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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Blessing a car
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
I saw a car blessed and anointed(?) today for the first time ever.
I was a bit surprised as I've been taught that you shouldn't bless things that aren't alive.
Yet a quick Google brings up Catholic and Orthodox blessings for cars with sprinkling of holy water. Is this only an Anglican no-no?
I think what surprised me the most was actually how cool it was. It was a nineteen year old man with a new car that he was obviously very proud of. And he asked for it to be blessed.
The whole thing just actually "worked". It was quite the sacramental moment - quite the "normal" meeting with the "holy". And surely a really positive experience for the young man.
Would you bless a car?
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a theological scrapbook
Posts: 9481 | From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2009
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Gramps49
Shipmate
# 16378
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Posted
Yes, you can bless things that are not alive. The blessing is a form of setting the object aside for special service. Anglicans do have a blessing of the House, which is an inanimate object. While I myself also could not find a specific Anglican blessing of a car either, as a Lutheran I could easily adapt some of the Roman Catholic blessing of objects. I found one for the blessing of beer. Now I can drink to that.
Posts: 2193 | From: Pullman WA | Registered: Apr 2011
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
I was suddenly reminded of this joke.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Kaplan Corday
Shipmate
# 16119
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Posted
Depends what you mean by blessed.
Where we worked in India, the owner of a new tour bus got it prayed over by an evangelical friend of ours (who asked for safety for all who rode in it) before it commenced business.
And just to be on the safe side, he also got it blessed by a Hindu priest.
Posts: 3355 | Registered: Jan 2011
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Spike
Mostly Harmless
# 36
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Yet a quick Google brings up Catholic and Orthodox blessings for cars with sprinkling of holy water. Is this only an Anglican no-no?
Not at all. I've seen it done in Anglican congregations.
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"May you get to heaven before the devil knows you're dead" - Irish blessing
Posts: 12860 | From: The Valley of Crocuses | Registered: May 2001
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
I'd bless it. I'd asperge it. But anoint it? Why?
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Corvo
Shipmate
# 15220
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Spike:
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Yet a quick Google brings up Catholic and Orthodox blessings for cars with sprinkling of holy water. Is this only an Anglican no-no?
Not at all. I've seen it done in Anglican congregations.
I remember our vicar blessing a car after the Parish Mass not so long ago. I don't know what rite he used.
But there must be a rite somewhere for ships (and railway engines?) as I 'm sure I have seen this done (on TV) on more than one occasion.
Posts: 672 | From: The Most Holy Trinity, Coach Lane, North Shields | Registered: Oct 2009
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Emendator Liturgia
Shipmate
# 17245
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Posted
Yes, been involved in the blessing of a new vehicle a few times (never anoitning, though): always with reference to safety and protection etc. As someone else has noted, Anglican bless homes, so why not cars!
Glad you enjoyed it, and that it seemed so 'right'!
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Don't judge all Anglicans in Sydney by prevailing Diocesan standards!
Posts: 401 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2012
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Galilit
Shipmate
# 16470
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Posted
Reverend Friend blessed a mini-bus by international mobile telephone call. His ex-houseboy/driver in The African Country where he had been a Mission Partner had just bought it. Apparently "everyone" has a new vehicle blessed there.
[ 21. October 2012, 08:57: Message edited by: Galilit ]
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She who does Her Son's will in all things can rely on me to do Hers.
Posts: 624 | From: a Galilee far, far away | Registered: Jun 2011
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Basilica
Shipmate
# 16965
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
I'd bless it. I'd asperge it. But anoint it? Why?
And I'd cense it as well!
As for anointing, I think that's wholly appropriate. As long as we're talking about engine oil. In the engine.
Posts: 403 | Registered: Feb 2012
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dj_ordinaire
Host
# 4643
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Posted
In fact, it is obligatory to bless certain inanimate objects which are to be set aside for Holy use. These include chrismatic oils, holy water and indeed church buildings which are consecrated. What is that if not a blessing? It is also suggested to bless many devotional and liturgical items although this is not I think required - I've seen vestments, patens and several of my rosaries blessed in this way.
I've also seen a rowing boat blessed by an Anglican bishop which is another matter.
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Flinging wide the gates...
Posts: 10335 | From: Hanging in the balance of the reality of man | Registered: Jun 2003
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Was that the boat in which he was about to cross the Tiber?
I'll get me coat.......
Ian J.
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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The Silent Acolyte
Shipmate
# 1158
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Posted
A nineteen year boy and a motor car?
A recipe for sudden death and dismemberment.
I think a blessing for both the car and the boy is certainly indicated.
Posts: 7462 | From: The New World | Registered: Aug 2001
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Mama Thomas
Shipmate
# 10170
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Posted
Cars, trucks, buses, boats, ships, computers, mosquito nets, footballs, volley balls, medicine.
In the popular SSJE priests' manual there is a handy "for the blessing of anything whatsoever."
It's wonderful when people refuse to compartmentalise their spiritual lives to Sundays, bible reading, grace and giving up chocolate during Lent.
Blessing of everyday objects puts God in and around everything and is proclaiming his love and protection over an ever wider area.
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All hearts are open, all desires known
Posts: 3742 | From: Somewhere far away | Registered: Aug 2005
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Mama Thomas:
It's wonderful when people refuse to compartmentalise their spiritual lives to Sundays, bible reading, grace and giving up chocolate during Lent.
Blessing of everyday objects puts God in and around everything and is proclaiming his love and protection over an ever wider area.
Yeah. That was my feeling. I'm totally sold! ![[Angel]](graemlins/angel.gif)
Good to know not all Anglicans disapprove of such a notion.
I'll have to have a word with the professor of liturgy that said otherwise......
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a theological scrapbook
Posts: 9481 | From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2009
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PD
Shipmate
# 12436
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
I saw a car blessed and anointed(?) today for the first time ever.
I was a bit surprised as I've been taught that you shouldn't bless things that aren't alive.
Yet a quick Google brings up Catholic and Orthodox blessings for cars with sprinkling of holy water. Is this only an Anglican no-no?
I think what surprised me the most was actually how cool it was. It was a nineteen year old man with a new car that he was obviously very proud of. And he asked for it to be blessed.
The whole thing just actually "worked". It was quite the sacramental moment - quite the "normal" meeting with the "holy". And surely a really positive experience for the young man.
Would you bless a car?
In the case of a 19 y.o. and a fast car I'd bless the car - and give him last rites! Middle-aged grumpiness apart. My church is in a predominately Mexican neighbourhood. They are not great churchgoers - though they often show on the Big Feasts - but on the other hand they do like to have things blessed. After ten years in the parish it seems like I have used every blessing in the Manual except that for an aeroplane. However, for the abatement of disease in cattle, and blessing a railway station were things I got up to in England!
PD
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Roadkill on the Information Super Highway!
My Assorted Rantings - http://www.theoldhighchurchman.blogspot.com
Posts: 4431 | From: Between a Rock and a Hard Place | Registered: Mar 2007
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Morlader
Shipmate
# 16040
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Posted
... In a mysterious way ...
I take delivery of a new car tomorrow. I shalln't be getting it blessed though; that would be something of a sensation in the car dealer's environment, and even in the evening when I go to church for choir practice.
But I'll probably think a prayer.
And I'm w a y beyond 19.
[ 21. October 2012, 14:34: Message edited by: Morlader ]
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.. to utmost west.
Posts: 858 | From: Not England | Registered: Nov 2010
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
Is the Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car sawing one inch off the exhaust pipe?
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Last ever sig ...
blog
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Is the Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car sawing one inch off the exhaust pipe?
No. The Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car is mounting a mezuzah on the inside of the door-frame. Though these look like they belong on 'Gadgets for God.'
(This is assuming you were genuinely asking)
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Triple Tiara
Ship's Papabile
# 9556
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Posted
Blessing cars is a big deal in Rome every year, on the Feast of St Frances of Rome, 9 March. It's a stumbling block for belief, however, because the blessing never seems to work, judging by the way the drivers of Rome roar about like madmen. Maybe they should be exorcising the drivers rather than blessing the cars?
And now for some videos.
A Polish parish blessing of cars. Ouch! My eyes hurt at the sight of those servers' outfits!
The very matter-of-fact approach. Note the open doors and boot - supposed to let the demons flee. Except they then let demon drivers get behind the wheel, which rather defeats the object!
Eastern Rite version. Surprisingly (and mercifully!) brief. Let us pray to the Lord. Again and again.
I've seen Hindu car blessings. Now that is fun - anointing it with spices, decking it in garlands and squashing fruit under the wheels. But I shouldn't be saying such things ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
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I'm a Roman. You may call me Caligula.
Posts: 5905 | From: London, England | Registered: May 2005
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
Wonderful Youtubes, Father! Thank you!
I've seen Hindu car blessings too, up in Tividale, at this place: http://www.venkateswara.org.uk/
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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mark_in_manchester
not waving, but...
# 15978
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Posted
This reminds me of a brief period where I was connected with the CMA (christian motorcyclists association).
In the (often lengthy) times of open prayer in someone's garage, people would often pray for 'x, that he might sell his bike for a good price / find someone to fix his clutch etc etc etc etc'. It felt pretty wrong, in the same way the title of this thread feels wrong to me.
I'm reminded of someone's wedding I went to, where someone turned up in bike gear - and stayed in it. As someone who's very into the bike scene, I can say - this is daft. It's like someone who likes downhill skiing turning up to a wedding in ski boots (which can't be walked in). So as to be able to hang their ID on a thing they strongly like - because without that crutch, their ego is too fragile to negotiate the complexities of dealing with the situation.
Most people grow out of this as teenagers (reminds me of my walking round town with an unbagged guitar on my back. Aaaargggghhhh ![[Projectile]](graemlins/puke2.gif) ). Not 'growing up' seems to be moving towards idolatry to me - damaging in the sense that ones adult self doesn't somehow make it into proper adulthood - and these bike prayers (and the OP's car blessing) seem connected to all this, to me.
Not long after the prayers in the garage thing, my (shite old) bike packed up on the top bit of the M62, where that farm is in the middle of the road, if you know it. It was raining horizontally. And of course, as well as swearing a lot, I prayed like f*ck. And a van full of builders stopped and put me and the bike in the back. But my cousin and his wife still died of cancer.
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"We are punished by our sins, not for them" - Elbert Hubbard
(so good, I wanted to see it after my posts and not only after those of shipmate JBohn from whom I stole it)
Posts: 1596 | Registered: Oct 2010
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Ceremoniar
Shipmate
# 13596
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Posted
My first car as a youth was blessed by my Episcopal (Anglican) priest.
Posts: 1240 | From: U.S. | Registered: Apr 2008
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Cryptic
Shipmate
# 16917
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Would you bless a car?
I've never had the urge to bless one of my cars but I've certainly cursed a few... ![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
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Illegitimi non carborundum
Posts: 225 | From: Sydney | Registered: Feb 2012
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
I know of a parish in one of the outer suburbs of Chicago that did an annual "Bless My Ride" celebration. They would move an altar onto the back of a flatbed truck in the parish parking lot, and have a complete church service there. Afterwards, the Rector would bless cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, whatever you drove through. They started doing it as a community outreach effort and it was quite popular.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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Augustine the Aleut
Shipmate
# 1472
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Posted
Surely shipmates of a certain age will recall the film version of MASH when Father Mulcahy blessed Hawkeye's jeep, recalling for us Philip and his chariot?
Posts: 6236 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: Oct 2001
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Galilit
Shipmate
# 16470
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Is the Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car sawing one inch off the exhaust pipe?
No, it's hanging a laminated copy of The Traveller's Prayer, or a tiny Book of Psalms from the rear-view mirror.
Muslims here hang Prayer Beads there
Christians loop a a rosary.
Makes life so much easier for hitch hikers, the Police and the Army to tell at-a-glance...
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She who does Her Son's will in all things can rely on me to do Hers.
Posts: 624 | From: a Galilee far, far away | Registered: Jun 2011
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cosmic dance
Shipmate
# 14025
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Posted
A reverend friend of mine once blessed the Cosmopolitan Club's new pool tables. Got her and her church lots of favourable publicity.
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"No method, no teacher, no guru..." Van Morrison.
Posts: 233 | From: godzone | Registered: Aug 2008
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Gee D
Shipmate
# 13815
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Cryptic:
quote:
Originally posted by Evensong:
Would you bless a car?
I've never had the urge to bless one of my cars but I've certainly cursed a few...
My mother once had an SD1 Rover 3500 - no amount of blessing or anointing could have fixed that.
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Not every Anglican in Sydney is Sydney Anglican
Posts: 7028 | From: Warrawee NSW Australia | Registered: Jun 2008
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Augustine the Aleut
Shipmate
# 1472
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Is the Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car sawing one inch off the exhaust pipe?
No, it's hanging a laminated copy of The Traveller's Prayer, or a tiny Book of Psalms from the rear-view mirror.
Muslims here hang Prayer Beads there
Christians loop a a rosary.
Makes life so much easier for hitch hikers, the Police and the Army to tell at-a-glance...
Most of Ottawa's taxidrivers come from the Middle East so the observant passenger will soon be able to tell that he has a Maronite, Orthodox, Assyrian, Coptic, Shiite or Druze driver, and govern themselves accordingly. Crosses of various design (the Assyrian and Coptic ones are discernable), as well as prayer beads (Muslim or Xn, with the occasional Maronite rosary) and small icons, usually of Our Lady or a name-saint are magnetically attached to the dash or strung from the mirror. On seeing an icon of S Peter last year on the feast day, I was able to give the very pleased driver name-day greetings, and was rewarded with a cupcake made by his daughter.
Posts: 6236 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: Oct 2001
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Ceremoniar
Shipmate
# 13596
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Augustine the Aleut:
Surely shipmates of a certain age will recall the film version of MASH when Father Mulcahy blessed Hawkeye's jeep, recalling for us Philip and his chariot?
![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif)
Posts: 1240 | From: U.S. | Registered: Apr 2008
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
quote:
Originally posted by balaam:
Is the Jewish equivalent to sprinkling holy water on a car sawing one inch off the exhaust pipe?
No, it's hanging a laminated copy of The Traveller's Prayer, or a tiny Book of Psalms from the rear-view mirror.
Muslims here hang Prayer Beads there
Christians loop a a rosary.
Makes life so much easier for hitch hikers, the Police and the Army to tell at-a-glance...
I've got a silver cross hanging from the mirror in one car and a sticker on the back of the other car that says "Kiss me I'm Anglican". ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
[ 22. October 2012, 12:03: Message edited by: Evensong ]
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a theological scrapbook
Posts: 9481 | From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2009
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Anselmina
Ship's barmaid
# 3032
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Posted
Some fishing ports off the Irish coast do the blessing of the fishing boats every year. Probably happens lots of other countries too? And most clergy at some point will bless houses and homes of various sorts.
Fire-enginges get blessed, too, don't they? And newly built church loos. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
I knew a bloke who provided Indian factories with weaving looms. There was always a Hindu blessing of the machinery.
Wasn't there an American car race where a pastor offered a very funny blessing on the cars, that ran on Youtube for a while?
Posts: 10002 | From: Scotland the Brave | Registered: Jul 2002
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Anselmina:
Wasn't there an American car race where a pastor offered a very funny blessing on the cars, that ran on Youtube for a while?
Check out the Ship's homepage!
(I refuse to listen to it again, but it seems it was for the drivers, not the cars IIRC.)
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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The Silent Acolyte
Shipmate
# 1158
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Augustine the Aleut:
... recalling for us Philip and his chariot?
I think you mean the Ethiopian Eunuch's chariot. Philip was just a hitchhiker. Anyway, Philip caught a much better ride than that to carry him to Azotus.
[ 22. October 2012, 19:47: Message edited by: The Silent Acolyte ]
Posts: 7462 | From: The New World | Registered: Aug 2001
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Augustine the Aleut
Shipmate
# 1472
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:
quote:
Originally posted by Augustine the Aleut:
... recalling for us Philip and his chariot?
I think you mean the Ethiopian Eunuch's chariot. Philip was just a hitchhiker. Anyway, Philip caught a much better ride than that to carry him to Azotus.
I think you are right--- the text is in my old Roman Ritual but it is not where I last saw it. How vexing it is when one's essential references tools go walkabout
Posts: 6236 | From: Ottawa, Canada | Registered: Oct 2001
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The Silent Acolyte
Shipmate
# 1158
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Posted
While your Roman Ritual is on its walkabout, let me provide this from the English Ritual (companion to the English Missal), which may give evidence for the prayer you seek: quote:
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications, and bless this carriage with they holy right hand: join unto it thy holy Angels, that they may alway deliver and defend all who ride therein from every peril; and as thou didst give faith and grace by thy Levite Philip unto the man of Ethiopia as he sat upon his chariot and read thy sacred words; so unto thy servants shew the way of salvation, that they who by the help of thy grace are ever intent upon good works, may after all the changes and chances of the journey of this life, be worthy to obtain eternal joys. Through Christ, our Lord.
My 1990 ICEL Roman Ritual (Shorter Book of Blessings), leaves Philip by the wayside, but in the litany in the Blessing of Means of Transportation, brings in Jesus' itinerant ministry, his marine miracles, the road to Emmaus, the Ascension, and, perhaps, the flight into Egypt.
Posts: 7462 | From: The New World | Registered: Aug 2001
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LostinChelsea
Shipmate
# 5305
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Posted
Our church is next door to the local police station. I blessed their last batch of new police cruisers, including in the prayer a prayer for all those who drive or are conveyed in them. The event came from the police chief joking that he ought to ask me to bless them and, after a moment's reflection, decided that it wasn't such a bad idea!
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Best when taken in moderation.
Posts: 237 | From: Deep South USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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Graven Image
Shipmate
# 8755
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Posted
Local church does a blessing of motorcycles every year.
We have blessed cars at our Parish. Safe driving and being used for the Lord's work.
I say a prayer each time I get in the car and start a long trip. We offering traveling prayers in church as well. I like the reminder that the Spirit of the Lord is with us at all times in all places.
Posts: 2641 | From: Third planet from the sun. USA | Registered: Nov 2004
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bib
Shipmate
# 13074
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Posted
I gave our Bishop a lift in my car. When I dropped him off he put his hand on my car as he left and said "bless you". I took this to mean me, but did he perhaps mean my car?
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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"
Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007
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Cryptic
Shipmate
# 16917
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gee D:
QUOTE]My mother once had an SD1 Rover 3500 - no amount of blessing or anointing could have fixed that. [/QB]
![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif) Those things were built in a factory where Beelzebub himself was in charge of quality control. Pity really, as properly bolted together they were a pretty good car.
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Illegitimi non carborundum
Posts: 225 | From: Sydney | Registered: Feb 2012
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Gee D
Shipmate
# 13815
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Posted
They looked good on paper, and I had a P6 3500 - an excellent car. My father's P4s had been extremely high quality. She thought that she would have something from which she could get quite a few years use. But the SD1 looked as if the team designing the exterior had worked in imperial measurements, and that doing the interior had used rough approximations in metric. Panel fit was not much above that of a Trabant, and the electrics no better. She traded it in as soon as she could.
[ 24. October 2012, 02:38: Message edited by: Gee D ]
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Not every Anglican in Sydney is Sydney Anglican
Posts: 7028 | From: Warrawee NSW Australia | Registered: Jun 2008
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Spiffy
Ship's WonderSheep
# 5267
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Posted
One of my favorite depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary is of Herself, seated, with a bicycle helmet on. It's located at the The Portland Shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo, where you can get your bike blessed pretty much any day of the year, though they do a special liturgy in June.
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Looking for a simple solution to all life's problems? We are proud to present obstinate denial. Accept no substitute. Accept nothing.
--Night Vale Radio Twitter Account
Posts: 10281 | From: Beervana | Registered: Dec 2003
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