Weather blessing

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The weather blessing is an old custom in the Catholic Church , with which the faithful in the liturgy ask God for good, that is, prosperous weather for the harvest and for protection from storms and catastrophes. The history of the weather blessing can be traced back to the Middle Ages .

History and form

The weather blessing can also be given with a cross relic.

Weather-banning practices as apotropaic acts to ward off storms as expressions of demonic action are known in numerous cultures. Common forms in Christianity were the ringing of the weather when a thunderstorm was approaching , petition processions , hail holidays with hail processions , weather sermons, the setting up of consecrated weather or shower candles or the burning of palm branches. The boundaries between mythical or magical and religious ideas, between popular piety and superstition were fluid. Therefore, since the Middle Ages, the church has placed emphasis on differentiation and liturgical regulation of forms. The weather blessing in spring and summer is recommended today as an expression of the concern for daily bread for all communities in town and country; it was a frequent custom, especially in rural areas.

It is donated by the celebrant at the end of a holy mass , usually on Sundays, previously in some places also daily. The period varies according to local conditions, traditionally between the earlier date of the finding of the cross on May 3rd and the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14th. Regionally, it is customary to give the weather blessing from the feast of St. Mark on April 25, the day on which the St. Mark's procession used to be common; in some regions it is still donated after the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. The form and course of the blessing may vary according to local custom.

Since the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council , the weather blessing can be given as a variant of the final blessing of Holy Mass, where available also with a cross relic . The concern of healthy weather is also often addressed in the intercessions . In the extraordinary form of the Roman rite , in which the feast of the finding of the cross is celebrated, the weather blessing is given as a second, additional blessing after the final blessing and the final gospel and can also be given as a sacramental blessing .

The connection between a weather blessing and the final gospel of Holy Mass is attested as early as the 12th century. The text of the final gospel, usually Jn 1, 1–14  EU , was also popular as a "blessing pericope" for the dispensing of sacraments such as baptism or the sacraments of the death . At times it was customary to speak the beginnings of all four Gospels in the four directions as part of the weather blessing .

Blessing formulas

Ordinary form

The benediction for the Catholic dioceses of the German-speaking area offers three forms of a weather blessing that can take the place of the closing blessing of the mass. There is always an oration followed by a longer or shorter blessing formula, the blessing can be introduced by an alternate prayer praising God (first form) or a short versicle (second form) between the celebrant (Z) or cantor and congregation. The weather blessing can be spoken or sung. The usual dismissal call of the mass follows: “Go in peace. - Thanks be to the Lord God. "

Third form

(Z) God, you creator of all things, you have entrusted the world to us humans and you want us to use its powers.
From the richness of your love you give us the fruits of the earth: the produce from garden and field, vineyard and forest, so that we may serve you with happy and grateful hearts.
Answer our prayers: keep
storms and hail, flood and drought, frost and anything that may harm us away from us.
Give us everything we need to live.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

And the blessing of Almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and abide with you always.
(A) Amen.

Second form

(Z) Our help is in the name of the Lord,
(A) who created heaven and earth.
(Z) Let us pray.

This is followed by an oration that can vary depending on the weather conditions (rain - good weather - storms and storms). Then the blessing reads:

(Z) God, the Almighty Father, bless you and give you prosperous weather; he will keep lightning, hail and every disaster away from you.
(A) Amen
(Z) He bless the fields, the gardens and the forest and give you the fruits of the earth.
(A) Amen
(Z) May he accompany your work so that you may use with gratitude and joy what has grown through the forces of nature and the efforts of man.
(A) Amen
(Z) The triune God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit grant you this.
(A) Amen

Extraordinary shape

℣ A fulgure, grandine et tempestate. From lightning, hail and storms.
℟ Libera nos, Domine Jesu Christe. Deliver us, Lord Jesus Christ.
℣ Ostend nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. Show us your grace, Lord.
℟ Et salutare tuum da nobis. And give us your salvation.
℣ Domine, exaudi orationem meam. Lord hear my prayer.
℟ Et clamor meus ad te veniat. And let my call come to you.
℣ Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you.
℟ Et cum spiritu tuo. And with your mind.
℣ Oremus! Quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut, intercessione sanctae Dei Genitricis Mariae, sanctorum Angelorum, Patriarcharum, Prophetarum, Apostolorum, Martyrum, Confessorum, Virginum, Viduarum, et omnium Sanctorum tuorum, continuum nobis praittes subsidium, aturuper tempulas, aturuper tempulates subsidium, tranque contraquillates nobis indignis tuam salutem effundas de caelis, et generi humano semper aemulas, dextera potentiae tuae, aereas conteras potestates. Per one Christ, Dominum nostrum. Amen. Let us pray! We ask you, almighty God: grant us at the intercession of St. Our Lady of God, St. Angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, widows and all your saints always your protection; give that there be rest in the air; against lightning and thunderstorms let your salvation flow down from heaven over us unworthy and with your strong hand destroy the forces of the air, which are always hostile to humans. Through Him, Christ, our Lord. Amen.
℣ Sit nomen Domini benedictum. The name of the Lord be praised.
℟ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum. From now until forever.
℣ Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
℟ Qui fecit caelum et terram. Who created heaven and earth.
℣ Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris + et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos, locum istum et fructus terrae et maneat semper. The blessing of Almighty God, the Father + and the Son and the Holy Spirit come down on you, on this place and on the fruits of the earth and abide at all times.
℟ Amen

See also

literature

  • Liturgical Institutes Salzburg - Trier - Zurich (Hrsg.): Benediktionale. Study edition for the Catholic dioceses of the German-speaking area. Herder Verlag, Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 1987, pp. 59–63.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wolfgang Brückner: Weather . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 10 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 2001, Sp. 1128 . Rupert Berger : Weather blessing . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape
     10 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 2001, Sp. 1128 .
  2. ^ Josef Andreas Jungmann SJ : Missarum Sollemnia. A genetic explanation of the Roman mass. Second volume, Herder Verlag, Vienna / Freiburg / Basel 1948, 5th edition 1962, pp. 555, 560.