Michael Brooks
Blessing a house is a tradition in many religions, including Catholicism. Catholics bless their homes to invite Christ's presence into their homes for the upcoming year. There are several ways to bless a Catholic house, including performing readings from the Bible, saying prayers, and sprinkling holy water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Timing | Epiphany (6 January or the Sunday between 2 and 8 January) |
| Before the moving truck arrives | |
| Participants | The family living in the house |
| A minister who is a priest or deacon | |
| Actions | Make the sign of the cross |
| Pray | |
| Light a candle | |
| Ask God to bless each room | |
| Place holy water around the house | |
| Sing or say a responsorial psalm or other suitable song | |
| Prayer | "When Christ took flesh 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 among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Lord." |
| "O Lord, grant us health and length of days, giving us from your generous hand all that we need to live well and wisely. Save all those who are in want or trouble of any kind. May this house be known as a place of joy and mercy, where the kindness of Christ becomes real for all who live here and who visit." | |
| "Be merciful to us, Lord: For you are a merciful God, who loves mankind, and to you, we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen." | |
| "O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy." | |
| "Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill them (us) with the light of Christ, that their (our) concern for others may reflect your love..." |
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What You'll Learn
Holy water
You can keep a holy water font in your home, usually placed by the front door, so that you, your family, and guests can be blessed as you come and go. You can also sprinkle holy water in your home yourself, or have a priest formally bless your home using holy water as part of a house blessing ceremony.
If you are blessing your home with holy water yourself, you can start with a prayer to set the intention, such as: "Heavenly Father, we ask for Your blessing upon this home. May it be a place of love, peace, and hospitality." You can then sprinkle holy water in each room of your house while praying or singing hymns. You may also want to bless specific areas of your home with prayers, such as the dining room and bedrooms.
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Scripture readings
Psalm 91
Read Psalm 91 out loud in the main living area, as suggested by a user on Catholic Reddit. You can light a candle to symbolise Christ's light in your home. After reading, you can say a prayer such as:
> "Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world. May Your light always shine brightly in this home."
1 Peter 2: 9-10
This reading is often used for house blessings:
> "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Luke 19:1-9
This scripture is recommended by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for the blessing of a house on Epiphany:
> "Listen to the words of the holy Gospel according to Luke: Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.' And he came down quickly and received him with joy."
Luke 24:28-32
This reading is suggested for Easter:
> "Stay with us, Lord. As the disciples approached the village to which they were going, Jesus gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?'"
John 20:19-21
This scripture is also suggested for Easter:
> "Jesus came and said, 'Peace be with you.'"
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Prayer
Blessing a Catholic house is a way of inviting Christ's presence into the home and asking for God's help. Here are some prayers that can be used for blessing a Catholic house:
Opening Prayer
"When Christ took flesh, 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 among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, and comfort us in our sorrows. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Lord."
"Bless, O Lord God, this creature, chalk, and let it be a help to mankind. Grant that those who will use it with faith in your most holy name, and with it inscribe on the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, may through their merits and intercession enjoy health in body and protection of soul; through Christ our Lord. Amen."
"Let us pray. O Lord, Almighty God, bless this house + that it may become a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the commandments, and thanksgiving to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Upon this house and those who dwell herein may Your blessing remain forever, through Christ our Lord. Amen."
"Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen."
"Lord, send down your mercy and your blessing upon us here and upon this house. May your angel of mercy watch over it and keep all who live here safe from anything that is evil."
"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of this home. May it always be a place of love, peace, and welcome. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Sign of the cross
The Sign of the Cross is a crucial element of blessing a Catholic house. It is typically made at the beginning of the blessing ritual, marking the invocation of God's presence and protection. Here is a detailed description of how to perform the Sign of the Cross and its significance in the context of blessing a Catholic house:
The Sign of the Cross:
Before commencing the blessing, all those present should make the Sign of the Cross together. This ancient and sacred gesture is a fundamental aspect of Catholic devotion and ritual. To make the Sign of the Cross, follow these steps:
- Begin by standing or kneeling in a reverent posture, whichever feels most comfortable for you.
- Using your right hand, touch your forehead and say, "In the name of the Father."
- Lower your hand to your chest or stomach and touch yourself there, saying, "and of the Son."
- Touch your left shoulder, then your right shoulder, saying, "and of the Holy Spirit."
- Finally, conclude the gesture by returning your hand to your chest or stomach and saying, "Amen."
Significance:
The Sign of the Cross is a powerful symbol of faith and devotion for Catholics. By making this gesture, individuals are invoking the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a way of asking for God's blessing, protection, and guidance upon the home and all who dwell within it.
Additionally, the Sign of the Cross serves as a physical reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection. It connects Catholics to their salvation and reinforces their commitment to their faith. Through this simple yet profound gesture, Catholics affirm their belief in the triune God and seek divine blessing and intervention.
During a house blessing, the Sign of the Cross is often made at the commencement, uniting those present in their faith and invoking God's presence into the home. It is a solemn and meaningful act that sets the tone for the blessing ritual, reminding participants of their spiritual connection and God's enduring love and protection.
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Song
Singing is a significant part of the ceremony when blessing a Catholic house. The Book of Blessings suggests that a suitable song may be sung after the community has gathered and again to end the celebration.
One suggestion for a song to sing during the blessing of a Catholic house is 'We Three Kings of Orient Are'. This song is accompanied by a specific ritual in which the father and the "Three Kings" accompany the priest as he blesses the house with holy water.
Another suggestion for a song to sing during the blessing of a Catholic house is 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'. This song is mentioned as a possible way to end the celebration.
Responsorial psalms may also be sung during the blessing of a Catholic house. One example is Psalm 112 ("Happy are those who fear the Lord"). This psalm is specifically mentioned as being suitable for the Easter and Christmas seasons.
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Frequently asked questions
The traditional date of Epiphany, January 6, is considered a good time to bless a Catholic house. Epiphany is the day on which the arrival of the magi to the place where Jesus was born is remembered.
Here is a prayer from catholic.org:
> O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy.
Another prayer that can be used is:
> O Lord, grant us health and length of days, giving us from your generous hand all that we need to live well and wisely. Save all those who are in want or trouble of any kind. May this house be known as a place of joy and mercy, where the kindness of Christ becomes real for all who live here and who visit. Be merciful to us, Lord: For you are a merciful God, who loves mankind, and to you, we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
It is recommended to gather your family in a special place, such as the kitchen or by the front or back door, light a candle, and pray together. You can then walk through your new home and ask that God bless each room. You can also place Holy Water around the house as you bless yourself and ask God to look after all within the home.
Here is an excerpt from the Gospel of Luke that can be read:
> Peace to this house. 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 is 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.''"
