Why do Catholics do this?

Question

My husband is Catholic and I'm protestant. The other day, he took our daughter to his church and when they got back i was told he had her crucifix "blessed" by the priest. The priest also blessed our daughter.
I want to hear answers from Catholics and non-Catholics alike-- what is the significance of "blessing" objects such as crucifixes? Where is it written in the Bible that one should do this? Is this considered "wrong" to non-Catholics, and if so, why?
I just want ppl's opinions-- no bashing each others beliefs, please.

allan y: is that how you got your title of "top contributor"??? by contributing useless non-answers???

Answer 1

Sacramentals are those rites, actions and things which the Church uses in imitation of the Sacraments in order to obtain through the intercession of the Saints certain effects, particularly of spiritual nature. If used in accordance with the mind of the Church, sacramentals are the means of receiving actual grace to do good and avoid evil, of protection of soul and body, and the remission of venial sin. Among the sacramentals are prayers, holy water, blessings, the sign of the cross, salt, ashes, medals, the Rosary, candles, vestments, etc.
What makes them very special is that they have the blessing of the priest, who has received the special anointing for consecrating even the bread and the wine into the Sacred body and blood of Christ.

Note that only a priest has the power to bless an object and make it a sacramental. Lay Catholics are free to bless objects, even using the prayers priests use -- and we do so often in blessing our children, blessing meals, blessing Advent wreaths or Mary Gardens, etc. -- but our blessings act as "mere" pleas to God. Priests alone have been given the power to bless with a guarantee, as it were, and it is they and they alone who can take a new Crucifix or Rosary and turn them into sacramentals with the power and prayers of the entire Church behind them.

Sacramentals, as a rule, were not instituted by Christ (exorcism would be an obvious exception), but by the Church. As such, sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church's intercessory prayer they do prepare us to receive God's grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. The efficacy of a sacramental depends upon the devotion, faith and love of those who use them. Sacramentals serve to remind the faithful of the Glory of God and thereby to draw us closer to Him. The prayer over a meal (blessing the meal) for example, reminds us that all that we have comes from God's love for us and this reminder helps us to be open to receiving even more of God's bounty.

Just like with all sacramentals, there is no "magic" benefit derived from wearing a medal, but they do prepare the wearer to receive God's grace and dispose them to cooperate with it. The efficacy of a sacramental depends upon the devotion, faith and love of the person who uses them.

Answer 2

They bless things because they have their best interests at heart. It's the Catholic way of creating positive energy and casting aside doubt and fear.
It's really just for comfort and it should not be considered an insult to anyone. I don't know if it's in the bible, sorry, but I think the only reason someone would be offended would be because they feel as though someone is condescending or patronizing their beliefs.
I am a metaphysical Christian who was raised a Methodist and most of my friends growing up were Catholic and I did go to mass with them sometimes.

Answer 3

Blessings are done to request God's favor upon a person. Objects are blessed so that the person who uses the object may receive God's grace and to signify that the object is holy and special. God created all things and He can use objects as well as people to build Hid kingdom on earth.

Answer 4

it is not wrong to bless your daughter. I think paul or petter blessed objects like hankys iin the bible which were used to heal people but I do not think the priest blessing a crusifix will make any differance. im my opinion Cathilics often treat the crusifix or st christiphers as lucky charm which is wrong.
I feel no harm done but do not think it will change any think only God has the power not the priest.

Answer 5

Sacramentals are sacred signs that help us live holy lives. Although they do not produce sanctifying grace

Sacramentals include blessings of persons, meals, objects (including water), and places.

The priest blesses the congregation during Mass.

Christians bless their meals. "Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts, ..."

Priests bless water, animals, ships, homes, and even automobiles. "God bless this home and all those who enter here."

People giving blessings happen or are encouraged all over in Scripture:

Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you ...

Genesis 27:10: Then bring it to your father to eat, that he may bless you before he dies.

Genesis 32:27: The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."

Luke 6:27-28: "But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Romans 12:14: Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them.

1 Peter 3:9: Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

There is no rule, I believe, that states that Catholics SHOULD bless their crucifixes...but granted that you believe that priests are our modern day "other-Christs" then it follows that they have the ability to call for God's grace and presence over a person/object....MIND you they do not have POWER over God and neither does the cross have a paarticular power to repel evil...only faith does this...

blessing is also partly based on sacramental tradition, and prayer/faith that God is with us.

Answer 7

You can get anything blessed if you enjoy that. You can get your car blessed, your cell phone blessed, your computer blessed, whatever. Oh, by the way, the Bible does not talk about cars, cell phones or computers so perhaps you might think that we should not use them ...

Answer 8

it is better to have the Holy Spirit to work through anyone of Jesus' followers to bless a person rather than an object but on the same token you can plead the blood of Jesus on your car and I have seen miracles happen.

Answer 9

I think that it's just a power thing. I guess if you bless something, it makes it good or something?

I don't see the harm in it, but then, I really don't see the use of it, either. It does nothing, but I guess it makes the parties involved feel a little better, which is a good thing, yeah?

Answer 10

when i sneeze people bless me. i don't really think blessing things really matters.