From: Father Mateo 28th March 1995
To: cinaskf@catinfo.cts.com
Subject: St. Blase Blessing
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| Dear Fr. Mateo:
| I was at Mass the other day, and during the liturgy was the annual
| blessing of throats on St. f St. Blaisese. After the homily, the priest
| along with some eucharistic ministers adminstered the blessing. My
| question is, is it acceptable to have eucharistic minsters administering
| these blessings or is it reserved to the ordained minister only?
|
| --Jason Makiaris
Dear Jason,
The Roman Ritual Book of Blessings, abridged edition, in numbers
1032-1037, says:
"The blessing of the sick by ministers of the Church is a very
ancient custom, rooted in imitation of Christ himself and his
apostles...the annual blessing of throats...is ordinarily given
during Mass...or a celebration of the word of God on February 3,
the memorial of Saint Blase."
"Saint Blase was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the
fourth century. Very little is known about his life...he was a
physician before becoming a bishop...he was reputed to have
miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a
fish bone in his throat. From the eighth century he has been
invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with
illnesses of the throat."
"The blessing of throats may be given by a priest, deacon, or lay
minister... A lay minister says the prayer proper to lay
ministers without making the sign of the cross."
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
-- | CIN (619-449-6030) Fido: (1:202/1613) http://www.cin.org/cin | Supported by St. Gabriel's: http://www.stgabriel.com/gabriel