THE BLESSING OF A SCHOOL
The Priest enters the school and sprinkles the rooms with holy water, saying:
V. Peace be upon this house.
R. And upon all who dwell herein.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you commanded your Apostles to pray when they entered any house, that peace might come upon it. Use us, therefore, now to sanctify † this building where children are to come to school. May salvation come to it as it came when you entered the house of Zachaeus. Command your angels to guard it and to drive from it all the powers of the devil. Fill the teachers with knowledge, wisdom and the fear of God. Cherish its pupils and give them such grace that their minds may grasp what they are taught, their hearts ponder it and their behaviour proclaim it. May all who dwell here serve you in every virtue and be received one day into their eternal home in heaven. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, living now and reigning as God for all eternity.
R. Amen.
THE BLESSING OF A SCHOOL
The Priest enters the school and sprinkles the rooms with holy water, saying:
V. Pax huic dómui.
R. Et ómnibus habitántibus in ea.
V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini.
R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.
V. Dóminus vobíscum.
R. Et cum spíritu tuo.
Dómine Jesu Christe, qui Apóstolis tuis præcepísti, ut, in quæcúmque domum intrárent, pacem illi adprecaréntur, sanctí † fica, quǽsumus, per ministérium nostrum hanc domum púeris (vel puéllis) educándis destinátam; effúnde super eam tuæ bene + dictiónis et pacis abundántiam, fiat eis salus, sicut dómui Zachǽi, te intránte, facta est; manda Angelis tuis, ut eam custódiant, et ab ea omnem inimíci repéllant potestátem; reple docéntes in ea spíritu sciéntiæ, sapiéntiæ et timóris tui; discéntes cælésti grátia fove, ut, quæ salutáriter edocéntur, intelléctu cápiant, corde retíneant, ópere exsequántur; atque omnes habitóres ejus virtútum ómnium opéribus tibi pláceant, ut in ætérnam domum in cælis aliquándo récipi mereántur. Per te, Jesu Christe, Salvátor mundi, qui vivis et regnas Deus in sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.