“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.”
In the pages of the Old Testament, the tradition of fathers blessing their offspring resonates profoundly. From Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob, and Jacob to his twelve sons, who would later form the tribes of Israel, the significance of paternal blessings is unmistakable. This enduring custom is vividly depicted in the narrative of Jacob and Esau, where the consequences of a stolen blessing reverberate:
“When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, ‘Bless me, even me also, O my father!’” (Genesis 27:34)
One may wonder whether this practice is exclusive to the patriarchs or the lineage of Abraham. Over time, the Christian Church has adamantly answered in the negative. The Catechism of the Catholic Church underscores this point:
“Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children” (CCC 2225).
Reflecting on the Scriptures, the Book of Sirach emphasizes the potency of a father’s blessing:
“The father’s blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother’s curse rooteth up the foundation” (Sirach 3:11).
Saint Ambrose is also quoted as saying:
“You may not be rich; you may be unable to bequeath any great possessions to your children, but one thing you can give them [is] the heritage of your blessing. And it is better to be blessed than to be rich.”
Numerous examples abound, affirming the imperative for fathers to bless their children. As the spiritual leaders of the domestic Church, fathers are called to extend blessings to their offspring and spouses. Saint Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians says: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
You may now ask, “Okay, so I want to bless my family! How do I do that?” The Church has given us some beautiful blessings that may imparted to our wives and Children. One common form of blessing comes from the Book of Numbers,
“The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.”
Another from the book of Tobit says,
“May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; may his angel accompany you.”
The one I use every night comes from the St. Gregory’s Prayerbook.
“HEAVENLY Father, I commend the souls of my children to thee. Be thou their God and Father; and mercifully supply whatever is wanting in me through frailty or negligence. Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, to resist all solicitations to evil, whether from within or without; and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy. Pour thy grace into their hearts, and confirm and multiply in them the gifts of thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so faithfully serving thee here, may come to rejoice in thy presence hereafter; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.”
While praying these prayers over your children or spouse, you may take a bit of holy water and trace the sign of the cross on their foreheads or place your hands on their heads.
While this is most often done just before bed, a blessing can be done at any time and place; I challenge you to make blessing your children and spouse a regular part of your family’s prayer life. This world is not a friendly place, and our families can use all the help we can give them.