House Blessing
House Blessing
In the Bible, God blessed the houses of His servants for His purposes and glory (Genesis 39:5; Ezekiel 44;30). There is nothing that indicates that a ritual preceded the blessing. God simply blessed His people who were following in obedience to Him.
According to the Book of Blessings that is approved for use in the Dioceses of the United States of America by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Apostolic See, there is the Order of for the Blessing of a New Home and the Order for the Blessing of Homes during the Christmas and Easter Seasons. Both orders may be used by a priest, deacon, or a layperson, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister.
- According to the Order for the Blessing of a New Home indicated in §660 "When any of the faithful wishes to mark their moving into a new home with a religious celebration, the parish priest (pastor) and his associates should gladly cooperate. The occasion provides a special opportunity for a gathering of the members of the community to mark the joyful event and to thank God, from whom all blessings come, for the gift of a new home." It is necessary for those who will be living in the new home to be present at the blessing.
- It is appropriate to bless all religious statues or pictures that will be used in the house at the Blessing of a New Home.
- A Special Note Regarding House Blessings in Response to Strange Occurrences: Many times, house blessings are requested in response to experiencing strange occurrences by those who reside in the house. Prior to setting up a house blessing, the residents of the house must meet with the Pastor to evaluate the situation.