Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb now available

Following Vatican approval announced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the Feast of the Annunciation, the “Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb” is now ready for use in the dioceses of the United States. It is posted online and is being published as a booklet addendum to the Book of Blessings/Bendicional. The blessing will be included in future editions of those liturgical volumes.

The blessing can be offered within the context of the Mass as well as outside of Mass.

The Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb may be ordered through USCCB Publishing as a 43-page bi-lingual booklet: item no. 7-316. You should be able to place orders soon at www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?sku=7-316.

For parishes planning to use the blessing this Mother’s Day, the color PDF may also be downloaded at www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/prayers/pro-life-blessings.cfm.

The blessing originated when then-Bishop Joseph Kurtz of Knoxville, Tennessee (now archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky) asked the other members of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities whether a blessing existed for a child in the womb. When none was found, the committee prepared a text and submitted it to the USCCB's Divine Worship committee in March of 2008. It was approved by the full body of bishops in November 2008, and then sent to Rome for editing and final approval.