May 11 2009

Bless You

Published by at 10:02 am under Blog

St Andrew's Church, Westland RowAs 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?

8 responses so far

8 Responses to “Bless You”

  1. Gerard Cunninghamon 11 May 2009 at 1:11 pm

    FWIW my parents still bless themselves whenever they pass a church, so it’s not unknown.

  2. Robon 12 May 2009 at 9:50 am

    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…

  3. Darrenon 12 May 2009 at 11:19 am

    @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?

  4. Robon 12 May 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Yep, a habit of being a little superstitious I think!

  5. Le Nordon 14 May 2009 at 8:30 am

    My Dad does but then again he still considers himself a practicing Catholic. I thought it was mainly due to superstition myself

  6. John Braineon 28 May 2009 at 10:45 pm

    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,

  7. Ciaraon 29 May 2009 at 9:22 am

    I always bless myself and I go to mass still… am I alone?

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