The U.S. bishops are encouraging parishes to incorporate into their communities a new blessing for a child in the womb, which the Vatican approved on March 25.
“I’m impressed with the beauty of this blessing for human life in the womb,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.
“I can think of no better day to announce this news than on the feast of the Annunciation, when we remember Mary’s Yes to God and the Incarnation of that child in her the womb that saved the world.”
The prayer, titled “Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb,” is intended to support parents awaiting the birth of their child and to encourage prayers for the child in the womb, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reports. The prayer is also intended to foster respect for human life.
The blessing will be printed in a combined English-and-Spanish-language booklet. It can be offered both during Mass and outside of Mass.
The bishops wanted to make the announcement of the blessing as soon as possible so that parishes might consider how to incorporate the blessing into parish life, said Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship.
“Eventually the new blessing will be included in the Book of Blessings when that text is revised,” he said, referring to the liturgical book that contains all the approved blessings of the Church.
Although EWTN News requested a copy of the blessing, a media-relations official with the USCCB told the agency on March 26 that the Committee for Divine Worship is not yet prepared to share the final text. It is still being edited to incorporate changes to the English-language version and to include the Spanish-language version.
The release of the text is expected for around Mother’s Day.
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Please read what is going in parochial schools preparing young minds for the acceptance of abortion. This is a summary of the curriculum, “Growing In Love” for youth:
http://www.motherswatch.net/content/view/12/6/ - Part 1
http://www.motherswatch.net/content/view/15/6/ - Part 2
Aaron the “slight potential of abuse?” slight potential. One baby aborted is too much and I have dealt witgh mothers with mutiple abortions up to 11. two priest have asked me if its OK to bless a baby going to be aborted “on Wednesday morning because its found to have down syndrome”
“slight potential” to hear that its OK if a priest doesnt bless the baby ” a nun friend will do a “release of the soul” ceremony before “its” aborted. So please dont tell me “slight potential abuse” it has huge potential for abuse. Abortion is the greatest abuse of children over 50 million per year. Over 8 million alone in china mostly because they are girls. nearly 5 million in India for the same reason. “Slight potential” of abuse. And Yes there are young people who “need” or so they feel the need to abort but want the baby to be “safe.”
Anne, God bless the parents of today especially when so many countries in the world are not reproducing themselves and literally sliding off the face of the earth. The last I knew it was about 60 in financial distress because of lack of the most precious resource of any nation – people. The rubrics of the Mass do not contain a blessing for babies in the womb and even if it sounds like a good and an innocent idea to include one, it is not. Too many sacrileges things are already being done because of the creativity of the presbyters. It is documented that there are paid teachers in parochial schools who believe a Catholic can have an abortion and continue to teach our youth. A mere 10% of teachers in parochial schools accept Catholic doctrine on contraception and 65% of teachers in parochial schools accept that Catholics can divorce and remarry and remain in good standing. Creative and novel ideas have imposed terrible consequences.
Anne,
I understand the concern, but I don’t think that the slight potential of abuse is grounds for condemning the rite altogether. First of all, I can imagine that this blessing can give graces, strength and comfort to parents who are experiencing a difficult pregnancy. Additionally, if celebrated within the context of the Mass, this blessing can provide a great witness to the congregation about the sacred role of parents and the value of the unborn child.
Should we ban confession because some women have abortions Saturday morning, intending to confess it Saturday afternoon? Believe me, this happens.
Anne, I just want to correct my posting. I neglected to mention the need to remove original “sin”. Sin is not a popular word spoken today.
Anne, I had not thought about the points you raised. Keep raising them and questioning it. What is the root cause and source of these kinds of misleadings. Babies are to be baptized to remove origninal ASAP after birth. A special blessing for the baby before removes the need of it I fear. The priests in the Church where I attend Mass have the pregnant mothers come to the altar rail after Mass for a blessing.
I never thought about women who might have such a twisted thought process to bless a baby then kill it. That’s truly sad.
Rose there is no point in posting a reply here as I have done, as to the connection between this “rite” and abortion. So I wont.
I know of several priests who were asked to “Bless” a baby in womb who was found to be disabled and destined for abortion, thankfully priests said NO. I know the women in question as I have worked within pro life ministry for many many years. Thats how the connection with blessing is made. One such woman said “anyway my baby is in heaven I had it blessed before abortion” Thats how abortion is connected.
This newrite opens doors for “catholic” women/girls who remember about “sin and Limbo” to feel free to go ahead without conscience.
It is not a good rite. With all the good intentions it opens the doorway to many ills.
I don’t understand where the blessing connects with women having abortions. Can someone enlighten me?
Who was it that thought this new “Rite” was needed?
What this has done has opened a doorway for “Blessing” of babies before the mother, parents take it to be aborted!!! for goodness sake who thought this out?
There are priests who have been asked to bless the baby not knowing that it would be taken to be terminated.
Again for goodness sake who thought this out if anybody?
Has anyone heard of the comment, “if the kid is going straight to heaven then I am doing it a favour” This then “assures” the woman that it is OK because the “kid” is going straight to heaven.
For goodness sake it’s hard enough fighting the battle without the church and Vatican helping the abortion rights lobby.
The child in the womb is blessed by being permitted to live. The mother’s love and sacrifice blesses this child, the “Official blessing” can happen after birth.
It is incomprehensible that pro lifers cannot think things through.
There are no favours for children in the womb done here. What has been achieved is ease of conscience for some mothers who want to abort.
How is it possible that 53% of lay religious (paid) teachers believe a Catholic can have an abortion and continue to teach our youth? How is it possible that a mere 10% of lay religious teachers accept the Church teachings on contraception; 65% accept that Catholics may divorce and remarry and remain in good standing; .. (Statistics taken from “Tumultuous Times”, page 496).
Our parish priest gave me a blessing each time I told him we were expecting. Maybe that was different? But it sure was a lovely blessing for a safe pregnancy and delivery of a healthy child.
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