Nativity Blessing
(This is for the children’s school mass.)
Samuel must be about three years old. His mother gives Samuel to God as an offering of Thanksgiving. He is to learn about God, how to serve God, and how to worship God. He will be a great prophet.
Mary is full of grace. In her tummy is the baby Jesus when she goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Jesus is working to fill Elizabeth and her son, John, with special graces. As Jesus prepared His mother Mary, Elizabeth, and John we take special care to prepare the church for the coming of the new born King. One of the ways we do this is to set out a Nativity scene. We have already set up our Nativity display at the back of the church. I thought this would be a good day to bless our Nativity set.
This is an example of the blessing. Please feel free to use it to bless your Nativity set.
In its present form the custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi, who made the Christmas crèche or manger for Christmas Eve of 1223. The blessing of the Christmas manger or nativity scene may take place on the Vigil of Christmas or at another suitable time. When the manger is set up in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another family member.
All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R/. Who made heaven and earth.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Luke 2:1 (lines 1-8) or Isaiah 7:10 (lines 10-15, the birth of Emmanuel).
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord.
R/. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The leader prays with hands joined:
God of every nation and people,
from the very beginning of creation
you have made manifest your love:
when our need for a Savior was great
you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives he brings joy and peace,
justice, mercy, and love.
Lord,
bless all who look upon this manger;
may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
and raise our thoughts to him,
who is God-with-us and Savior of all,
and who lives and reigns forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen