The Vatican, in fact, recently announced a significant change, officially allowing blessings for homosexual couples and precisely establishing the guidelines to follow. This decision was outlined in the recent document of the Dicastery for Doctrine of the Faith, entitled “Fiducia supplicans”. The document explicitly states that "blessings of couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples" are now permitted. Let's explore this important development about the Vatican and gay couple blessings in more depth.
Vatican blessings gay couples: a significant turning point
It is crucial to underline that blessings for homosexual couples, as defined in the document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, known as “Fiducia supplicans”, must not follow a rfixed liturgical itual. The document explains that the blessing is considered a divine gift intended for those who, recognizing their own poverty and the need for divine help, do not claim legitimacy of their own status.
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This approval of blessings "outside of a liturgical rite" follows the line of thought already anticipated by the Pope in response to the doubts expressed by some cardinals last October. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith emphasizes that, while on the one hand "a ritual for blessings of couples in irregular situations", on the other hand, it is equally fundamental "not to prevent or prohibit the closeness of the Church in any situation in which divine help is required through a simple blessing".
The spontaneous blessing
The ordained minister, during the short prayer that precedes this spontaneous blessing, has the faculty to invoke peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, mutual help and divine light to carry out the will of God. It is imperative that this blessing departs from liturgical rituals and, in particular, that it avoids any ambiguity with the sacraments of marriage. The document explains that the blessing must not be performed simultaneously with the civil union rites, nor must it be associated with them through the use of clothes, gestures or words with matrimonial connotations.
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As a practical suggestion, it is recommended that this blessing finds its place in different contexts, such as during a visit to a sanctuary, meetings with priests, group prayer sessions or during pilgrimages.
