A House Blessing: God Dwells in This Home
By Fr. John Roderick, F.S.C.B.
October, 2022
A few weeks ago, a family from the parish invited me over for dinner and to bless their new home. I received a warm welcome as I came through the door from the two young children. They were full of wonder at the items I had brought with me: a large holy water sprinkler (aspergillum, which we use on Easter and other significant moments in the parish), and the Book of Blessings, whose grandeur and ribbons peaking out from the marked pages signified something special for them.
The oldest child immediately asked me to hold the holy water sprinkler. He began to process around the house pretending to imitate what he had seen the priest do at Mass. The mother immediately asked if it was allright! I responded that since the water was not yet blessed, it would be alright to nurture his interest in the liturgy. The parents quickly mentioned that he has been involved with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program and has a special love for the liturgy.
When I asked whether I could show my new little friend the proper technique to hold and bless with the sprinkler, his eyes lit up. He handed it back to me, and after a quick lesson on making the gesture of the cross and repeating the trinitarian formula, he was off again throughout the house, “blessing” the different rooms, his toys, and even his little sister.
Before long, my new friend returned the holy water sprinkler and quickly went back to playing with his toys. I learned on the spot that it is hard to compete with big toy trucks and spaceships, no matter what I bring with me! When we were ready to begin, his mother had to call him over. After a little resistance, I called him over and told him his mother had a nice surprise for him and that the surprise was going to help everyone understand the importance of the house blessing.
I whispered to his mom to give him a big, warm hug when he came near. When the boy arrived, he found his mom waiting with her arms open, and he jumped in and gave her a big hug. I asked him how he liked the hug, and he said: “I really loved it.” I asked his mom as well, and her eyes lit up and she said: “Giving a hug to my children is one of the most special things in my life.” She proceeded to hug her daughter, too. I explained that through the prayers of the house blessing and the sprinkling of Holy Water, God was going to give a big, warm hug—a special embrace—to everyone in the family, and to all the rooms and objects in their house. Just as God chose Joseph and Mary as the privileged place of love and friendship to welcome baby Jesus into the world, so too does God want to be close to us through our home and our family. Through the blessing, we become aware that everything in our home can become a sign to help us learn to grow in love for God and each other.
Our adventure through the house began. Led by my new little friend and his sister, we blessed every room and the important objects in each one. My little friends’ eyes were opened wide in wonder as we processed from room to room, asking God to bless and make Holy all their favorite playing areas in the house, and especially the prayer corner where they gather to pray as a family before going to bed.
As we were finishing, the father wanted to teach his son a special lesson about the house blessing, so he asked me: “Father John, what happens when the Holy water disappears and evaporates? Does the blessing and God’s special hug go away?” The kids looked at me, eagerly awaiting a response. I told them that God is so special that his loving embrace remains even after the water dries up. The kids smiled and seemed relieved that God was going to remain present and continue to dwell in their home.
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Photo by in the banner IGOR LUNGU on Unsplash
