“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.”
What is a house blessing? We must first look at what a blessing is, in order to understand a house blessing. A blessing is “In liturgical language… a ritual ceremony by which an authorized cleric in major orders sanctifies persons or things to divine service, or invokes divine favor on what he blesses. The Church’s ritual provides for over two hundred such blessings, some of which are reserved to bishops or members of certain religious institutes.” [1] There is not a specific history of when homes began being blessed, but it has happened for hundreds of years. The blessing of a home is simply asking an ordained man to come and invoke God’s favor upon the home.
Why should you have a house blessing? Our home is probably the place where we spend the most amount of time. If the family is the domestic church, then the home is the structure in which they keep the faith alive. It is important to bless the home in order to keep temptations at bay and to keep the family at peace.
Who can do a house blessing? It is preferable to have the parish priest or a deacon do the blessing. However, if one is not available a lay person can do the blessing too.
When should I have my house blessed? There is no specific timetable of when one should bless their home, but it is customary to do it sooner than later; preferably within the first year of living there. It is also important to note that there should not be a blessing of the home if the owners who live there are not present. If someone has a new home they should not rush to bring in a priest to bless it if they are away; they need to be there in person.
How do I do a house blessing? Below is a step by step process of how to bless one’s home.
Activity – Bless Your Home, Apartment, or Place of Living
When any of the faithful wish to mark their moving into a new home with a religious celebration, the parish priest (pastor) and his associates should gladly cooperate. The occasion provides a special opportunity for a gathering of the members of the community to mark the joyful event and to thank God, from whom all blessings come, for the gift of a new home.
The present order may be used by a priest or deacon. It may also be used by a lay person, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. While maintaining the structure and chief elements of the rite, the minster should adapt the celebration to the circumstances of the place and the people involved.
Introductory Rites
When the family members and their relatives and friends have gathered in a convenient place, the minister says:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All make the Sign of the Cross and reply:
Amen
A minister who is a priest or deacon greets those present in the following or other suitable words, taken mainly from sacred Scripture.
Peace be with this house and with all who live here.
All make the following or some other suitable reply:
And with your spirit.
A lay minister uses the following greeting:
May the God whom we glorify with one heart and voice enable us, through the Spirit, to live in harmony as followers of Christ Jesus, now and for ever.
R. Amen
In the following or similar words, the minster prepares those present for the blessing.
When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence. May he always be here with you, share in your joys, comfort you in your sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, seek to make your new home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Chris.
Reading of the Word of God
A reader, another person present, or the minister reads a text of sacred Scripture.
Listen o the words of the holy gospel according to Luke (10:5-9)
The Lord said to the seventy-two: ‘Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what I offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
Alternative Readings: Gen. 18:1-10, Mk. 1:29-30, Lk. 10:38-42, Lk. 19:1-9, Lk. 24:28-32
As circumstances suggest, the following responsorial psalm or some other suitable song may be sung or said.
R. Happy are those who fear the Lord. (Psalm 112)
Happy the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. R.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure for ever. He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. R.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. R.
An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes. R.
Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure for ever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. R.
Intercessions
The intercessions are then said. The minister introduces them, and an assisting minister or someone else announces the intentions. From the following intentions, those best suited to the circumstances may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the particular circumstances may be composed.
The minister says:
The Son of God, Lord of heaven and earth, made his home among us. With thankfulness and gladness let us call upon him, saying:
R. Stay with us, Lord.
Or
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
Assisting minister
Lord Jesus Christ, by your life with Mary and Joseph you sanctified the life of the home; dwell with us in our home, so that we may have you as our guest and honor you as our Head. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister
In you every dwelling grows into a holy temple; grant that those who live in this house may be built up together into the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister
You taught your followers to build their houses upon solid rock; grant that the members of this family may hold fast to your teachings and, free of all discord, serve you with their whol heart. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister
You had no place to lay your head, but in uncomplaining poverty you accepted the hospitality of your friends; grant that through our help people who are homeless may obtain decent housing. (For this we pray:) R.
Prayer of Blessing
A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched; a lay minister says the prayer with the hands joined.
Lord, be close to your servants who move into this home (today) and ask for your blessing. Be their shelter when they are at home, their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they return. And at last receive them into the dwelling place you have prepared for them in your Father’s house, where you live for ever and ever. R. Amen.
After the prayer of blessing, the minister sprinkles those present and the new home with holy water and, as circumstances suggest, during the sprinkling may say:
Let this water call to mind our Baptism into Christ, who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.
Concluding Rite
The minister concludes the rite by saying:
May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and may the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in us, so that whatever we do in word and in work, we will do in the name of the Lord. R. Amen.
It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song.
Source: Handbook of Prayers, pg. 575
[1] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary, pgs. 69-70