House Blessing
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House Blessing Protocol
St. Stephen’s Catholic Church
The blessing of homes is a venerable tradition in the Catholic Church, reminding us of God’s presence and desire to bless us in the ordinary places of our everyday lives. There is a distinction between the blessing of a new home, and a blessing requested because of some type of evil that may be present in the home or upon a person.
If you are seeking a blessing of a new home, please contact the parish office. We are happy to accommodate your request as we can and we ask for your patience in the priest or deacon returning your call as we have many other duties that keep us busy here at the church.
If you are seeking a blessing regarding some type of present evil:
There are often times in the course of our lives when we may feel that we are confronted with some type of spiritual evil. This can be a legitimate concern, and the Church desires to walk with those who feel that they may have an evil spirit in their homes or upon their persons. Within the tradition of the Church, the blessing of homes by a priest or a deacon can be a remedy for these situations, but careful discernment and proper steps must first take place. If you feel that some type of evil is in your house, we encourage you to first take these steps (which are in most cases more powerful than a house blessing) so as to take full advantage of the healing power of Jesus Christ.
1. The first and greatest defense against any evil is the regular practice of your faith and frequently receiving the sacraments of the Eucharist (communion) and Reconciliation (confession). If it has been a while since your last confession and communion, this is the first step – to reconcile yourself with God and with His Church. We invite you to return home to your Catholic faith. If one does not regularly participate in the practice of their faith (going to church every Sunday), a house blessing will have no lasting effect.
2. Remove anything of the occult in your possession/in your house. This could include anything from curanderos, Ouija boards, tarot cards, magic crystals, Santa Muerte images, dream catchers, etc. Items such as these kept in the house can be dangerous and inviting to other spirits. Any types of drugs, drug paraphernalia, or pornography can also be very dangerous. All these are to be destroyed and thrown away, and recourse to these means of superstition and evil must cease.
3. Have a Mass offered for your family and/or for any loved one who may not have had a Catholic funeral Mass. This can be done by contacting the parish office and requesting for a Mass to be said for a particular intention.4. Begin to pray together as a family in your home. Praying a daily rosary or praying Psalm 23 together is a great place to start. The prayer of a family together is one of the most powerful things that can be done in the home.5. If you feel that some sort of outside evil continues to persist in your home after all the above steps have been followed, a meeting with a priest or deacon can be requested HERE to discuss the possibility of a house blessing.