(September 3, 2013 at 9:10 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote:(September 3, 2013 at 8:36 pm)Max_Kolbe Wrote: I am a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church so I'm asked to give formal blessings to all sorts of things. At least among Catholics and the Orthodox to bless something means to say something good, wish good and impart that which is good on to something. It is what we call a Sacramental. That is, it isn't a sacrament in that it imparts God's saving grace, but it has the ability to lead one to that grace. It's real affect is probably psychological, in that one knows that they or an item have been set apart or had good thoughts wished upon them. It certainly isn't magic (although I suspect some of my parishioners think it is) and of course, we live in a world where bad things happen, so bad things are going to happen no matter what. For example, I blessed a car the other day. That doesn't mean the driver will never get in an accident or get a ticket. That's probably more information than you wanted.
So blessing something is to give someone psychological comfort, that's all? Is this what you tell your parishioners as well?
I would certainly tell my parishioners of the psychological benefits of a blessing , but I also do believe that a blessing, as a sacramental, can lead to the grace of God in the sacraments.
