Blessing for Children
BLESSING FOR CHILDREN
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. Our God is full of mercy. R. The Lord has care for little ones.
V. O Lord hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.
PRAYER
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Who, begotten in eternity, yet didst will to he born in time; Who dost love the innocence of childhood, and didst lovingly embrace and bless the little children who were brought to Thee: anticipate the needs of this child (these children) with Thy tender blessings, and grant that no evil may corrupt his (her, their) mind, but that advancing in age, in wisdom, and in grace, he (she, they) may live so as to please Thee always. Thou Who dost live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
Then the priest sprinkles the child (children) with holy water, saying:
May the peace and the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever.
R. Amen.
BLESSING OF A SICK CHILD
If the child is old enough to receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, then the prayers and ceremonies as given in the visitation and care of the sick are used. For younger children the following may be used:
The priest coming into the sick room, says first:
V. Peace to this house. R. And to all who live here.
Then he sprinkles the child with holy water and those standing around and the room itself, saying nothing. Afterwards is said:
Ant. Praise the Lord, O children; praise the name of the Lord.
Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised. High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is His glory. Who is like the Lord Our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. To seat them with the princes, with the princes of his own people. He established in her home the barren wife as the joyful mother of children.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
And the Antiphon is repeated.
Praise the Lord, O children, * praise the name of the Lord.
Then:
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.
The priest:
V. Our Father secretly up to V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil. Amen.
V. Our God is merciful. R. Who watches over little ones.
V. Let the little ones come to Me. R. For of such is the kingdom of heaven.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray:
O God, by Whose help all things grow to maturity and, once grown, are kept strong, stretch out Thy hand over this, Thy young servant, N., in his (her) sickness, that he (she), having regained his (her) health and strength, may grow up to full manhood (womanhood), and unfailingly offer Thee a loyal and pleasing service all the days of his (her) life. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
The prayer being completed, the priest places his right hand on the head of the sick child, and says:
V. They shall lay their hands upon the sick. R. And they shall be healed.
May Jesus, the Son of Mary, Saviour of the world, through the merits and intercession of His holy apostles, Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, be merciful and kind to you.
R. Amen.
Afterwards blessing the sick child, he says: May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever.
R. Amen.
At the end he sprinkles him (her) with holy water.
The texts from the "Collectio Rituum" contained in this leaflet are reprinted with permission of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine owner of the copyright.
IMPRIMATUR: + Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis August 14, 1956
Pio Decimo Press, St. Louis 15, Mo.
