Normally, two or more administer together, but one may do it alone. If consecrated oil is not available, a man who holds the
These blessings can be a great strength to a family. A family may record a father's blessing for family records, but it is not preserved in Church records. Parents should encourage children to seek father's blessings in times of need."
According to these guidelines for families in isolated areas, “The father or another priesthood holder may prepare and bless the sacrament if he is worthy, is a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood or holds the Melchizedek Priesthood.” Any priesthood holder may pass the sacrament.
It suggests that the person giving the blessing has some authority to release someone from their life. I think I can understand why you may feel the way you do; however, I don't see any difference with the authority we have been given to "heal" a person in this life.
Fathers and others who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood may give blessings of comfort and counsel. Fathers may give their children blessings on special occasions such as when the children enter military service or leave home to go to school or on missions.
Blessing and Passing the Sacrament
Priests and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may bless the sacrament. Deacons, teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may pass the sacrament.
A religious leader, like a rabbi or priest, will typically perform the blessing during a religious wedding ceremony. In a non-religious ceremony, a family member or trusted friend will read the blessing.
The Rule of the Blessing includes three benedictions for use during the eschaton: one for the general assembly of the eschatological Tribe of Israel, which describes a sort of “living water” bringing them into a new covenant with God, one concerning the Kohen (priest) Sons of Zadok, chosen by God who will act “like ...
Those seven steps include: (1) Praying to God about your blessing, (2) Listening to His answer, (3) Having faith in what he said, (4) Obeying His statutes, (5) Expecting Him to act, (6) Waiting patiently on the Lord, and finally (7) Receiving your blessing.
The rites of baptism, confirmation, and priesthood ordination must be done in person. If necessary, the leader who oversees these ordinances (along with other leaders, family, and friends) can watch remotely via technology. Priesthood blessings to heal the sick also require a physical touch of hand to head.
“If members are unable to attend sacrament meeting because they are confined to a home, nursing home, or hospital, the bishop may assign priesthood holders to prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament to these members.”
Pictures are usually taken in advance (not on the same day) so they can be used on the baptism invitations if the family chooses to invite family and a few friends, which most do.
Normally, two or more administer together, but one may do it alone. If consecrated oil is not available, a man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may give a blessing by the authority of the priesthood. A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood should administer to sick members of his family.
Answer: In the liturgical setting, only a priest (and sometimes the deacon) should be conferring blessings since they are present and available for such. This is also the case where some laypeople who are distributing Communion give blessings if a person asks for it instead of holy Communion.
In every blessing outside of Mass the priest should be vested in surplice and stole of the color proper to the day, unless the rubrics prescribe otherwise.
The Priest prays: “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” We respond: Amen. The Priest or the Deacon then says: “The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” We respond: Thanks be to God.
The word “blessing” comes from the Latin word benedictio, which literally means to speak well of something: bene (well) + dicare (to speak). Hence the blessing is conferred through the words of the priest and by the gesture of his hands, usually including the sign of the cross.
Chinese culture: five blessings, also known as the "Five Happiness" or "Five Good Fortunes", which refer to longevity, wealth, health and composure, love of virtue, and the desire to die a natural death in old age (or timely death). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population.
Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:15). God's blessings are not wages earned for our works, they are gifts.
God has divided blessings into natural and spiritual blessings. Often time, we mistake them to be one and the same. The Jews ate manna from heaven in the wilderness and died. Jesus told them that they had not received the true manna from heaven because Moses had only obtained for them natural blessings from heaven.
The key difference between a wedding and a blessing is you don't get married. A blessing ceremony is an additional part of a wedding, rather than a wedding itself and is designed for couples that don't get married in a Church or have a faith-based ceremony.
Yes, laypeople may give the types of blessings that you describe. Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, for example, can bless people who come up at Mass with arms crossed over the chest, usually indicating that they are not Roman Catholics. Anyone can offer a blessing at the start of a meal or at its conclusion.
It is appropriate to say thank you, but not inappropriate to say "God bless you" in return.