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:''"Bless" redirectes here.''
:''Blessing is also the first name of several people and a place in Texas.''
A 'blessing', (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one's hopes.
Within Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and similar traditions, formal blessings of the church are performed by bishops, priests, and sometimes deacons, but as in many other religions, anyone may formally bless another.
A curse, at least in its most formal sense, is the opposite of a blessing.
Compare charm.
In the Christian holy book, the Bible, blessings and curses are related; the book of Deuteronomy prescribes that obedience to the Torah brings God's blessing, while disobedience brings a curse. The Priestly Blessing is set forth at Numbers 6:24-26:
:''May the 'LORD' bless you, and keep you;''
:''May the 'LORD' make his face shine to upon you, and be gracious to you;''
:''May the 'LORD' turn his countenance to you and grant you peace.''
This formula has been introduced into Christian worship as well. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus pronounces blessings on the poor, the humble, and the persecuted in the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.
One of the first incidences of blessing in the Bible is in Genesis 12, where Abram is ordered by the LORD to leave his country and told:
'Blessing' can also be a request for permission, as in "gaining your parents' blessing" would consist of having been granted consent. Clergy will normally receive a blessing from their ecclesiastical superiors to begin their ministry. In the Russian Orthodox Church pious laymen would go to a starets (elder) to receive his or her blessing before embarking upon any important work or making a major decision in their life.
In Spanish, there is a 'blessing' which can be used as a tender farewell, especially from a parent: ''Vaya con Dios'' (Go with God), also Adios (''A Dios'', to God), French ''Adieu''.
'Blessing' is also a term used for marriage in the Unification Church.
'Blessing' is the collective noun for a group of Unicorns.

Contents

Etymology

See also

External links

Etymology

To 'bless' (from Anglo-Saxon ''blēdsian'' or ''blētsian'', Common Germanic ''blōdisōjan'') originally meant "to sprinkle with blood" during the pagan sacrifices called "Blót" (reference: AHD).

See also

★ List of Jewish Prayers and Blessings

★ Benediction

External links

★ Online Blessings

★ Flash Animation of an Irish blessing (3.1 MB)