German-Speaking Countries to Include Homosexual Blessings in Benedictionale
In an interview with katholisch.de on 9 April, the project's chairman, Benedictine Father Johannes Feierabend, said that the blessing formulas are "no longer formulated with priests and deacons in mind". Instead, they speak more generally of 'leadership'.
It is still unclear whether laypeople would conclude blessings of the congregation with “May the Lord bless you” or “May the Lord bless us”.
The new Benedictionale also includes blessings for homosexual and 'loving' couples: “We believe there should be a formula for this as well,” said Fr. Feierabend.
This was the “only point that immediately caught the eye” in the Vatican.
Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier suggested that the Vatican should draft such a formula. However, the German-speaking working group wants to write the text independently first and then see how it is received in Rome.
Another controversial topic is the blessing of babies. Why is it controversial? The blessing has been introduced because it is becoming increasingly common for children to be baptised much later, for example because parents want the child to make their own decision.
However, Fr Feierabend believes that there needs to be a church celebration for such situations, also because there are already rituals for the beginning of life on the “free market”.
The German term 'Feierabend' means 'the end of the workday' and aptly describes the state of Novus Ordo blessings today.
Picture: © wikicommons CC BY-SA, #newsZhbgkjzpcc