prayer of blessing

A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched; a lay minister says the prayer with the hands joined.

Lord,

be close to your servants who move into this home (today) and ask for your blessing.

Be their shelter when they are at home, their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they return. And at last receive them into the dwelling place you have prepared for them in your Father’s house, where you live for ever and ever. R. Amen.

After the prayer of blessing, the minister sprinkles those present and the new home with holy water and, as circumstances suggest, during the sprinkling may say:

Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ, who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.

℟. Amen.