Gather as a family (roommates, friends, relatives) in any room you desire, with a crucifix present if possible. Yes, you can--and are encouraged to--bless your own home/apartment/condo/dorm room even if a priest isn't available!

Leader:                 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
All:                          Amen
 
Leader:                 When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence. May he always be here among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, comfort us in our sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, let us seek to make our home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.
 
Reader:              A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.
You are God's chosen race, his saints; He loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.  Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; And never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The word of the Lord.
All:                          Thanks be to God.

After the scripture reading, all go from room to room, offering prayers of intercession and sprinkling holy water, if desired. Some of the following prayers may be used.
 
At the entrance:
Leader:                 O God, protect our going out and our coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:                          Amen.
 
In the living room:
Leader:                 O God, give your blessings to all who share this room that we may be knit together in companionship. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:                          Amen.
 
In the kitchen:
Leader:                 O God, you fill the hungry with good things. Send your blessing on us, as we work in this kitchen, and make us ever thankful for our daily bread. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:                          Amen.
 
 
In the dining room:
Leader:                 Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Help us to be grateful for all your mercies, and mindful of the needs of others. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:                          Amen.
 
In the bedrooms:
Leader:                 Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in his peace. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
All:                          Amen.

In the bathroom:
Leader:                 Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. You formed us in wisdom and love. Refresh us in body and in spirit, and keep us in good health that we might serve you. Grant this through Christ our Lord
All:                          Amen.

Leader:                 Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Al:                           Our Father…

Leader:                 Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return. and at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your Father's house, where you live for ever and ever.
All:                          Amen.

All make the sign of the cross as the leader concludes:
 
Leader:                 May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and may the word of Christ in all its richness
dwell in us, so that whatever we do in word and in work, we will do in the name of the Lord.
All:                          Amen.

Gracious Father, your Word, spoken in love, created the human family and, in the fullness of time, your son, conceived in love, restored it to your friendship. Hear the prayers of (NAME), and (NAME), Who await the birth of their child. Calm their fears when they are anxious. Watch over and support these parents and bring their child into this world safely and in good health, so that as members of your family they may praise you and glorify you through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. - Amen.
 

We know that God’s grace is a constant need for everyone at all times.  Yet no one can doubt that members of Christ faithful have special need of that grace when they are preparing to form a new family.  And so, let us ask God’s blessing upon our brother (name) and sister (name), that they may grow in Mutual respect, love each other more deeply, and approach the celebration of holy Matrimony chastely through appropriate companionship and prayer together.

Lord God, wellspring of all love, (name) and (name) have met each other through your providential plan.  Mercifully grant as they seek your grace in preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, that, sustained by heavenly (+) blessings, they may grow in mutual respect and may love each other with true charity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the God of love and peace dwell within you, direct your steps, and strengthen your hearts in his love forever and ever.  Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace & blessings you have given this NAME OF COUPLE during the past______ years of marriage.   We celebrate & recall the day when they joined together as partners in life & we thank you for being with them on their daily journey together through life’s ups and downs. 

Increase their sense of belonging to each other, just as Jesus says, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh.” (Matthew 19:5,6)

We thank you that you have freely given them your presence, strength, help and hope.   We pray that they will continue to grow in their ability to work together for the good of each other, for the good of their family and for the good of the world. 

Fill them with love, forgiveness, patience and trust.   Guide them with the light of your word where it says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”  (I Corinthians 13:4-8)

Increase their sense of companionship and friendship.  Grant them the ability to laugh at their mistakes and the means to share the simple pleasures of life together.  Enable them to speak the truth in love.  Help them to be good listeners.  And grant them wisdom and a spirit of cooperation as they make your good plans together on the tough issues and challenges, they face.

Surround them with good friends and neighbors.  Protect their home.  Care for their family. Provide for their needs.  Guard their health. And may they enjoy many other anniversaries together.  In the name of Christ, we pray, Amen.

Introduction
Presider: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
All: Amen
Presider: May God, who is wonderful in all his works, be with you all.
All: And also with your Spirit.

Presider: The animals of God’s creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea.  They share in the fortunes of human existence and have a part in human life.  God, who confers his gifts on all living things, has often used the service of animals or made them symbolic reminders of the gifts of salvation.  Animals were saved from the flood and afterwards made a part of the covenant with Noah.  The paschal lamb brings to mind the Passover sacrifice and deliverance from the bondage of Egypt; a giant fish saved Jonah; ravens brought bread to Elijah; animals were included in the repentance enjoined on humans.  And animals share in Christ’s redemption of all God’s creation.  We therefore invoke the divine blessing on these animals through the intercession of St. Francis.  As we do so, let us praise the creator and thank him for setting us over other creatures of the earth.  Let us also ask him that, remembering our human dignity, we may walk always in his love.

Scripture Reading
Lector: A reading from the Bk of Gen. (1:1, 20-28)
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came, and morning followed--the fifth day. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." The word of the Lord
All:                  Thanks be to God

Reflection:

Prayers of the Faithful
Presider:       God created us and placed us on this earth to be the stewards of all living things and so to proclaim the glory of their Creator.  Let us, then, praise our God and ask him to hear our prayers.

Lector:           Blessed are you, O Lord, who created the animals and gave us the ability to train them to help us in our work.  May we always take care of these animals. We pray to the Lord
All: Lord Hear our prayer

Lector:           Blessed are you, O Lord, who for the sake of our comfort give us animals as our companions.  May we never neglect their friendships.  We pray to the Lord.
All: Lord Hear our prayer
Lector:           Blessed are you, O Lord, who show us a sign of your providence, as your Son told us, by caring for the birds of the air.  May we never doubt the love you have for all of your creation.  We pray to the Lord.
All: Lord Hear our prayer

Lector:           Blessed are you, O Lord, who offered your Son to us  as the paschal lamb and in him willed that we should all be called your children.  May we never reject the love that He has shown us.  We pray to the Lord.
All: Lord Hear our prayer

Lector:           Blessed are you, O Lord, who through your lowliest creatures never cease to draw us toward your love.  May we all grow to have a deeper respect for all your creation.  We pray to the Lord.
All: Lord Hear our prayer

Presider:  Let us take all our prayers and combine them into one as we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us.

All:      Our Father

Blessing of Animals
Presider:       O God, you have done all things wisely; in your goodness you have made us in your image and given us care over other living things. Reach out with your right hand and bless these animals.  May they be our companions on earth and join us forever in your new creation.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All:      Amen

Final Blessing:
Presider:       Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessings
May God, who created the animals of the earth for us continue to protect and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings now and forever.
All:      Amen.

Presider:       May almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:      Amen
Presider:       Go in the Peace of Christ.
All:      Thanks be to God.
 

Blessing of Backpacks
Lord, these backpacks remind us that a new school year is about to begin.  We ask your blessing upon the owners of these backpacks and upon all students young and old as they begin a new school year.   We also ask your blessing upon all who will work with and support them in their education.  May they come to discover their gifts and talents throughout this upcoming school year and learn to put them to use for your greater glory.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. - Amen
 

BLESSING OF CANDY CANES
Heavenly Father, we come before you today in great joy. We rejoice in the gift of Your only Son to us.  May these candy canes be a constant reminder to us of Your goodness.

By the white color, we are reminded of Your sinless nature and of Your birth to a young virgin;

By the red stripes, we are reminded of the scourging Your Son endured for our sins – of the blood He shed to redeem us;

By the solid hardness, we are reminded that Your Church is built on a solid rock and that You are a firm foundation;

By the shape, we are reminded of the staff of the shepherds – the first people to see Your Son laying in a manger;

By the sweet taste, we are reminded of Your constant love for us.

We ask You now to bless + these candy canes. May they be for those who taste them yet another way to experience your joy in their hearts.

We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  R.        Amen.

BLESSING OF NATIVITY SET
Leader:          God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love.

Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Savior of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever.  -  Amen.