What is the purpose of blessing school bags at the start of the school year?

The bell rang and announced the end of the summer holidays. At the beginning of September, children returned to school. On this occasion, some parishes and private establishments invite students to come and have their schoolbags blessed.

Celebrating the joy of back to school

The blessing of school bags is a recent tradition that invites everyone to entrust this new school year to God. While each priest and deacon are free to decide how they wish, several steps are generally followed.

At the beginning of the blessing, the priest or deacon addresses the Lord, “source of blessing” so that he may bless the children gathered together, their families and the entire teaching community.

A few words on the meaning of this blessing and the momentum it gives can help schoolchildren to better understand the process and feel involved in it.

Children can also speak and recite a prayer: “I promise to pray every day and to make efforts during this school year, in order to give the best of myself” or “Lord pour your blessing on these schoolbags and make all those who will use them with love and courage, receive from You the intelligence and the strength to work for your glory”.

Etymologically (say well, in latin, barak, in Hebrew), to bless means “to say good.” The blessing is a sign of the Lord’s joy and love, as an encouragement to embark on this new year with confidence and serenity. Like the schoolbag that accompanies the schoolchild throughout his school year, Christ invites himself to his side. This blessing recalls the presence of Christ in the daily lives of the faithful, even on school benches.

Opening the doors of the church to as many people as possible

This blessing is also a special moment to welcome new catechumens. The parish opens its doors to those who would not have dared to cross the church square and encourages the missionary spirit of the most faithful… even in the playground.