THE BLESSING OF A CROSS OR CRUCIFIX
This Blessing can be done by a priest privately.
The priest says:
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: We ask thee, holy Lord and Father, almighty and eternal God, in thy goodness † bless this cross, that through it mankind may be given strength again, faith may be made firm and good deeds multiplied, and souls may find redemption. May it comfort us and protect us and defend us when our enemies most bitterly assail us. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Let us pray: Bless † this cross, O Lord Jesus Christ, for by means of a cross thou didst wrest the world from the power of demons and didst overcome, by thy sufferings, him who brought sin into the world and rejoiced when man first left the way of God's commandment and ate of the forbidden tree.
(He sprinkles the cross with holy water)
May this cross be sanctified in the name of the † Father, and of the † Son, and of the Holy † Spirit. And so may those who pray and bow their heads before it in homage to their Lord, find therein health and wellbeing for their body and soul. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
The priest, followed by any who care to do so, kneels in adoration before the cross and devoutly kisses it.
BENEDICTIO CRUCIS
Privatim autem hæc benedictio a quolibet Sacerdote fieri potest sine ulla Ordinarii licentia.
The priest says:
V. Adiutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini.
R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.
V. Dóminus vobíscum.
R. Et cum spíritu tuo.
Orémus.
Rogámus te, Dómine sancte. Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus: ut dignéris bene † dícere hoc signum Crucis, ut sit remédium salutáre géneri humáno; sit solíditas fídei, proféctus bonórum óperum, redémptio animárum; sit solámen, et protéctio, ac tutéla contra sæva jácula inimicórum. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R. Amen.
Orémus.
Béne † dic, Dómine Jesu Christe, hanc Crucem, per quam eripuísti mundum a potestáte dǽmo-num, et superásti passióne tua suggestórem peccáti, qui gaudébat in prævaricatióne primi hóminis per ligni vétiti sumptiónem.
(He sprinkles the cross with holy water)
Sanctificétur hoc signum Crucis in nómine Pa † tris, et Fí † lii, et Spíritus † Sancti; ut orántes, inclinantésque se propter Dóminum ante istam Crucem, invéniant córporis et ánimæ sanitátem. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R Amen.
The priest, followed by any who desire to do so, kneels in adoration before the cross and devoutly kisses it.