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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
house blessing, accused of occultic origin?	Cassandra	Saturday, December 30, 2017
Question: I have a friend who is convert to Orthodoxy (he is now becoming Catholic). He was previously very heavily involved in the occult. When I was a teenager the house I was living in was plagued by demonic disturbance and we did a house blessing using the one listed on this site. My friend insists that the house blessing listed here has origins in magic, particularly burying the St. Benedict medals on the property. I didn't have anything to say to that and I am wondering what your thoughts are? Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCD, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Cassandra: There is nothing magical about the House blessing. It is a sacramental of the Church, approved by the Church. The sacramentals (Holy Water, Holy Salt, and St. Benedict medals) have no magical powers. The "power" comes from the faith of the person who uses them. These sacramentals are like a stop sign. When you approach a stop sign the sign does not bend down to engage your break. You have to do that. It the the faith you have that is the real power. To use another analogy, these sacramentals, especially the St. Benedict medals buried on the property, are "no trespassing signs"; that is all. The medals are buried as that is the most efficient way to distribute them. They metals could be nailed to a fence, like any other no trespassing sign. Since these sacramentals are blessed, they contain what could be called a "fingerprint" of God. Many demons, but not all, will shy away from any object that is blessed. I say not all because demons have varying levels of strength and power. Just like with human beings approaching a no trespassing sign, some will be afraid to trespass for fear of being shot or attacked by a dog. Others will ignore the sign and take the risk to trespass anyway. Still others will shoot holes in the sign or otherwise vandalize the sign and then trespass. The Church gives is these tools to help us protect ourselves from demons, but none of these sacramentals alone will stave off demons. There is nothing magical about them. It is our faith, devotion, living the Christ-Life, and love of God that gives us the ultimate protection. The sacraments are just tools to aid us in our prayers and devotion. I welcome your friend into the Catholic Church. We will be sure to pray for him as he learns the Catholic Faith. I hope the house blessing was effective for you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

house blessing, accused of occultic origin?

Cassandra

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Question:

I have a friend who is convert to Orthodoxy (he is now becoming Catholic). He was previously very heavily involved in the occult.

When I was a teenager the house I was living in was plagued by demonic disturbance and we did a house blessing using the one listed on this site. My friend insists that the house blessing listed here has origins in magic, particularly burying the St. Benedict medals on the property. I didn't have anything to say to that and I am wondering what your thoughts are? Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCD, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Cassandra:

There is nothing magical about the House blessing. It is a sacramental of the Church, approved by the Church.

The sacramentals (Holy Water, Holy Salt, and St. Benedict medals) have no magical powers. The "power" comes from the faith of the person who uses them. These sacramentals are like a stop sign. When you approach a stop sign the sign does not bend down to engage your break. You have to do that. It the the faith you have that is the real power.

To use another analogy, these sacramentals, especially the St. Benedict medals buried on the property, are "no trespassing signs"; that is all. The medals are buried as that is the most efficient way to distribute them. They metals could be nailed to a fence, like any other no trespassing sign.

Since these sacramentals are blessed, they contain what could be called a "fingerprint" of God. Many demons, but not all, will shy away from any object that is blessed. I say not all because demons have varying levels of strength and power. Just like with human beings approaching a no trespassing sign, some will be afraid to trespass for fear of being shot or attacked by a dog. Others will ignore the sign and take the risk to trespass anyway. Still others will shoot holes in the sign or otherwise vandalize the sign and then trespass.

The Church gives is these tools to help us protect ourselves from demons, but none of these sacramentals alone will stave off demons. There is nothing magical about them. It is our faith, devotion, living the Christ-Life, and love of God that gives us the ultimate protection. The sacraments are just tools to aid us in our prayers and devotion.

I welcome your friend into the Catholic Church. We will be sure to pray for him as he learns the Catholic Faith.

I hope the house blessing was effective for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.