Rogations Days: Blessing of Fields & Gardens

In the Catholic Household Book of Blessings and Prayers, a rite of blessing fields and gardens is provided. As our weather begins to shift to a growing season and farmers prepare the land for planting, this blessing is appropriate. In the spring of 470 in France, the weather was terrible and threatened to destroy the crops. This meant starvation would follow. The Bishop of Vienna introduced the Rogation Days. Traditionally, these days were celebrated on the three days before the Solemnity of the Ascension. Today, they can be celebrated at any time when it is appropriate to ask that gardens, fields, and orchards be blessed during the coming season.

 The word Rogation comes from the Latin word rogare, meaning to ask or to make supplication. In everything we do, we should seek to begin it with God and conclude it with God. The practice of praying and blessing of fields and gardens can be rich for us. In this season, when we are beginning to put gardens and plant fields, we turn to God in thanksgiving and to ask for blessings. In our prayer, we express our recognition of God, who is the creator of all things. God expresses his love to us and entrusts us to care for nature through our human labor so that we can provide for common human needs.

 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth … God said, "Let the earth bring forth vegetation" Gen 1:1,11. The Lord provided from the beginning. Our prayers of supplication, asking for blessings for our fields and gardens, are our focus on God as the giver of all. In the Rogation days and the blessings of fields and gardens, we are asking God for a bountiful fruit. At the same time, we are invited through our prayer to seek first the kingdom of God over us, and his way of holiness.

 May God, source of every good, 

bless us and give success to our work,

that we may receive the joy of his gifts

and praise his name now and forever. 

Amen. 

 Jesus thy kingdom come!  In my heart through Mary!  -Fr. Gabriel