Holy Apostles

Anglican
Church

Blessing of
 a Home
The leader may use these or similar words to introduce the
house blessing:

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, and transformed by his Holy Spirit,
let those who dwell here seek to make their
home before all else a dwelling place of love,
diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People And with your spirit.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, grant to this
home the grace of your presence, that you
may be known to be the inhabitant of this
dwelling, and the defender of this household;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 6:25-33
Reader The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord
Christ.

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When appropriate, the Celebrant then says the following
invocation
Let the mighty power of the Holy God be
present in this place to banish from it every
unclean spirit, to cleanse it from every residue
of evil, and to make it a secure habitation for
those who dwell in it; in the Name of Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
At the Entrance
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, says the
Lord. If you hear my voice and open the door, I
will come into the house, and eat with you, and
you with me.1
V. The Lord shall watch over your going out
and your coming in:
R. From this time forth for evermore.
Let us pray.
Sovereign Lord, you are Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end: Send your servants out
from this place on many errands, be their
constant companion in the way, and welcome
them upon their return, so that coming and
going they may be sustained by your presence,
O Christ our Lord. Amen.
In a Bedroom
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us
sleeping, that awake we may watch with
Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.2
V. I lie down and go to sleep:
R. I wake again, because the Lord sustains
me.

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Let us pray.
O God of life and love, the true rest of your
people: Sanctify to your servants their hours of
rest and refreshment, their sleeping and their
waking; and grant that, strengthened by the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they may rise to
serve you all the days of their life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In a Child’s Room
Jesus said, Let the
children come to me, and
do not hinder them; for to
those like them belongs
the kingdom of heaven. 3
V. Praise the Lord, you
children of the Lord:
R. Praise the Name of the Lord.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, your Son our Savior took
young children into his arms and blessed them:
Embrace the child whose room this is with your
unfailing love, protect him from all danger, and
bring him in safety to each new day, until he
greets with joy the great day of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In a Guest Room
Do not neglect to show hospitality, for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares.4
V. Open your homes to each other without
complaining:

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R. Use the gifts you have received from
God for the good of others.
Let us pray.
Loving God, you have taught us to welcome
one another as Christ welcomed us: Bless
those who from time to time share the
hospitality of this home. May your fatherly care
shield them, the love of your dear Son preserve
them from all evil, and the guidance of your
Holy Spirit keep them in the way that leads to
eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

In a Bathroom
I will sprinkle you with clean
water, and you will be cleansed.5
V. Let us hold fast the confession
of our hope without wavering:
R. Having our bodies washed with pure
water.
Let us pray.
O holy God, in the incarnation of your Son our
Lord you made our flesh the instrument of your
self-revelation: Give us a proper respect and
reverence for our mortal bodies, keeping them
clean and fair, whole and sound; that,
glorifying you in them, we may confidently
await our being clothed upon with spiritual
bodies, when that which is mortal is
transformed by life; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

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In a Workroom or Workshop
Many there are who rely upon their hands and
are skillful in their own work.
V. Prosper, O Lord, the work of our hands:
R. Prosper our handiwork.
Let us pray.
O God, your blessed Son
worked with his hands in the
carpenter shop in Nazareth: Be
present, we pray, with those
who work in this place, that,
laboring as workers together
with you, they may share the
joy of your creation; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.

In a Study, Library, or Den

Teach us, O Lord, where wisdom is to be found,
and show us the place of understanding.6
V. Seek the Lord your God, and you will find
him:
R. Search for him with all your heart and with
all your soul.
Let us pray.
O God of truth, eternal ground
of all that is, beyond space and
time yet within them,
transcending all things yet
pervading them: Show yourself
to us, for we go about in ignorance; reveal

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yourself to us, for it is you that we seek, O
Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
In the Kitchen
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and
praise the Name of the Lord your God, who has
dealt wondrously with you.7
V. The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord:
R. And you give them their food in due
season.
Let us pray.
O Lord our God, you supply every
need of ours according to your
great riches: Bless the hands
that work in this place, and give
us grateful hearts for daily bread;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

In a Dining Room or Area

The living God gave you from heaven rain and
fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with
food and gladness.8
V. He brings forth food from the
earth, and wine to gladden our
hearts:
R. Oil to make a cheerful
countenance, and bread to
strengthen the heart.

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Let us pray.
Blessed are you, O
Lord, King of the
universe, for you give
us food and drink to
sustain our lives: Make
us grateful for all your
mercies, and mindful of
the needs of others;
through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

In the Living Room or Family Room

Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when God’s
people live together in unity!9
V. Above everything, love one another
earnestly:
R. For love covers many sins.
Give your blessing, Lord, to all who share this
room, that they may be knit together in
fellowship here on earth, and joined with the
communion of your saints in heaven; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
When the procession has returned to the living room,
the Celebrant completes the blessing of the home as
follows:
The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the
result of righteousness tranquility and trust for
ever. My people will abide in secure dwellings
and in quiet resting places.10

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V. Unless the Lord builds the house:
R. Their labor is in vain who build it.
Let us pray.
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the
gladness of your presence. Bless all who live
here with the gift of your love; and grant that
they may manifest your love [to each other
and] to all whose lives they touch. May they
grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of
you; guide, comfort, and strengthen them; and
preserve them in peace, O Jesus Christ, now
and for ever. Amen.
The Celebrant then says to the people
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Holy water or anointing oil, or both, may be used as part
of blessing each room. If water is to be blessed, the
following form may be used. If water is used, it is
sprinkled in each room (preferably in the corners) from a
small sprig of evergreen, basil, or other aspergil in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit by one of the leaders, a member of the family, or a
friend immediately following each prayer. When oil is
used, it is sparsely placed above the lintel of each door
and window, including closets in the sign of the cross
dedicating each space and portal to uses according to
the will of God in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Form of Blessing the Holy Water

The Exorcism of the Elements
I exorcise thee, creature of salt, by the living +
GOD, by the true + GOD, by the holy + GOD,
by the GOD Who by the prophet Elijah,
commanded thee + to be cast into the water
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that the barrenness of the water might be
healed, that thou mightest be salt exorcised for
the spiritual health of believers, and be to all
who take thee health of soul and body, that all
delusion and wickedness, or crafty deceit of
the devil, and every unclean spirit, may flee
and depart from the place in which thou art
sprinkled, adjured by Him, Who will judge the
quick and the dead and the world by fire.
Amen.
Benediction of the Salt.
Almighty and Everlasting GOD, we implore Thy
great mercy, that Thou wouldest deign of Thy
lovingkindness to bless + and sancti+fy this
creature of salt which Thou hast given for the
use of the human race, that it may be to all
who take it health of mind and body, that
whatever is touched or sprinkled by it may be
freed from all uncleanness and may be
defended from all attacks of ghostly
wickedness, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Amen.
Exorcism of the Water.
I exorcise thee, creature of water, in the Name
of GOD the father Almighty, and in the Name of
JESUS CHRIST His son our LORD, and in the
virtue of the holy ghost, to become water
exorcised to chase away all power of the
enemy, and to be able to uproot and overthrow
the enemy himself and his apostate angels; by
the virtue of the same LORD JESUS CHRIST
Who will come to judge the quick and dead and
the world by fire. Amen.
Benediction of the Water.
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GOD, Who for the salvation of the human race,
hast hidden even Thy greatest Sacraments in
the substance of water; mercifully hear our
supplications, and pour upon this element,
prepared by divers purifications, the virtue of
Thy Bless+ing, that Thy creature obeying Thee
in Thy mysteries, may by divine grace be
effectual for casting out devils and for driving
away diseases, that whatever in the houses or
places of the faithful this water has sprinkled,
may be cleansed from all uncleanness, and be
freed from bale, that there the breath of
pestilence, and the destroying blast shall not
abide; that all snares of the enemy who lies in
wait may be dispersed, and that whatsoever
does despite to the safety and quietness of Thy
servants may flee by the sprinkling of this
water, that health may be fought by the
invocation of Thy Holy Name, and may be
defended from all assaults, through our LORD
JESUS CHRIST. R. Amen.
Then shall the Consecrator cast the salt into the water,
and shall say,
This mixture of salt and water together is done
in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON,
and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.
Then shall follow the Benediction of Salt and Water.
V. The LORD be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Almighty GOD, the Author of victorious
power, King of all kings, magnificent
conqueror, Who crushest the strength of

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adverse rule, Who overcomest the bondage of
the enemy, Who vanquishest all hostile
wickedness; suppliant arid trembling we
beseech and implore Thee, O LORD, mercifully
to accept this creature of salt and water, and of
Thy lovingkindness to illuminate and sancti+fy
it with the dew of Thy blessing, that wherever
it shall be sprinkled, by the invocation of Thy
Holy Name, all malice of the unclean spirit may
be driven away, and the terror of the
venomous serpent be chased far hence, and
that the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT may be
vouchsafed to us in every place when we ask
Him of Thy tender mercy, through our LORD
JESUS CHRIST Thy SON, Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same
Spirit, one GOD world without end. Amen.

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1
Revelation 3:20
2
Antiphon for Compline, BCP 134
3
Matthew 19:14
4
Hebrews 13:2
5
Ezekiel 36:25
6
Job 28:12
7
Joel 2:26
8
Acts 14:17
9
Psalm 133:1
10
Isaiah 32:17