House blessing
House blessing , also house blessing , describes in the Catholic tradition the blessing that takes place when a person changes residence or moves into a new house . This custom is first attested in the Sacramentary Gelasianum Vetus , here connected with the domestic celebration of the Eucharist . In the more recent past, the old church custom has also found popularity again in Protestant communities. The Bible (cf. Ps 141) is the biblical basis for the use of incense in the blessing.
The house blessing places the living quarters under the protection and claim to rule of Jesus Christ . The benediction contains a rite with reading from scripture and a blessing prayer. The blessing of the house always includes the sign of the cross and the sprinkling of holy water , the incense can also take place with incense .
The house blessing is usually performed by the priest or deacon . A prayer with a blessing, Our Father, and sprinkling of holy water can also be organized by laypeople .
In addition to the blessing of the catchment and the widespread in German-speaking custom of annual house blessings through which takes carolers that on Epiphany (Epiphany, January 6) door pull to door with incense inzensieren and consecrated chalk the blessing Please C + M + Write B + year on the door. The C + M + B is interpreted either as the first letters of the names Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, but more often as a request for blessing: Christ Mansionem Benedicat ("Christ bless this house"). The house inscription on the door and door frame goes back to old customs of protection and property.
The star singing blessing also follows the custom of the Rauhnächte , in which between Thomas's Night (December 21) and Epiphany, depending on the region, up to twelve nights are blessed with prayer, incense and other customs house, farm, residents and cattle. These folk customs are widespread across Europe. House blessing rituals can also be found in other customs, like house blessing in the real sense.
literature
- Rudolf Fochler: From New Year's Eve to New Year's Eve, popular dates in Upper Austria . Upper Austrian Provincial Publishing House, Linz 1971.
Individual evidence
- ^ Rupert Berger : House blessing. In Lexicon for Theology and Church. Vol. 4, Sp. 1219. Herder, Freiburg 1995, ISBN 3-451-22004-0 .
- ^ Leopold Kretzenbacher: "Smoking and Sprengen." For the midwinter house blessing in Styria . In: Historischer Verein für Steiermark (Hrsg.): Blätter für Heimatkunde . Born 28. Graz 1954, p. 93–102 ( HVfS homepage ).