May 11 2009
Bless You
As I wandered past St. Andrew’s Church on Westland Row this morning, a guy walking in the opposite direction blessed himself as he strolled by the entrance. It’s something I haven’t seen in some time.
When I was younger my Granny always blessed herself whenever she passed a church, graveyard or anything remotely religious. My dad still does some bastardised version of a blessing as he drives by the graveyard down home (it looks more like he’s swatting a fly from his chin). I have seen the elderly do this on occasion but it’s a rarity these days.
I’m not religious at all, but even as a child I thought this an odd thing. I remember being in the back seat of the car and being told to bless myself. I could never grasp the whys of it.
So, do people still do this, do people still practise this ritual?
FWIW my parents still bless themselves whenever they pass a church, so it’s not unknown.
I actually do this myself…mainly if I walk past a church. Though I’ve been known to bless myself before flying too. It’s more superstition for me though, I wouldn’t be terribly religious…
@Gerard I was about to say, it’s not unknown amongst older people, but not seen in younger people – then Rob made his comment.
@Rob So, it’s habit more than anything?
Yep, a habit of being a little superstitious I think!
My Dad does but then again he still considers himself a practicing Catholic. I thought it was mainly due to superstition myself
i was an extra in the funeral scene of the veronica guerin movie. A gang of oul ones stopped Joel Schumacher and asked him should they bless themselves s the coffin went by. Yes yes of course he said – but the clearly hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. Much like the rest of his direction. Miaiow.
p.s. Your post title reminds me that when people sneeze I sometimes feel rude for not saying anything. I’ll never say ‘bless you’ but sometimes I might manage a gazoontite,
I always bless myself and I go to mass still… am I alone?