I have written about the spirituality of mountain climbing before, for which Pope John Paul II has a beautiful reflection, posted here. Recently a friend brought to my attention an official Catholic prayer for the blessing of tools for rock climbing, approved by Pope Pius XI. Here the Church recognizes the spiritual dimension of our activities among other things, and how rock climbing can serve as a metaphor for the Christian life. Thanks to Mary for the link. Below the blessing:
BLESSING OF TOOLS FOR SCALING MOUNTAINS(Approved by Pope Pius XI on October 14, 1931)P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.Let us pray.
Lord, we beg you to bless + these ropes, staves, mattocks, and
these other tools, so that all who will use them in scaling the
mountains’ heights and precipices, in ice and snow and raging
storms, may be preserved from all accidents and catastrophe,
safely reach the summits, and return unharmed to their homes;
through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.Let us pray.
Protect these servants of yours, O Lord, by the prayers of St.
Bernard, whom you have made patron of mountain dwellers and
travelers; and grant that along with scaling these heights they
may also reach that mountain which is Christ; through the same
Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.They are sprinkled with holy water.
Creatio 