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Catholics/House Blessing after Suicide
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Question
Father Johnson,
My husband took his own life by carbon monoxide in our garage the week before Christmas, just seven weeks ago. He had been battling depression and alcoholism for many years.
FYI, I was baptized Catholic as a baby but was never confirmed and do not practice now. However, for the past year I have been reading the Bible and feeling God working in my heart.
I am currently staying with my parents. I want to have my house blessed before I move back in, but most of what I've seen online about Catholic house blessings have more to do with family togetherness and so forth. We have no children, so I am now a single woman. In other words, there will be no togetherness in this house anytime soon.
Really what I want is for the Holy Spirit to be invited to dwell there and for any lingering negative spirits or energies to be cast away. My husband had experimented with some Crowley magic rituals when he was young and sometimes wondered if he had opened a door to negative spirits, and never closed it.
I don't know if I really believe in demons, but I think better safe than sorry.
My question is, are priests able to change the language and prayers in a house blessing to be appropriate to my situation and my reasons for wanting this blessing?
Also, what is a typical compensation for this kind of service? Does it go directly to the priest? His parish?
Thank you,
Jen
Hi, Jen:
Thanks for the question.
I am very sorry to hear that your husband took his life back before Christmas... this must have been, and still probably is, quite a traumatic shock for you! Pray that God may have mercy on his soul, and that in some way he was really sorry at the end of his life, and maybe was not completely free in his act due to mental disturbance.
I think that you ought to see about getting back into the practice of your Catholic Faith, which would include making a real good, thorough sacramental Confession to a Catholic Priest; then start attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion; and go through the process you need to receive Confirmation.
It sounds to me that you might wish to have a prayer of "Exorcism Over a Place" first, and then have a more general house blessing. I hope that you find a Priest that will take your request seriously and not be dismissive of it. Don't give up finding a good Priest to help you, no matter how many you have to ask.
I suppose that a "stole-fee" of maybe $10 to $20 would be a reasonable and acceptable offering. The Priest would have to let you know the policy of whether the fee goes directly to him or to his Parish, because this can differ from place-to-place.
I wish you the very best!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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