Blessing

This article is about a type of religious pronouncement. For other uses, seeBlessing (disambiguation).

"Bless" redirects here. For other uses, seeBless (disambiguation).

Inreligion,ablessing(also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the impartation of something withgrace,holiness,spiritualredemption,ordivine will.

St. SergiusblessesDmitry Donskoyto fightMamay,1919, byAleksandr Novoskoltsev

Etymology and Germanic paganism

The modern English language termblesslikely derives from the 1225 termblessen,which developed from theOld Englishblǣdsian(preserved in theNorthumbriandialect around 950 AD).The term also appears in other forms, such asblēdsian(before 830),blētsianfrom around 725 andblesianfrom around 1000, all meaning to make sacred or holy by a sacrificial custom in theAnglo-Saxon paganperiod, originating inGermanic paganism;to mark with blood.Due to this, the term is related to the termblōd,meaning 'blood'.References to this indigenous practice,Blót,exist in relatedIcelandicsources.

The modern meaning of the term may have been influenced in translations of the Bible into Old English during the process ofChristianizationto translate theLatintermbenedīceremeaning 'to speak well of', resulting in meanings such as 'to praise' or 'extol' or 'to speak of' or 'to wish well'.

Abrahamic religions

IsaacBlessingJacob,painting byGovert Flinck(Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)

Main article:Abrahamic religions

'To be blessed' means to be favored byGod,the source of all blessing.Blessings, therefore, are directly associated with, and are believed to come from, God. Thus, to express a blessing is like bestowing a wish on someone that they experience the favor of God, and to acknowledge God as the source of all blessing.

A biblical damnation, in its most formal sense, is a negative blessing.

In theBible,positive and negative blessings are related; the book ofDeuteronomyprescribes that obedience to theLaw of Mosesbrings God's blessing. One of the first incidences of blessing in the Bible is inGenesis,12:1–2whereAbramis ordered by theGodto leave his country and is told:

"I will bless you, I will make your name great."

ThePriestly Blessingis set forth atNumbers6:24–26:

MayAdonaibless you, and guard you;

May Adonai make His countenance shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

May Adonai turn His countenance to you and grant you peace.

This seems to be one of the oldest and long-living prayers in the peace story of humanity.

Judaism

Main article:Berakhah

Position in which a Jewishkohenplaces his hands and fingers during thePriestly Blessing,detail of a mozaic in the Synagoge of Enschede, Netherlands

InRabbinic Judaism,a blessing (orberakhah) is recited at a specified moment during a prayer, ceremony or other activity, especially before and after partaking of food. The function of blessings is to acknowledgeGodas the source of all blessing.Aberakhahof rabbinic origin typically starts with the words, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe..." Rabbinic Judaism teaches that food ultimately is a gift of the one great Provider, God, and that to partake of food legitimately one should express gratitude to God by reciting the appropriate blessing of rabbinic origin prior, while torah mandates an informal blessing afterwards.Jewish lawdoes not reserve recitation of blessings to only a specific class of Jews; but it does mandate specific blessings to specific occasions, so that, for example since medieval times, Jewish women chiefly recite a rabbinic blessing after lighting twoShabbat candles.

Christianity

A bishop blesses a girl with the sign of cross on her forehead duringConfirmation in the catholic church

Blessings andcursesofChristappear in theNew Testament,as recounted in theBeatitudesof Luke 6:20-22. WithinRoman Catholicism,Eastern Orthodoxy,Anglicanism,Lutheranism,and similar traditions, formal blessings of the church are performed bybishops,priests,anddeacons.Particular formulas may be associated withepiscopal blessingsandpapal blessings.In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches blessings are bestowed bybishopsandpriestsin aliturgicalcontext, raising their right hand and making thesign of the crosswith it over persons or objects to be blessed. They also give blessings to begindivine servicesand at thedismissalat the end.

In theEastern Orthodox Churchliturgical blessings are performed over people, objects, or are given at specific points during divine services. A priest or bishop usually blesses with his hand, but may use ablessing cross,candles,anicon,theChaliceorGospel Bookto bestow blessings, always making theSign of the Crosstherewith. When blessing with the hand, a priest uses his right hand, holding his fingers so that they form the Greek lettersIC XC,the monogram of Jesus Christ. A bishop does the same, except he uses both hands, or may hold thecrozierin his left hand, using both to make the Sign of the Cross. A bishop may also bless with special candlesticks known as thedikirion and trikirion.When blessing an object, therubricsoften instruct Orthodox bishops and priests to make use of such substances asincenseandholy water.Also, formal ecclesiastical permission to undertake an action is referred to as a "blessing". The blessing may be bestowed by a bishop or priest, or by one's ownspiritual father.When an Orthodoxlaypersonbestows a blessing, he or she will hold the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand together (the same configuration used when making the Sign of the Cross on themselves), and make the sign of the cross over the person or object they are blessing.

In Protestant liturgies such as those ofReformed churchesorEvangelical churches,the minister blesses the congregation during the concluding part of the service of worship, known as thebenediction.For example, theOrthodox PresbyterianDirectory for Public Worship states that "Unless necessary, none should depart until after the benediction," and "by his Spirit working through the ministry of the Word, God addresses his people in the call to worship, in the salutation and benediction, in the reading and preaching of the Word, and in the sacraments."The MethodistThe Book of Worship for Church and Home(1965) contains "An Office for the Blessing of a Dwelling".

In theRoman Catholic Church a priest or bishop blessesthe faithful with theBlessed Sacramentin themonstranceduringBenediction of the Blessed Sacrament.According to the guidelines given by the Vatican'sCongregation for the Discipline of the Sacramentsthat govern the procedures for liturgical ceremonies, if a Roman Catholic layperson (a lay acolyte or parish administrator, for example) or any non-ordained religious (who is not the superior of the congregation) leads a Sunday service (other than aMass,which requires a priest to celebrate), such asEucharisticadoration, theRosary,or celebration of theLiturgy of the Hours,he or she does not perform rites or sacraments reserved to the clergy and does not solemnly bless the people as a bishop, priest, or deacon would at the end of the service; an alternative format is used instead.

In theLutheran Churches,priests are often asked to bless objects frequently used by or sacred to individuals, such as across necklace;in addition, Lutheran clergy also bless the homes of members of the congregations.

Inthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,blessings are given by worthy, male members who hold theMelchizedek priesthood.

Islam

Main article:Barakah

Blessings inIslamhave two aspects, according to major scholars of Islam. Blessings are given byAllahas a trial for mankind. Scholars of Islam believe that having fear of being gradually misled by blessings is an attribute of the pious, and not having fear from such even though one is constantly misbehaving is an attribute of the impious. Blessings can be a source of success in the afterlife if one is grateful to Allah for them and the same blessings can be a source for damnation in afterlife if a person is not constantly grateful to God for them.

Islam has no clerical caste, and therefore no blessings reserved to specific individuals. Muslims will frequently pronounce "peace and blessings be upon him" when mentioning the name ofMuhammador indeed, any of the prophets. Muslims will also greet one another with a blessing every time they meet and depart:السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتهas-salāmu alaikum wa rahmatul-lāhi wa barakātuh(meaning "may peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you").

Dharma religions

Indian religions,which includesHinduismand other religions likeBuddhism,Jainism,Sikhism,etc. are also calledDharmicreligions, all of which are based on the different concept of dharma andkarmaand typical blessings are based onAdhiṣṭhāna,Añjali Mudrā,DarśanaandMudra,etc.

Hinduism

See also:Guru-shishya tradition,Sampradaya,andParampara

Aarti.

InHinduismPujais a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests. It is modeled on the idea of giving a gift or offering to a deity or important person and receiving their approval (Ashirvād). During the Puja involves an 'Aartiplate' or 'Aarti lamp' is circulating around a deity or person and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deity or person (many versions exist). In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead – the purificatory blessing, passed from the deity's image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.

During thenaivedyaritual, a devotee makes an offering of a material substance such as flowers, fruits, or sweets. The deity then 'enjoys' or tastes a bit of the offering, which is then temporarily known asbhogya.This now-divinely invested substance is calledprasāda,and is received by the devotee to be ingested, worn, etc. It may be the same material that was originally offered, or material offered by others and then re-distributed to other devotees. In many temples, several kinds of prasada (e.g. nuts, sweets) are distributed to the devotees.

Hindu priest giving blessing.

Darshanis a term meaning 'sight' (in the sense of an instance of seeing or beholding; from a rootdṛś'to see'),vision,apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly used for "visions of the divine," e.g., of a god or a very holy person or artifact. One could "receivedarshana"of the deity in the temple, or from a great saintly person, such as a greatguru.The touching of the feet (pranāma) is a show of respect and it is often an integral part ofdarshan.Children touch the feet of their family elders while people of all ages will bend to touch the feet of a great guru,murti(icon) of aDeva(God) (such asRamaorKrishna).

There is a special link between worshipper and guru duringpujas,in which people may touch the guru's feet in respect (Pranāma), or remove the dust from a guru's feet before touching their own head.

Another tradition isVāhan pujā(Hindi) orVāgana poojai(Tamilவாகன பூஜை) 'vehicle blessing'. This is a ritual that is performed when one purchases a new vehicle.

Buddhism

Main articles:Mangala SuttaandAdhiṣṭhāna

Replica of an image at the Sanchi gate atChaitya Bhoomi,which shows a devotion scene involving a Buddhiststupa.

InMangala Sutta,Lord Buddhadescribes 'blessings' that are wholesome personal pursuits or attainments, identified in a progressive manner from the mundane to the ultimate spiritual goal.

Blessings in Buddhism,certain ceremonies are meant to provide blessings.

Other uses

A traditional Hawaiian blessing during agroundbreakingceremony

Blessingis also a term used for marriage in theUnification Church,see:Blessing Ceremony of the Unification Church.

Clergy will normally receive a blessing from their ecclesiastical superiors to begin their ministry. In theRussian Orthodox Churchpious laymen would go to astarets(elder) to receive his or her blessing before embarking upon any important work or making a major decision in their life. Inthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,a member may receive a special blessing, known as apatriarchal blessing,as guidance.

In the U.S., there are sometimes ritual ceremonies to bless companion animals.

InHawaiianything new (a new building, a new stretch of road to be opened, a new garden) receives a blessing by a Hawaiian practitioner (orKahuna) in a public ceremony (involving also the unwinding of e.g. amailelei).

InSpanish,there is a blessing which can be used as a tenderfarewell,especially from a parent:Vaya con Dios('Go with God'), alsoAdiós(A Dios,'to God'), similar to theFrenchAdieu.

In theKyrgyz people's tradition, the blessing (bataorak bata,'the right blessing' or 'white blessing') might be a good wish to somebody by the oldest person or the person with the best reputation before the travel or launch of some activity of the person who seeks such a blessing and moral support. The procedure might be from the pre-Islamic local nomadic traditions with deep family values. Sometimes, older person(s) might give a negative blessing (so-calledteskeri bata– 'the opposite blessing' or 'the black blessing').

In commercial interactions, a seller's good words about the product, such as "I hope you enjoy it," could be considered to be blessings.

See also

• Apostolic Blessing
• Benediction
• Blessing of animals
• Darśana
• List of Jewish Prayers and Blessings
• Priesthood blessing

References

• Barnhart, Robert K.(1995)The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of EtymologyHarperCollinsISBN0-06-270084-7