Did You Know? Catholic Blessings for Cheese, Car, Fire, and Many Other “Ordinary” Things

First promulgated by Pope Paul V in 1614, the Rituale Romanum or Roman Ritual contains all services a priest or deacon of the Roman Rite can perform not already covered by the Breviary or Missal.

The Roman Ritual includes special blessings for nearly anything one might use on a daily basis – chapter eight is entitled: “blessings of things designated for ordinary use,” including things like cheese, cars, and fire.

The Blessing of the Cheese (or Butter)

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 almighty, if it please you, bless + and sanctify + this creature, cheese (or butter), which by your power has been made from the fat of animals. Grant that those of your faithful who eat it may be sated with a blessing from on high, with your grace and all good things; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
It is sprinkled with holy water.

The Blessing of the Fire

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, almighty Father, maker of all light, and the light that never fails; hallow + this new fire, and grant that after the darkness of this world we may come with pure hearts to you, our perpetual light; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
It is sprinkled with holy water.

The Blessing of the Car

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.

The Roman Ritual contains many specific blessings: for beer, bread, pastries, medicine, oil, salt, airplanes – even tools used to scale mountains. You can read chapter eight containing every blessing for “ordinary” things here.

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