Blessings have always been important to God’s people.
Even before the founding of the Catholic Church, the Jewish people realized the immense weight of a blessing. They “regarded [blessings] as a mark of Divine complacency and as a sure way to secure God’s benevolence, peace, and protection,” as the Catholic Encyclopedia says.
A blessing dedicates the item blessed to God, or asks God to mark that place with special favors. It signifies His protection over—or presence in—something.
So what about blessing our house?
Well, our house is where we live our everyday, repetitive lives—it’s where we live out our faith. Our faith is something we always have; we don’t just switch it on when we’re at church and then switch it off at work or at home. Home isn’t the place where we kick off our spiritual shoes and relax our soul a bit—it’s where most of our spiritual battles are fought, lost, and won.
It’s the domestic Church, and it needs spiritual protection.
So, we should bless our house—our little domestic church—because by doing so, we ask God to protect and sanctify it. We invite Him to be present in our home and in our daily lives, helping us win battles and resist temptations.
This powerful home blessing is quite easy to obtain. Simply talk to your parish office about getting your home blessed and arrange a day with your priest for coming over to your house. Out of hospitality—and to help Father out—it’s traditional to ask him to join you for dinner (or something as simple as coffee!) after he finishes the blessing.
Once your home is blessed, let friends and family know they’re in a holy, protected space by displaying the Bless This Home Hanging Plaque! This round wood plaque is painted with botanical accents and a special home blessing. The perfect gift for any home establishment! Available today at The Catholic Company!
