deliver...." 

Here's the example I have in question: https://catholicgentleman.com/2013/10/the-official-catholic-beer-blessing/

Could I, instead of praying "Bless (+)...." rather pray "O God we ask your blessing...."?

Of course I realize it will not have the same effect and power of a priestly blessing, but it's still prayer.
"O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth."

"Through the prayers of the Theotokos O Savior save us"

"I like grumpy old cusses.  Hope to live long enough to be one" - John Wayne

Michael Wilson

Certainly! We bless our food before meals, and parents bless their children, and we bless ourselves by making the sign of the Cross over ourselves. There was an old Irish custom of not only saying Grace over meals, but also making the sign of the Cross over the food or drink one was about to partake of, as an exorcism against a possible malefic curse.
"The World Must Conform to Our Lord and not He to it." Rev. Dennis Fahey CSSP

"My brothers, all of you, if you are condemned to see the triumph of evil, never applaud it. Never say to evil: you are good; to decadence: you are progess; to death: you are life. Sanctify yourselves in the times wherein God has placed you; bewail the evils and the disorders which God tolerates; oppose them with the energy of your works and your efforts, your life uncontaminated by error, free from being led astray, in such a way that having lived here below, united with the Spirit of the Lord, you will be admitted to be made but one with Him forever and ever: But he who is joined to the Lord is one in spirit." Cardinal Pie of Potiers

drummerboy

Quote from: Michael Wilson on February 02, 2025, 01:20:55 PMCertainly! We bless our food before meals, and parents bless their children, and we bless ourselves by making the sign of the Cross over ourselves. There was an old Irish custom of not only saying Grace over meals, but also making the sign of the Cross over the food or drink one was about to partake of, as an exorcism against a possible malefic curse.

Ah yes!  The blessing before meals, how could I forget... :shrug: I suppose its one of those questions you don't realize you know the answer until you ask it out loud.  I myself make the Cross over my food and drink, typically at restaurants, in imitation of Saint Benedict (himself a layman) and the miracles he worked thereby.
"O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth."

"Through the prayers of the Theotokos O Savior save us"

"I like grumpy old cusses.  Hope to live long enough to be one" - John Wayne