A very long-standing custom in the Church is the blessing of the Easter basket of food stemming from the Lenten observance of fasting from meat, dairy and eggs and other food associated with these items. Still today, we fast from meat on Fridays in Lent and frequently you'll encounter some observing a special fast during the sacred Three Days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The Church filled with joy at the announcement of Christ's Resurrection from the dead brings with a new joy to our hearts, minds and bodies. As an old Slovenian saying goes, a blessing comes through the stomach! Today, Father Milan blessed the Easter food of Saint Rose of Lima Church (Newtown, CT).
The Order of Blessing of Easter Food
All make the sign of the cross
Priest/Deacon: For our sake Christ became obedient, accepting even death, death on a cross. Therefore God raised him on high and gave him the name above all other names. Blessed be God for ever.
R. Blessed be God for ever.
Priest/Deacon: Throughout Lent we have been preparing for the resurrection of the Lord by prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Our Lenten fasting is a reminder of our hunger and thirst for holiness which is satisfied only by Christ who feeds and nourishes us by His word and sacraments. When we gather at our first meal of Easter may this food be a sign for us of that heavenly banquet to which the Lord calls us.
Read Deuteronomy 16:1-8 or John 6:1-14 and Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6,10,12-4,24,35.
Intercessions
The Son of God who invites us to the Paschal feast stands ready to help. Let us call upon Him in our need.
R. Lord, prepare us for the feast of life.
That Easter may find us cleansed of sin and ready to live anew our Christian faith, we pray to the Lord. R.
That the bread we share may be a reminder of the Bread of Life we share in the Eucharist, we pray to the Lord. R.
That we may be ready to give from our table to those who hunger and thirst, we pray to the Lord. R.
That we may one day enjoy the banquet of the Lord in the heavenly Kingdom, we pray to the Lord. R.
Priest/Deacon: Christ taught us to pray for our daily bread and so we dare to say:
Our Father...
Prayer of Blessing
God of glory, the eyes of all turn to You as we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death. Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord's table continue to celebrate the joy of his resurrection and be admitted finally to His heavenly banquet. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
May Christ always nourish you and strengthen you in faith and love, now and for ever.
R. Amen.
And may almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
The priest sprinkles the food and the people with holy water.
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