Believing people often ask for blessings from the priest. Why is this being done? What is the meaning of such an event? Yes, and how to ask for blessings from the priest, what to say? Let's talk in detail. It just won’t work out, because the matter is too important for the soul of a believer. There are no technical points in religion that can be corrected casually, without having to think and reason over the essence. When figuring out how to correctly ask for blessings from the priest, it is necessary to understand the meaning of this action, why such a rule arose. It still does not interfere with understanding how following it affects the believer. Let's do this.
What is a blessing?
It is necessary to start from the philosophical side, understandable to any believer. We come to the temple to gain a constant connection with the Lord. It appears at the level of the heart. A person feels it as a unity with the Holy Spirit. Every action of a believer is aimed at acquiring this grace. In this sense, fellowship with those who serve the Lord is beneficial. Blessing is a special prayer. The father pronounces it for the one who asks. The text, as a rule, depends on the appeal of the person himself. That is why it is desirable to understand how to ask for blessings from the priest. After all, you can express your need in a general phrase, or specify it. The priest is responsible for his prayer. This means that he needs to understand the speaker. People often do not think about this side of the issue. Here pride is manifested, that is, confidence in one's own wisdom and rightness. But real religiosity lies in trust in the Lord. It also manifests itself when a parishioner asks for a blessing from the priest. Let's look at these points in more detail.
The meaning of tradition
Trying to figure out how to properly ask for blessings from the priest, you need to look into your soul. Why do you want the priest to pray for you? How can you describe the intention? The matter is not simple. After all, some need support, others need self-confidence, and others want to receive the help of the Lord. And these are different things. The believer always directs his labors towards the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. As Seraphim of Sarov taught, this must be done constantly. After all, the Holy Spirit is like earthly riches, only it is not material, therefore it is eternal. Accumulating this goodness, we create for ourselves "heavenly capital", which is more valuable than anything in the world. When we ask the priest for a blessing,we thereby express our intention to direct our labors towards the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, that is, we designate the true goal of our activity. For example, many are interested in how to ask the priest for a blessing for a trip or a new job. The technique of the process is described below. It's not about her. To come to the idea of addressing a clergyman, you need to realize a simple thing. What we are about to undertake is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, that is, it is done for the sake of gaining grace. The goal of any activity of a believer is to become closer to the Lord, to take one more step along this road. And he devotes any business to God. Perhaps this is how the spiritual part of the answer to the question of how to ask for blessings from the priest should be formulated. Without deep reflection, the tradition itself loses its meaning. But there is another side to the problem.
On humility
Let's discuss why ask for blessings from the priest. Some say that this is customary in their parish, others try to explain how this will help in carrying out the intended work. However, the essence of the tradition is much deeper. The same Seraphim of Sarov often drew the attention of believers to such a sin as pride. We need to understand that all our abilities and talents are from God. Probably, we are gaining skills and experience ourselves, but only with his blessing. When we take on a new occupation, we try to rely on existing qualities. And this is not entirely correct, or rather, they should not be put at the forefront. Our first hope is the Lord. He will allow - a person will cope with his task, will be against it - everything will fail, no matter how talented he may be. The clergy develop this theme duringsermons, the saints spoke about it. To forget the Lord, to rely only on one's own skills and abilities, is to show pride. It is not good for a believer to do this. Jesus spoke about humility. The Lord has measured out his own path for each, it should be accepted and passed. That is why they ask for the blessing of the priest, it is a kind of demonstration of spiritual humility. But only this feeling should be distinguished from devotion or respect for the clergyman himself. They have nothing in common. Through the prayer of the priest comes grace from the Lord. He is only an intermediary in these complex relationships. And even to accept his help means to show sincere humility.
About responsibility
In church literature it is written that blessing is a gift and an expression of Divine love. There are two participants in the process itself. Think for yourself why you need to ask for a blessing from the priest, what is its meaning, if you do not talk about your business? You need to understand: the one who gives the gift has a great responsibility before the Lord. The Father acts on His behalf. And how should he think, if the parishioner does not name the reason for the request, how to bless God knows for what? The priest is also responsible for his prayer to those who ask. He gives him the go-ahead for some kind of activity, opens the way to the goal. The clergy themselves describe their responsibility in different ways. Some say that it is not necessary to designate a target. This is practiced when the priest knows a member of the flock well. He is sure that he will not think of anything bad. If you are not yetestablished a trusting relationship with the clergyman, it is better to indicate the reason, at the same time you will understand what things you can ask the blessing of the priest for. Although the last question can be called empty. Batiushka will not refuse to talk, he will try to help deal with plans. But he does not always bless.
Practical questions
We've sorted out the philosophy a bit. But this is still not quite the answer to the question of how to ask for blessings from the priest. People are interested in practice, that is, when to approach, what to say, and so on. We'll figure that out as well. The first thing to remember is that you don't need to tear a clergyman away from his work. Wait until the person is free. On the one hand, courtesy is necessary in this, as in any other communication, on the other hand, this is a serious event, although it takes a little time. If you see that the priest is free, then calmly head towards him. Take your time, give him time to notice you. In the meantime, think again about whether it is possible to ask the blessing of the priest in your particular situation. If you are not sure, just ask the clergyman a question on this topic. For example, there is no doubt that a new job, travel, marriage, matchmaking, childbirth, study are good deeds. The priest, as a rule, does not refuse their blessing. But is it worth asking to pray for a party, for example? Does it make sense for the priest to bless for entertainment? The last two sentences are not statements, they are questions. People's situations are different. They need to be thought about. Another example: suppose youIf you don’t want to have an operation for which there are all medical indications, how can you ask the priest’s blessing for refusal? Will he give it? After all, the responsibility is very great! In each specific case, it is necessary to understand in detail, preferably with the confessor himself.
What to do and say?
One more thing to remember: look at yourself in the mirror when you go to the temple. You must dress modestly. This does not mean the absence of cosmetics or jewelry, if you are used to both. Clothing should show your state of humility and modesty, that is, be decent, not defiant. A rule that is now considered unnecessary … However, the internal state is always reflected outside, including in outfits. Approaching the priest, bow, stretch out your hands clasped together, palms up. At the same time, it is necessary to say this: "Father, bless on …". That is all that is required of the believer. The priest will appreciate your request. No matter how quickly he reacts, this person never forgets from responsibility. If the request seems normal to him, he will cross his hands, folding his fingers in a special way. His answer is: "God bless you." This is a short prayer for just such an occasion. Sometimes the priest calls on God: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Prayer may be different, appropriate for your case. Listen carefully and humbly.
What to do next?
Traditional communication doesn't end there. The priest blesses the person with a prayer and a hand (baptizes). Further it is necessary to show himgratitude. It is customary to take his hand in yours and kiss it. For people who rarely go to the temple, such behavior can be disconcerting. Be sure to listen to your feelings. If there is discontent inside that you need to kiss your hand, then pride speaks louder than conscience. One conclusion follows from this: we must pray for humility. Apparently, you are not yet ready to receive the blessing of the Lord. In fact, this is a rather serious moment. Monks, for example, ask for blessings for almost every deed. These people decided to work with their souls, to go to the Lord with all their might. They need to take an example from them. When you talk to a priest, you should see him as a messenger of the Lord, and not an ordinary person. He also conveys to you the highest value that we can receive on earth - the gift of Divine love. By the way, sometimes the priest asks about the details of the case for which you are asking for a blessing. Need to tell. He is not interested out of curiosity - as already mentioned, he has a great responsibility.
How to ask for blessings from the father for childbirth?
There are women who are desperately afraid of the upcoming sacrament of the birth of a baby. Funny, is not it? Where will the baby go if mom doesn't let him out? Being nervous in such a situation is not only unproductive, but also dangerous. That is why women go to the temple, asking the priest for blessings. It calms and sets in a constructive way. Everything must be done as described above. Just remember the modesty and sincerity of faith. To be afraid of childbirth is to show unbelief,refuse the Lord. He has already blessed you to conceive, even if you didn't ask. Without His will, nothing happens in this world. When you turn to the priest, he answers with a special prayer for a favorable permission. It turns out that the woman is no longer alone in her care, but together with the Lord. It helps a lot. It’s good to put candles for he alth, yours and your baby. And nothing that he has not been baptized yet. The Lord will still support His child. And when the father blessed, you need to throw away your fears. Prayer helps believers. Women are recommended to see how much time and effort they spend on experiences, and devote it to turning to the Lord or the Virgin. All the same, you are not doing anything productive, so it is better to pray, casting aside pride. So it will become easier, and the child inside will stop worrying, feeling mother's fears.
Why dream of asking for a blessing from the priest?
The soul of a person always aspires to the Lord, even if his ego resists. Sometimes she gives some signs in a dream, pushing for reflection. If you were not going to the temple, then the plot with the priest hints at the need to consult with your conscience. It is no secret that we sometimes do not the most moral deeds, they harm others. Someone is offended, another is angry, the third is angry, as a result, we try to break loose on relatives or colleagues. A pure soul in dreams suggests that this is not necessary. When you harm another, you worry yourself. The priest in night vision is a sign of a conscience that fears suffering. She does not whisper in this way, but already screams that it is time to reevaluate her behavior,change your attitude towards a problem or a person. Who or what exactly is being discussed - you have to figure it out on your own. But such a dream cannot be missed. Be sure to reflect on its meaning. Sometimes it has a different purpose. The Lord, through sleep, tells you what to do in the near future. Remember what you wanted to receive a blessing for. Make this your main concern.
Conclusion and advice
You know, sometimes it can be so difficult to understand yourself, to understand what is important and what you need to give up… This is the most common state for a person. But to remain at a loss for life is to waste it in vain. Probably, this is the very case when it is necessary as an air blessing. After all, our first task is to understand why they appeared in the world, how to make it better in the name of the Lord. What do you think? You never asked for a blessing from the priest, here is a reason for you to get your first experience. It is all the more useful for those who strive to go to the Lord, to acquire the Holy Spirit. Believe me, you should not look for information on the Internet about how and what to do, but talk with a spiritual mentor about it. And do not think that the priest will not understand or refuse to listen. The flock is his most important concern on earth. Be sure to listen and help, prompt, advise.
