Herbal consecration

The herb consecration is one of the popular customs of the Roman Catholic Church . This custom has been known since the 9th century and has been revived in recent years. Herbs are tied in a bouquet at the solemnity of the Assumption on August 15th and brought to the church . There they are blessed by the priest during or after the service . The herb consecration is one of the sacramentals . In some places in Bavaria and Tyrol, this also marks the beginning of the woman's thirties .

The tradition probably goes back to the tradition of the church father John of Damascus , according to which the empty tomb of Mary is said to have smelled of roses and herbs when it was opened.

Herb bushes

"Krautwisch" or "herb bushes" for the Feast of the Assumption

The mullein is traditionally often located in the middle of a bunch of herbs

Depending on the region, the herb bushes can be made from total

• 07 (number of days of the week or days of creation ),
• 09 (three times three for the Holy Trinity ),
• 12 (number of apostles ),
• 14 (number of emergency workers ),
• 24 (two times twelve: twelve tribes of Israel from the old and twelve apostles of Christ from the new testament)
• 72 (six times twelve) (number of the disciples of Jesus) or even
• 99 different herbs exist.

Typical herbs in addition to alant are real St. John's wort , wormwood , mugwort , tansy , yarrow , mullein , chamomile , thyme , valerian , verbena and the various types of grain . In some regions as many almond blossoms were incorporated into the herb bushes as there were people, cows and horses on the farm. The tea made from these sacred herbs should be particularly beneficial. Consecrated herbs were mixed into the feed of sick cattle or herbs were thrown from the bush into the open fire to protect against lightning strikes during a thunderstorm.

In rural areas of Germany, even older names from regional dialects are known for the designation herb bouquet ( -busch ) used today. In the Eifel and the Lower Moselle, the bouquet of herbs is a wipe away . Because originally mugwort was the most important herb in the container in this region . The old name Wisch und Wischkraut for mugwort was therefore possibly the namesake for containers made of herbs and grasses, which were used in the kitchen and also in the cowshed ( coated with pitch ) against colic.

Prayers

The herb consecration in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite comprises the following prayers:
I.
“Let us pray! Almighty eternal God, who you created heaven, earth and sea, visible and invisible through your word from nothing and for the use of humans and animals let trees and herbs produce, which, according to your mild and rich arrangement, produce fruit from themselves in their respective peculiarities not only as herbal food for the souls, but also to heal sick bodies. We sincerely ask you with heart and mouth that you want to bless these different types of herbs and fruits through your gracious gentleness +, so that they can over theirs from you through the influence of the new grace of your blessing and through the right use for humans and animals in your holy name The given natural strength provides protection against all illness and poisoning. Through our Lord Jesus Christ ... amen.

Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui caelum, terram, mare, visibilia et invisibilia verbo tuo ex nihilo creasti, quique herbas arboresque ad usus hominum animaliumque terram gignere, et unumquodque juxta sementem in semetipso fructum habere praecepisti; atque non solum ut herbae animantibus ad victum, sed aegris etiam corporibus prodessent ad medicamentum, tua ineffabili pietate concessisti: te supplici mente et ore deprecamur ut has diversi generis herbas et fructus tua clementia bene + dicas et, supra natural virtem a te inditam benedictionis tuae novae gratiam infundas ut, ad usum hominibus et jumentis in nomine tuo applicatae, omnium morborum et adversitatum efficiantur praesidium. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. "

II.
“Let us pray! O God, who through your servant Moses instructed the sons of Israel to bring manipulations of the new fruits to the priests for their blessing, choosing the finest and most beautiful fruits of the plants and expressing great joy before you as their true God: listen our invocations, and pour the abundance of your + blessings on us and on these bundles of new plants and this collection of new herbs and fruits, which we present to you with thanks on this highly festive day and bless them in your + name. Graciously grant that wherever something of these blessed herbs is kept, carried or otherwise used, people, sheep, cattle, riding and pack animals can find healing help against diseases, epidemics, ulcers, malignancies and imprecations as well as against poisons and Bites from snakes and other animals, but also find defense against diabolical illusions, machinations and deceitful seductions. And so we may be laden with manipulations of good works, honored by the merits of the most blessed virgin and the mother of God, Mary, whose bodily acceptance into heaven we are solemnly celebrating, to be admitted there. Through our Lord Jesus Christ ... amen.

Oremus. Deus, qui per Moysen famulum tuum mandasti filiis Israel ut manipulos novorum fructuum benedicendos deferrent ad sacerdotes, tollerentque fructus arboris pulcherrimae, et laetarentur coram te Domino Deo suo: adesto propitius invocation bus nostris, et infunde tua nos bundanti + manipulis abundant frugum, novarum herbarum et fructuum collectionem, quae cum gratiarum actione tibi repraesentamus et in nomine tuo in hac solemnitate bene + dicimus; et concede ut hominibus, pecoribus, pecudibus et jumentis contra morbos, pestes, ulcers, maleficia, incantationes, veneficia serpentem et aliorum venenosorum animalium et bestiarum morsus necnon quaecumque venena remedium praestent; atque contra diabolicas illusiones et machinationes et fraudes tutamen ferant, in quocumque loco positum vel portatum aut habitum aliquid ex eis fuerit: quatenus cum manipulis bonorum operum, meritis beatae Mariae Virginis, cujus Assumptione festum colimus, quo ipsa assumpta est suscipi mereamur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. "

III.
"Let us pray! Lord our God, you raised Mary above all creatures and took them up into heaven with soul and body. At their solemn festival we thank you for all the miracles of your creation. With the medicinal herbs and flowers you give us health and joy. Bless + these herbs and flowers. They remind us of your glory and the riches of your life. Grant us your salvation through the intercession of Mary. Let us come to eternal communion with you and one day join in the praise of all creation, which praises you through your Son Jesus Christ for all eternity. "

IV.
“Let us pray. God, you announced through Isaiah in the Old Covenant: 'From the stump of Jesse, from the stump of Jesse, David's father, a rice grows, a young shoot from its roots bears fruit.' (Isa 11: 1) We sing again and again during the Christmas season: 'A rose rose from a delicate root, from Jesse, from Jesse, the father of David, came the species. The rose, of which Isaiah says, is Mary, the pure'. This little rose, this rice from Jesse's stump, this branch of Jesse, this virgam Jesse, namely the most blessed virgin and the Mother of God, the mother of your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, you have lifted up to heaven this day so that you may make us mortals upon hers Asking the fruit of her body, your son, to mediate under her patronage: we humbly ask you that, by virtue of the authority of this your son and under the glorious patronage of his mother, we use the protective effects of these fruits of the earth for earthly and eternal salvation capital. Through our same Lord Jesus Christ ... And the blessing of Almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit come down on these bundles and abide on them always. Amen.

Oremus. […] Deus, qui virgam Jesse, Genetricem Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi, hodierna die ad caelorum fastigia ideo evexisti ut per ejus suffragia et patrocinia fructum ventris illius, eundem Filium tuum, mortalitati nostrae communicares: te supplices t ex ejorus communicares virtute eijusque Genetricis glorioso patrocinio, istorum terrae fructuum praesidiis per temporalem ad aeternam salutem disponamur. Per eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen. Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super has creaturas et maneat semper. Amen. "

literature

• Ignaz Urban : The herb consecration . [in Warburg]: In negotiations of the Botanical Association of the Province of Brandenburg . 14th year, Berlin 1872.
• Elisabeth Gocke: The "herb consecration" in Cörbecke (Kr. Warburg i. W.) . Dep. Westf. Prov.-Mus. 6: 3-29. Münster (Westphalia) 1935.
• Elisabeth Heldt: Herb consecration in the Warburger Land . An example of an ancient Christian custom. Brochure, 1982, ISBN 3506737104 .
• Elisabeth Heldt, Wilhelm Kuhne : The herb consecration as a sign of salvation - how a festival becomes an experience . Hardehauser historical contributions 10, Schöningh, Munich 1986 (2nd extended edition).

Web links

• Parish of St. Johannes dT Ratheim: Kruutwöösch
• Marian pilgrimage to Buchenhüll in Eichstätt
• Customs of herb consecration (private site)
• Herbal consecration at the Marienfest (private site)
• The herb consecration - an old custom just south of the Lippe (article)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Herb Festival in the convent garden of Dalheim Monastery.
2. ↑ Collecting herbal bundles and background information.
3. ↑ Volkshochschule Untermosel (ed.), Der Wischsegen von Burgen , Moselkiesel Vol. 2, pp. 55–59, Kobern-Gondorf 1999, ISBN 3-9806059-2-2