who can give a blessing?

[archer75]

Who can give a blessing, exactly, in the OC? I know only priests and bishops use the "ICXC" finger position. But do parents still make the sign of the cross over their children, going from left to right? Also, is it ever acceptable for one Christian to ask the blessing of another who is more spiritually "advanced" on a special occasion? For example, when taking leave of an older (simple) monk or nun?

 

[Andrei D]

I don't know the full answer to your question, but I'll tell you what we do with the caveat that there may be local differeces.

Do parents still make the sign of the cross over their children, going from left to right?
Yes, all the time.
NOT "really' blessing as a hierurgy, but it is a form of prayer. In our tradition it is not only allowed, but is sort of mandatory, especially when the children are small. We pray "the baby", and we make the sign of the cross. We do NOT say "be blessed" or "God, bless your servant ___". This is only reserved for priests. At a minimum we say "In the name of.." and "God, guard him/her". We usually say either the appropriate prayer (for instance the prayer of parents for their children from our lay prayer book "Lord, our God, Who with wisdom didst create man out of dust..." or the little half prayer half nursery rhyme "Little angel of mine, whom God gave to me..") or simply the Lord's prayer. What is also practiced and severely frowned upon by the Church is a special "disenchantment spell" against the evil eye ("Go away Evil Eye, to a land without greenery...").

 

[All4Christ]

I don't know the full answer to your question, but I'll tell you what we do with the caveat that there may be local differeces.

Do parents still make the sign of the cross over their children, going from left to right?
Yes, all the time.
NOT "really' blessing as a hierurgy, but it is a form of prayer. In our tradition it is not only allowed, but is sort of mandatory, especially when the children are small. We pray "the baby", and we make the sign of the cross. We do NOT say "be blessed" or "God, bless your servant ___". This is only reserved for priests. At a minimum we say "In the name of.." and "God, guard him/her". We usually say either the appropriate prayer (for instance the prayer of parents for their children from our lay prayer book "Lord, our God, Who with wisdom didst create man out of dust..." or the little half prayer half nursery rhyme "Little angel of mine, whom God gave to me.." or simply the Lord's prayer). What is also practiced and severely frowned upon by the Church is a special "disenchantment spell" against the evil eye ("Go away Evil Eye, to a land without greenery...").

I never quite understood the Evil Eye concept

 

[ArmyMatt]

anyone can give a blessing, but whether or not you do depends on who is there. so priests not if a bishop is present, laity not in the presence of clergy, the abbess when you arrive and depart a woman's monastery, etc.

 

[SaNcTaMaRiA]

I never quite understood the Evil Eye concept

WE HAVE TO TAKE THE RING TO MT. DOOM!!!! (Lord of the Rings....the eye of Sauron)

I had to. I have no self control.

 

[archer75]

anyone can give a blessing, but whether or not you do depends on who is there. so priests not if a bishop is present, laity not in the presence of clergy, the abbess when you arrive and depart a woman's monastery, etc.

Thank you. Do deacons and the minor orders figure in that?

And what does it look like if parents bless a child? Just the mirror-sign of the Cross?

And is kissing the hand forbidden in these instances? I know it used to be widely done to elders etc in many traditions.

 

[All4Christ]

WE HAVE TO TAKE THE RING TO MT. DOOM!!!! (Lord of the Rings....the eye of Sauron)

I had to. I have no self control.

That is quite an evil eye! Better make sure there aren’t any Nazgûl around!

 

[ArmyMatt]

Thank you. Do deacons and the minor orders figure in that?

And what does it look like if parents bless a child? Just the mirror-sign of the Cross?

And is kissing the hand forbidden in these instances? I know it used to be widely done to elders etc in many traditions.

deacons like the laity as far as I know. usually it's the way we make the Cross on ourselves only facing whatever we are blessing, so no hand kissing for deacons and minor orders.

 

[archer75]

deacons like the laity as far as I know. usually it's the way we make the Cross on ourselves only facing whatever we are blessing, so no hand kissing for deacons and minor orders.

How about abbesses? How does one "acknowledge receipt" of the blessing from a layperson?

 

[ArmyMatt]

How about abbesses? How does one "acknowledge receipt" of the blessing from a layperson?

abbess you kiss her hand, and I don't think there is an acknowledgement that you received a blessing from the laity because essentially you are making your Cross over the other person