Catholic Prayer: Roman Ritual: Blessing of All Kinds of Fruit Trees and Vines
Description:
From the older Roman Ritual comes the blessing of fruit trees and vines. This was originally in The Rural Life Prayerbook.
On February 6 it has been a tradition to bless fruit trees in honor of St. Dorothy.
Prayer:
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
We beg You in Your goodness, almighty God, to pour the showers of Your blessing upon these newly budding trees and vines which You have made, and which You have been so kind as to nourish with temperate weather and sufficient rain. Bring the fruits of Your earth to full ripeness. Grant, too, that Your people may always give You thanks for Your gifts, so that You may fill them that are hungry with the fruits of a fertile land and that the poor and the needy may praise the glory of Your name, through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
(And they are sprinkled with holy water.)
Prayer Source: Rural Life Prayerbook by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J., National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 ncrlc.com, 1956