How I got rosaries blessed in Vatican City!
 

One of the things that was on my list of things to do on my trip to Italy was to buy rosaries for my grandchildren and have them blessed. I figured that Rome would be the best place to make that happen.

Thursday, May 5, my group took a Scavi Tour that was enjoyed by all. This was just a few days after the Beatification of John Paul II and there was still a lot of activity in and around Vatican City. The shops in and around St. Peter's were very crowded.

After a visit to the Vatican Post office for the obligatory mailing of Post cards, I was able to purchase the rosaries there. Step One....check. Now to get them blessed.

While standing outside the post office, waiting for friends to complete their purchases, I spot a priest in his long cassock walking toward us. Without thinking, I walked up to him with the rosaries in my hands and said "Padre, per favore, benedire?" He seemed surprised at being "accosted" by this strange lady, but complied. I thanked him profusely and he walked on.

It was then that I noticed that he did not have on a black cassock, but a red one! I had waylaid a CARDINAL to bless my rosaries!! Nothing like getting things up right!!

This was just the first of my "cheeky" actions while in Italy. My motto is "You'll never know unless you try". This got me shot down a few times, but turned out quite well most of the others.

How exciting for you!

Lol, lesvince, a good Italian friend in Italy always says "it cost nothing to ask", so true as you found out.

You can get any devotional articles blessed (so long as you can carry them!) at the end of the general audience by the Pope most Wednesday mornings. Audiences take place in the piazza outside St Peter's in warmer weather, indoors in the audience hall in winter. Tickets from Santa Susanna church, Bishops' Office for North American Visitors, or directly from Office of Papal Household.
And if you aren't too concerned about who does it, stop any priest, but remember not all in clerical dress are priests, there are also unordained brothers and seminarians!

We were not able to go to the general audience on Wednesday, so cornering the Cardinal was the next best thing. Only a step below the Pope!! We even looked him up online to see who did the blessing for me.

interesting story. Your motto is very true. Stick to it and will not go wrong :)

Good for you! And at the peak of Pope John Paul's beatification at that! May your grandchildren be blessed and guided with those rosaries. :)

@jh2011, Thank you for your good wishes. The rosaries will be presented at each child's First Communion along with the story of how they got their special blessing.

Later in Venice, I purchased a beautiful Murano glass rosary for my godchild's Confirmation. I got it blessed by asking the priest in the beautiful church of Santa Maria Della Salute. Before Mass, he was walking around talking to his parishoners, and I asked for a blessing. He smiled and graciously obliged. (another of my "you never know, unless you try" moments)