Priest to faithful: Ask for ‘verbal blessing’

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 09:46:40 +0000

Instead of taking the hand of a priest for a blessing, the faithful in the Diocese of Kalookan may just ask for the blessing verbally.

This is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID 19).

Kalookan Bishop Pablo David said the faithful may verbally ask the priest “Pa-bless po!” and receive it verbally as well with the priest saying “God bless you!”

The prelate released the said instruction in a Facebook post days before the start of the observance of the Lenten Season as part of the campaign against the spread of the disease.

According to David, another alternative physical gesture for asking for a blessing could be bowing before the priest and saying “Pa-bless po!” and the alternative physical gesture for giving the blessing could be a tap on the head of the one asking for a blessing with the back of the hand.

In place of holy water by the entrance doors, he said holy water can just be sprinkled on the faithful by the priests and lay ministers during the recessional.

David said instead of imposing wet ashes on the foreheads of the faithful during Ash Wednesday, priests can sprinkle a pin
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