Blessing of the Christ Child

You are warmly invited to bring the Baby Jesus figure from your home Nativity scene to Mass next weekend —either Saturday 5.30pm or Sunday 9am— for a special blessing.

This custom began under Pope St John Paul II, when children in Rome would bring their bambinelli (Baby Jesus figure) to St Peter’s Square on Gaudete Sunday to be blessed by the Holy Father.

After the blessing, families would take the little figure home, place it in a box, and keep it hidden until Christmas Eve—opening it as the first “gift” of Christmas and placing the blessed Christ Child lovingly in the manger.

May these simple but beautiful practices help us keep Christ at the heart of our preparations, and open our homes and hearts to His coming.