Churching remains a uniquely female way of giving thanksgiving to God for the birth of a child, and predisposes her, through the priestly blessing, to receive the grace necessary to raise her child in a manner pleasing to God.
It is important to note that Churching is not a rite of 'purification', and though it is modeled within the lectionary on the 'Feast of the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin' (2 February), there is in no way a canon law of there being any 'uncleanness' on the part of the new mother.
Let us therefore focus on thanksgiving and asking for God blessing, and take advantage of this beautiful ceremony.
