Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings

Fiducia Supplicans

Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings

Published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

18 December 2023

Approved by Pope Francis

Exploring the theme of blessings in the life of the Church:

What does Fiducia Supplicans say?

One of the enduring pastoral themes of Pope Francis’ Pontificate has been the mercy of God. In his words and actions Pope Francis has demonstrated that those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ are recipients of his love which is merciful and tender. Those who are Christians – Christ Bearers – are sharers of this same mission of mercy. We are called as his disciples to accompany our sisters and brothers in faith, and those on the margins, with the same mercy and tenderness of Jesus who invites everyone to fullness of life Jn 10:10.

The publication of Fiducia Supplicans generated much commentary within the Catholic Church and beyond. It is important to understand the teaching contained within the Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings in order to be faithful to its pastoral guidance. Some commentators have been mischievous in their interpretation. If we are to take our faith seriously, we must be open to formation which enables us to speak the truth with love.

Every Catholic presbytery, sacristy and office contains books of blessings for pastoral use. Blessing prayers in their hundreds are applied to inanimate objects (eg cars, homes, public buildings etc) and to various stages of a human life. They celebrate new beginnings and endings. They mark milestones throughout life and provide prayers which evoke a sense of the connection between the rite of blessing and our faith in God’s grace. The prayers of blessing are sacramental in tone but not sacraments. They draw upon Scripture and Tradition. They reflect cultural contexts and seasons of creation. The declaration describes the mutuality of blessing in the following way: “The supplicating trust of the faithful People of God receives the gift of blessing that flows from the heart of Christ through his Church” (FS # Introduction). In the words of Pope Francis, “The great blessing of God is Jesus Christ. He is the great gift of God, his own Son. He is the blessing for all humanity, a blessing that has saved us all” (FS # 1).

It is within this theological context Pope Francis wishes to extend to all those who come genuinely seeking strength, grace and hope for their journey of faith to be made welcome by the Church’s ministers. Blessings are not for the perfect but rather a deep reminder of the need of all people to a life a conversion and openness to God’s call in our life.

What Fiducia Supplicans provides is the door of God’s blessing who find themselves in “irregular” situations. An “irregular” situation is a relationship which cannot for a variety of reasons be formally validated by the Church: A same sex couple, or a heterosexual couple who are not validly married by Catholic Church law. Fiducia Supplicans provides the possibility for such people to humbly present themselves before a member of the clergy to seek a blessing. For some it may be a response to seek pastoral guidance and spiritual direction in order to discuss more fully their particular situation. Fiducia Supplicans clearly states such blessings are not to have formal procedures or rituals, but rather are to be moments of spontaneous prayer. Fiducia Supplicans expresses clearly such blessings do not officially validate their status or change the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.

Fiducia Supplicans declares that blessings of those in irregular situations should avoid any semblance of a sacramental marriage rite or mirroring a sacrament of the Catholic Church.

The Declaration in its entirety is found on the Vatican website www.vatican.va

We can take heart from the conclusion of the Declaration, which reminds us that the world and our lives are always in need of the blessing of God:

The Father loves us, and the only thing that remains for us is the joy of blessing him, and the joy of thanking him, and of learning from him to bless.

In this way, every brother and every sister will be able to feel that, in the Church, they are always pilgrims, always beggars, always loved, and, despite everything, always blessed. Fiducia Supplicans par 45