Blessings and cursings

[Paladin D]

Can someone bless or curse someone from their mouth? I mean a [b]real[/b] blessing or curse? For example, I've heard some say that if you keep prophesying that you're poor, you're cursing yourself to be poor. I'm assuming some of you have heard this, and am just asking what the Church's position is on this: blessings and cursings from the mouth.

[Paphnutius]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Mar 13 2005, 01:29 PM'] Can someone bless or curse someone from their mouth? I mean a [b]real[/b] blessing or curse? For example, I've heard some say that if you keep prophesying that you're poor, you're cursing yourself to be poor. I'm assuming some of you have heard this, and am just asking what the Church's position is on this: blessings and cursings from the mouth. [/quote]
I think that the example of prophysing that you are poor is more of an example of a self fulfilling prophesy more than a curse. That is where you actually make yourself poor to realize the prophecy. Another example of this is when one says they are no good at basketball or something. They subconsciously sabotage themselves to make that come true. This can be due to a lack of self esteem or trust and what not.

Actuall cursing and blessings though, look to the Bible. There are "cursing psalms," and in the NT they talk about your peace resting upon a person. The thing to keep in mind is not to become too superstitous about these. There is a difference between a priest's blessing and yours. The priest bless you in the name of the trinity, you yourself are just imparting your blessing. An example of this is that monks used to be big on bestowing your blessing on someone. In many order they still have to ask for their supperior's blessing before they leave.

Like i said do not be too superstitious about this. It is not some type of magic that if you curse or bless someone something bad will happen to them.

A good place to look for more about blessings is in the Catechism under sacramentals.

[Paladin D]

Thank you for your answer, though what if a layperson were to bless someone in the name of the trinity? Would it be of the same effect as a priest's? For example, I sometimes say [b]"May the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit be with you"[/b], I view it was a longer version of saying "God Bless". Though I doubt that my blessing, with the use of the trinity, would have the same effect (nor do I desire too) of that of a priest, since he has the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the authority to bless in God's name, not me.

[Paphnutius]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Mar 13 2005, 02:21 PM'] Thank you for your answer, though what if a layperson were to bless someone in the name of the trinity? Would it be of the same effect as a priest's? For example, I sometimes say [b]"May the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit be with you"[/b], I view it was a longer version of saying "God Bless". [/quote]
I would not speak in terms of effect. It is in the priest's faculty to bless in the name of the trinity and not a lay persons. This is to the indullible mark on the priest's soul that he recieves at ordination (plus other things during the rite). When you say May the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit be with you, is not a blessing per se. It is more of a farewell, something likened to the sign of peace at Mass. CCC 1667-76 does a better job of explaining it than me. A blessing asks for God's grace to be confered upon something, such as food at meal or a person at the sending in Mass. Certain ones are reserved to the priests and others may be made by all lay.

[Melchisedec]

[quote name='Paladin D' date='Mar 13 2005, 01:29 PM'] Can someone bless or curse someone from their mouth? I mean a [b]real[/b] blessing or curse? For example, I've heard some say that if you keep prophesying that you're poor, you're cursing yourself to be poor. I'm assuming some of you have heard this, and am just asking what the Church's position is on this: blessings and cursings from the mouth. [/quote]
This is one of the products of supersitions and there beliefs. They breed more superstitions. Curses and such are taken seriously where I come from. I heard all sorts of things from curses to , if you go to the frigirator right after you shower, your face will freeze. None of it is true, I wouldnt sweat it.

[MichaelFilo]

Curses hold water. Cursing someone is a rather evil thing, but the curse of the righteous on the haters of the God and the Law do indeed take effect. I wouldn't be so quick to blow off curses and blessings as superstions, because that is a morbidly wrong stance. Curses and blessings hold quite a bit of water, and cursing someone can be something terribly opposed to God and His Will to love each other.

Besides, Catholics have historically held in high regard both curses and blessings. Works that are closer to modern times such as the Rhyeme of the Ancient Mariner refers to a curse and calls it worse than the curse of an orphan which is certain to doom someone to Hell. Curses hold alot of weight, and the more righteous the person is, the greater weight it carries. Blessings are also of greater value if the speaker is a righteous person who leads a holy life. Some blessings are imparted purely because of office and so depend on the authority of the office (for instance the Apostolic Blessing).

God bless,
Mikey

[Melchisedec]

[quote name='MichaelFilo' date='Mar 15 2005, 10:34 PM'] Curses hold water. Cursing someone is a rather evil thing, but the curse of the righteous on the haters of the God and the Law do indeed take effect. I wouldn't be so quick to blow off curses and blessings as superstions, because that is a morbidly wrong stance. [/quote]
There is no proof of curses that I am aware of. I respect your belief in them, but there is no evidence to support your statement. Its at most just a philosophical construct.