BLESSING, or BENEDICTION. The expression of wishing one well soon gave rise, in early ages, to a solemn act, accom panied by symbolic signs; this was the bless ing or benediction which is coeval with the earliest expression of religious feeling. In patriarchal times, as among primitive races, when the authority of the head of a family included that of the priest and the civil ruler, the blessing of course appertained chiefly to him, on account of his venerable character, and when the priests began to form a separate class, became, in certain cases; a prerogative of theirs. As the authority of the father, in the infancy of every nation, is extremely great, the idea soon sprang up that his prayers, invoking the favor of the Deity, were more effectual than those of others, and that what ever he blessed would be likely to receive the favor of God. The same importance was soon attributed to blessings conferred by a priest. The heathen, the Jews, and many Christian sects, have cherished this belief. By the Jewish institutions, certain benedictions were reserved to the priest and among the Hebrews the blessing of food came in later times to be a giving of thanks. In the Roman Catholic Church different benedictions are appropriated to different degrees of the clergy. The bishops alone can confer those benedictions which are connected with ,unction, and are called con secrations, as, for instance, the consecration of kings and queens, of the cup and Patera, the church and altar. To them also is confined
the benediction of abbots and abbesses, of knights and the holy oil. For the benediction of the holy vestments, etc., they may employ a substitute. Every Roman Catholic clergyman may confer the benediction on the occasion of betrothment; also the marriage benediction; may bless the fruits of the earth, and the holy water. The benediction of a bishop is eagerly sought for by a faithful Roman Catholic, as contributing peculiarly to his spiritual welfare; and the Catholic clergy, in general, use the benediction as a salutation or reward for a service, etc. The Roman Catholic Church blesses things animate and inanimate, the bene dictions being generally accompanied with the sprinkling of holy water, and the use of in cense, and universally with the sign of the cross. There are 12 benedictions proper in the Anglican Prayer Book, two of these being of things, the blessing of the bread and wine in the prayer of consecration at communion, and the water in the baptismal offices. Among most Protestant bodies a blessing is pronounced at the conclusion of all religious services.