A blessing, (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one's hopes.

Etymology

The modern English language term bless likely derives from the 1225 term blessen, which developed from the Old English blǣdsian (preserved in the Northumbrian dialect around 950 AD). The term also appears in other forms, such as blēdsian (before 830 and derived from Proto-Germanic *blōðisōjanan), blētsian from around 725 and blesian from around 1000, all meaning to make sacred or holy by a sacrificial custom in Germanic paganism; to mark with blood. Proto-Germanic, or Common Germanic, is the hypothetical common ancestor ( Proto-language) of all the Germanic languages such as modern English Germanic paganism refers to the religious beliefs of the Germanic peoples preceding Christianization. Due to this, the term is related to the term blōd, meaning blood. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells ��such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products ^[1] References to this indigenous practice, Blót, exist in Anglo-Saxon and Icelandic sources. The blót ( Old Norse plural same as singular refers to Norse pagan sacrifice to the Norse gods and Elves. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland (

The modern meaning of the term may have been influenced in translations of the Bible into Old English during the process of Christianization to translate the Latin term benedīcere meaning to "speak well of", resulting in meanings such as to "praise" or "extol" or to speak well of or to wish well. The historical phenomenon of Christianization (or Christianisation &mdash see spelling differences) the conversion of individuals to Christianity Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. ^[1]

Abrahamic religion

Isaac Blessing Jacob, painting by Govert Flinck (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam). According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac ( Hebrew: Yitzchak יִצְחָק, Standard Yiẓḥaq Jacob ( Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, Standard   Yaʿaqov Tiberian   Yaʿăqōḇ; Govert (or Govaert) Teuniszoon Flinck ( January 25, 1615, Cleves - February 2, 1660, Amsterdam The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or Rijksmuseum ( English: State Museum is a Dutch National museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein

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 informally bless another. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions

"To be blessed" means 'to be favoured by God'. Blessings therefore are directly associated with God and come from God. Therefore to express a blessing, is like bestowing a wish on someone that she will experience the favour of God. "May you have a blessed Christmas", therefore can also be translated as: "May you experience the favor of God during this Christmas period. "

A curse, at least in its most formal sense, is the opposite of a blessing. A curse (also called execration) is any manner of Adversity thought to be inflicted by any supernatural power (such as a spell, a Prayer, an Compare charm.

Position in which a Jewish kohen places his hands and fingers during the Priestly Blessing. A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן "priest" pl כּהנִים kohanim or cohanim) has a separate status in Judaism. The Priestly Blessing, (ברכת כהנים translit Birkat Kohanim) also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, ( lit.

In 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. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Deuteronomy (Greek deuteronomion, Δευτερονόμιον "second law" is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible and of the Old Testament term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to

One of the first incidences of blessing in the Bible is in Genesis 12:1-2 where Abram is ordered by the LORD to leave his country and is told:

"I will bless you, I will make your name great. Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: "

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 to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

May the LORD turn his countenance to you and grant you peace. The Priestly Blessing, (ברכת כהנים translit Birkat Kohanim) also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, ( lit. The Book of Numbers, ( Bamidbar, meaning in the wilderness) is the fourth book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament.

Icon of St. Basil the Great depicting the manner in which an Orthodox priest or bishop holds his hand when he blesses. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin

The New Testament commands Christians to bless and not to curse (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14). This supports the Christian doctrine that God is a God of love & mercy and that the Bible teaches that cursing and anger should be left to God - not us (in the sense that He will judge our works).

This formula has been introduced into Christian worship as well. This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W 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. The Gospel of Matthew (Gk Κατά Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον is one of the four Canonical gospels in the New Testament and is a Synoptic gospel Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Beatitudes (from Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy" is the beginning portion of the Sermon on the Mount of the Gospel of In the Gospel of St Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of Jesus' sayings epitomizing his moral teaching.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church blessings are bestowed by bishops and priests in a liturgical context, raising their right hand and making the sign of the cross with it over persons or objects to be blessed. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions The Sign of the Cross, or Signum crucis in Latin is a ritual hand motion made by members of many but not all branches of Christianity. They also make blessings to begin divine services and at the dismissal at the end. Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round A priest or bishop may also use a Blessing cross to bestow blessings. A Blessing Cross is a hand cross held by a Priest or Bishop in Eastern Christianity when he gives a Benediction.

Islam has no clerical caste, and therefore no blessings reserved to specific individuals. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Islam itself is regarded as being a "Blessing upon mankind". Muslims will frequently pronounce "peace and blessings be upon him" when mentioning the name of Muhammad. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Muslims will also greet one another with a blessing on such occasions as Eid.

Other uses

A blessing can also be a request for permission, as in "gaining your parents' blessing" would consist of having been granted consent. A parent is a Father or Mother; one who sires or gives 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. See also Eastern Orthodox Church Structure and organization The Slavic Orthodox Church is organized in a hierarchical structure A starets (стáрец fem стáреца is an elder of a Russian Orthodox monastery who functions as venerated adviser and teacher

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"), similar to the French Adieu. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people

Blessing is also a term used for marriage in the Unification Church. The Unification Church is a New religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon.

Blessing is the collective noun for a group of Unicorns. In Linguistics, a collective noun is a word used to define a group of objects where "objects" can be People, Animals Inanimate things A unicorn (from Latin unus 'one' and cornu 'horn' is a Mythological creature.

References

See also

• List of Jewish Prayers and Blessings
• Benediction