Car lovers, listen up! Did you know the Catholic Church has an official blessing for cars?
In the 1964 edition of the Rituale Romanum, one of the Church’s books of rituals, there is a section with “Blessings of things designated for ordinary use.” Among the many rituals listed, you can find special blessings for beer, pastries, medicine, cheese, fire, seeds, airplanes, and more – including your car.
Why bless your car? For one thing, it’s something people use all the time and it can be dangerous. But also, why not? We should consecrate all aspects of our lives to God.
In the blessing (below), you’ll also see that it makes an interesting connection to a story in Scripture: just as the deacon Philip shared the Gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch while riding in a carriage (in Acts 8.26-40), we ask that God bring the passengers of the car being blessed closer to Him.
Here’s the official “Blessing of an Automobile or Other Vehicle”:
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
Lord God, be well disposed to our prayers, and bless + this vehicle with your holy hand. Appoint your holy angels as an escort over it, who will always shield its passengers and keep them safe from accidents. And as once by your deacon, Philip, you bestowed faith and grace upon the Ethiopian seated in his carriage and reading Holy Writ, so also now show the way of salvation to your servants, in order that, strengthened by your grace and ever intent upon good works, they may attain, after all the successes and failures of this life, the certain happiness of everlasting life; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
It is sprinkled with holy water.
Would you consider getting your car blessed? Let us know in the comments!
[See also: The Forgotten Tradition of “Churching,” the Ancient Post-Partum Blessing]
[See also: 5 Hidden Blessings from Having to Wait in a Long Line for Confession]