Last Tuesday, I received a text message from a former student of mine who now lives in the US, saying, “Bishop, need our guidance on the Pope’s recent move… kind of disturbing and disappointing.” I texted back, “What move?” He sent me a post from NBC News with the caption – “Breaking: Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples.”
That day was the day when the Vatican had just published “Fiducia Supplicans,” a Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings. The media was suddenly filled with news and comments on the document. Many of the reports made it sound like the Pope has allowed the blessing of same-sex couples, thus finally approving same-sex union or marriage. I urged my student to read first the document which is very clear and self-explanatory.
Nothing has changed. The Church’s teaching on marriage remains firm. Marriage is “the exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children… it is only in this context that sexual relations find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning.”
The document simply states that a priest can bless a same-sex couple or any irregular couple, for that matter, as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage. It’s the persons the priest blesses, not their union, just as the priest blesses anyone who asks for blessing. He blesses even animals, cars, buildings, pencils and erasers. The document distinguishes liturgical rites or ritual blessings (like that of marriage) on one hand, and pastoral, non-ritual, and spontaneous blessings on the other. The much ballyhooed “blessing of same-sex couples” belongs to the latter kind.
“One who asks for a blessing shows himself to be in need of God’s saving presence in his life… to seek a blessing in the Church is to acknowledge that the life of the Church springs from the womb of God’s mercy and helps us to move forward, to live better, and to respond to the Lord’s will.” (FS, 20) It is in this context that the Church is liberal in giving blessings to anyone who asks. For God “makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike.” (Mt 5:45)
The document offers precious insight into the dynamics of blessings. Blessings “descend” from heaven and bring down God’s favor on his people. In grateful response, the people offer blessings which “ascend” to God from earth to heaven. “Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!” (Ps 103:1) Finally, God’s blessings overflow from the heart of the recipient and “extend” towards everyone around him. Our age-old custom of kissing the hand of our parents and elders is a beautiful gesture of asking and receiving their blessings.
Today’s gospel story illustrates the wondrous movement of the blessing which “descends”, “ascends”, and “extends” in Mary’s life. It is in fact the greatest blessing that has come to her or to any person, the blessing par excellence – Jesus Christ.
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Jesus is the supreme blessing that descends from heaven and rests on Mary. In turn, Mary blesses God with her Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord… The Lord has done great things for me, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” Mary receives Jesus in her womb but does not keep him for herself. She gives him to the world to be its Saviour, for his name is Jesus (God who saves).
May you receive the one true blessing of Christmas from the Father – his own Son whom he sends to be your saviour, brother, friend and source of all the good that you desire. In turn, may you generously extend your blessings your brothers and sisters. A Blessed Christmas to one and all.