Questions tagged [blessings]

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What does it mean to "Bless the LORD"?

Psalm 103:1-2 (KJV) Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits What does it mean to say "Bless the ...
Mawia's user avatar
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19 votes
1 answer
1k views

How prominent was "prosperity theology" in the early church?

Prosperity theology, or the "health and wealth gospel," is a recent movement that teaches that God promises material blessings, in this life, to those who have faith in him and who do his will. ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
19k views

In Catholicism, what does it mean for a priest to bless an object or person?

Catholic priests bless water to make holy water and they bless the faithful at the end of Sunday masses. The Pope has a special apostolic blessing that he gives out sometimes. I know that it is good ...
Andres Riofrio's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
412 views

Can different levels of the Church hierarchy provide different types of blessings?

According to this question, In Catholicism, what does it mean for a priest to bless an object or person?, there is a "special apostolic blessing" that the Pope can provide. Blessings can also be ...
TronicZomB's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
506 views

What is the Biblical basis for Catholic blessings?

What is the Biblical basis for the Catholic blessings? And what are those blessings? Being an evangelical, I do not understand from the Bible, the reason for papal, priestly, or other blessings. How ...
David Laberge's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
741 views

Is there really a Catholic "blessing for bacon?"

The following appeared on my facebook feed today: The "what random things do we have short formulated prayers for" game is almost as funny as the "how many bizarre things do we have patron saints ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
631 views

Is it a valid Christian concept to attribute subjectively attactive physical characteristics, as blessings from God? [closed]

In conversation with a fellow Christian the other day, she used the phrase, "God has blessed her with very attractive looks" describing a mutual friend of ours (about whom I agree on the attractive ...
Greg McNulty's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
14k views

What is the basis for saying "God bless you" when a person sneezes?

It is common among many Christians to say "God bless you" (or simply "bless you," which implies the former) to a person when they sneeze. I have heard that this may have originated with an old belief ...
RSW's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why is wine associated with St. John the Apostle?

In the Rituale Romanum of the Catholic Church one can find a blessing for wine which is reserved for the Feast of St. John the Apostle (December 27). Why does the Catholic Church associate this ...
Ken Graham's user avatar
  • 70.8k
6 votes
2 answers
8k views

In Catholicism, what distinguishes a priestly blessing from a lay blessing?

Lay Catholics are encouraged to bless their children [and homes?] using particular formulas or patterns. As I understand it, these ought to differ in "manner" and formula from blessings performed by a ...
svidgen's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
351 views

Papal blessings via alternate media?

When I went to World Youth Day in 2005 (wow, long time ago now) my wife and I were sick of walking and wanted to enjoy our honeymoon for a bit so we watched the Pope come into Cologne on a boat. We ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
250 views

In Calvinism, is there any correlation with the elect and the "blessed" in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5?

(x-post from BH) I ask this as blessed can mean many things. Eternal life, financial wealth, health, having kids, having a job, being happy, etc. Blessings seem to be very broad, so I'd like to see ...
RJ Navarrete's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
203 views

Papal Blessing at World Youth Day 2016

A friend of mine will be attending World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland from July 26 - August 1. He will be carrying some religious medals with him to be blessed by Pope Francis. He is under the ...
Ken Graham's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is falling to the floor during blessings or prayers supported in Roman Catholic doctrine?

In the Pentecostal Church and some other Christian movements, during blessings or prayers people often fall to the floor. This is critiqued by some people. But today I saw a Roman Catholic priest and ...
Aigle's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
699 views

Is there a moral goodness in In vitro fertilization?

I may have a couple of questions here but it's basically the same subject. My first question: does the Catholic Church see any moral goodness in having a baby through In vitro fertilization (IVF)? ...
Grasper's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
3k views

A priest I requested kindly to bless salt and oil did not use the prescribed prayer but used his own, is the blessing valid?

A priest I requested kindly to bless salt and oil did not use the prescribed prayer but used his own. Is the blessing valid? The prayer for exorcising the salt and blessing the oil was available. ...
Princess's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
565 views

What is the purpose of praying over the water at an Church of England baptism?

The Church if England baptism liturgy in 'Common Worship' includes a 'prayer over the water'. There is a choice of two prayers, here: Prayer over the Water . Catholic Anglicans seem to readily ...
EleventhDoctor's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
242 views

Generational Curses vs Personal Resposibility [closed]

There are numerous passages that support the concept of generational curses - that children will be punished for the sins of their parents. Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9 ...
Jeff's user avatar
  • 2,143
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why did Jacob curse some of his sons?

When Jacob "blessed" his sons in Genesis 49, why does he seem to curse some of them? What kind of blessing is it to say "you will no longer excel"? Granted, the curses were meted out according to ...
SEL's user avatar
  • 179
3 votes
3 answers
191 views

Did Jesus mean a truly spiritual man should feel this rewarded NOW, or in the world to come? [closed]

Mark 10:28–31 (NKJV): Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers ...
Sehnsucht's user avatar
  • 1,592
3 votes
1 answer
857 views

According to Catholicism, is the blessing of food by a lay person different from that of a priest?

I am a bit puzzled. On the one hand, it is common practice among families to ask God to bless the food to be eaten. According to this very related question, the Catechism states: every baptized ...
luchonacho's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
217 views

What is the biblical basis for the claim that Malachi 3:6-12's curse and blessings concerning tithing apply to the New Testament Church?

Malachi 3:6-12 (ESV): 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept ...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
152 views

The Blessing of Herbs on the Feast of the Assumption?

Is there any confirmed historical evidence as to the origins to support the tradition that the Blessing of Herbs and Fruit is associated with the Feast of the Assumption?
Ken Graham's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
509 views

When and how did the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament start in the Catholic Church?

In some Christian Churches, there is according to Wikipedia, a devotional ceremony known as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The question is when and how did this ceremony arise within the ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Can I say, "Bless You" to our Catholic priest?

Our priest does such a great job at our church. I shook his hand after church and said "Bless you". I meant to say "Bless you for all you do", but was it offensive to bless a priest?
Junior's user avatar
  • 37
2 votes
1 answer
416 views

What is the biblical basis for the concept of "activating", "triggering", or "igniting" God's promises?

The concept can be found in several Christian sources: GOD’S PROMISES AREN’T AUTOMATED, THEY’RE ACTIVATED 3 Keys to Activating God’s Promises in Your Life Activating the Promises of God: Unlock the ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 3,148
2 votes
2 answers
120 views

Is there a particular Catholic blessing for wine (outside of consecration)?

Listening to Trending with Timmerie podcast on Christmas traditions, the guest was talking about "Drinking the Love of St. John" which seems like a pretty fantastic idea. But it seems like ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
349 views

In what way was Isaac's blessing on Jacob manifested?

In Genesis 27, when elderly Isaac thought he was blessing his son Esau, but he was actually blessing his son Jacob through the deceit of Jacob's mother, he said to Jacob: See, the smell of my son ...
Steve's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
144 views

Why and how should demonic items be blessed before being destroyed?

Just listened to Feb 2nd, 2023 episode of Pint With Aquinas. Fr. Vincent Lampert says that a voodoo doll or similar items should be blessed before being destroyed. Is it possible to bless something ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
886 views

Are things commonly blessed by priests at certain times of the year appropriate to bring to a priest for a special blessing?

Is it appropriate to ask priests to bless things like oil, salt and water that you bring to them for a blessing? I was reading this answer and was wondering if it made sense for a layperson to bring ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
5k views

How to ask a Catholic priest to bless something for someone else? [closed]

So, I am traveling abroad from my home country and will have the opportunity to visit some really cool, super old churches and cathedrals in Europe. I would like to bring a gift back home for a friend ...
ArtemisPondering's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
814 views

If I'm not Catholic, will a Catholic priest bless my home?

If I'm a Protestant, and ask a Catholic priest to come bless my home, does the Catholic Church allow him to?
Dan's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
121 views

Scriptural support - Measuring our salvation, God's love and blessings

Please help me with scriptural support for the following: “Be careful not to measure your holiness "salvation" by other people's sins.” - Martin Luther In the same way, if we measure God's ...
Ashish Eben's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
24 views

Unique Catholic Blessings of local Churches?

Unique Catholic Blessings of local Churches? Just as I asked this question concerning Catholic feasts of local Churches, I would like to know if some readers here know of any local blessings attached ...
Ken Graham's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
501 views

Are holy water bottles sacramentals?

I was thinking about this question about holy water container cleaning. And I'm talking specifically in reference to anything between the ubiquitous holy water bottles you can get at the back of ...
Peter Turner's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
154 views

Religious Blessing at a Non-religious Wedding

My daughter has decided to have a non-catholic/non-religious wedding. There does not seem to be any possibility of changing her mind mostly due to her fiance. Needless to say this has caused some "...
Daniel Kane's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
160 views

What does the Catholic Church teach on claiming as our "right / inheritance" the Abrahamic blessings before we die?

Background My friend is influenced by what I think is a prosperity-gospel leaning church, although I don't see heretical excesses like "positive confession", "name-it claim-it", ...
GratefulDisciple's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
39 views

When and why did blessing by the sign of the cross begin? [duplicate]

This post is a counterpart to this question: Is it known when and why Christians began to sign themselves with the Cross?. Among the Christians who bless using the sign of the cross, is it known when ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
59 views

Would this book be considered a relic of S.D. John A. Hardon, S.J.?

According to the 1980 edition of Modern Catholic Dictionary by S.D. John A. Hardon, S.J., a relic is defined as follows: An object connected with a saint, e.g., part of the body or clothing or ...
DDS's user avatar
  • 3,183
0 votes
2 answers
97 views

Can you bless data/a computer program?

This is a bit of a weird one. Is it possible for a priest to bless data/a computer program? I ask because I'm considering writing a simple app for use by the faithful, and I like the idea of the app ...
ConnieMnemonic's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
48 views

What is the fulfillment Of Deuteronomy 28:12?

The Lord will open to you his good treasury the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not ...
Servant's user avatar
  • 171
-1 votes
1 answer
441 views

Can we ask God to bless unsaved people so that they will be more open to the Gospel? [closed]

I have been given literature from an organisation called "House of Prayer" which seems to imply that we should pray down blessings on our local communities, people in their jobs and in their ...
user11454's user avatar
-2 votes
4 answers
5k views

How is it that sinful people who do not believe, still get the blessings of the Lord? [closed]

Why do great things happen to unbelievers and even bad people? In Church there is talk about blessings of the Lord for those who love Him, etc. But what about those that are blessed that don't love ...
Greg McNulty's user avatar
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