|
For those not
lucky enough to be able to meet the Pope, here's a little tidbit many Catholics
might won't know about: it is possible for Catholics to receive beautiful
certificates of a papal blessing ("Benediction Papalis") for themselves or
their families, for other Catholics, or for certain special occasions, like
weddings or anniveraries. The matter of it is a lovely parchment, handpainted
with calligraphy, design, the papal seal and signature; the blessing itself
is invisible to the eye, of course, but the certificate is a beautiful keepsake
and reminder of it. There are a few restrictions as to who can and can't
get one and the sort of occassions one will be issued:
People for whom a blessing will or will not be issued
Any baptized Catholic
can receive a blessing, but they are denied to non-Catholics, to the dead,
to inanimate objects, and to animals.
Occasions for which a Blessing will or will not be issued
Papal blessings
will not be issued to those wanting them on the occasions of birth
(because until we are baptized, we are not Catholic), death, or the anniversaries
of death. They probably will not be issued for events already passed, i.e.,
they will be issued for Catholic wedding anniversaries, but not for
past weddings themselves.
They will be issued for such things as birthdays, ordinations, religious
profession, anniversaries of religious profession, Baptisms, First Communions,
Confirmations, conversions, and, as said, Catholic weddings and anniversaries
of Catholic weddings, etc.
How to get one
 To get a Benediction
Papalis, visit your diocese's Chancery Office. They will have you fill out
paperwork, answering questions pertaining to the sort of blessing you want,
what language you want the certificate to be written in, what style of
certificate you want, etc. They will need the full name of your priest, parish,
town and country so there is witness to the fact that you are, indeed, Catholic
(you can just call the Chancery's office and they will send you the papers).
The cost is around $40, the proceeds from which go to feed the poor. To be
safe, allow 6 months to receive your certificate if you're wanting it by
a certain date
Beware: don't try to get a Papal Blessing through the internet or some mailing
you might receive: scammers are out there. Be sure to go through your
diocese! |
|
