Blessing prayers

Blessing Prayers

Blessing is the act of declaring, or wishing, favour and goodness on others. The blessing is not only the good effect of words; it also has the power to bring them to pass. In the Scriptures, even if spoken by mistake, once a blessing was given it could not be taken back. The nature of blessing is always reciprocal: we are blessed and, in turn, we must bless. But to be blessed and to bless, we must be compassionately connected. Blessing is a technique of inner transformation which moves us to a greater realization of self and God. It is a concrete action.

Benediction is a prayer that beseeching God to bestow a certain blessing on people. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the form of priestly benediction was prescribed in the Law: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” You may recognise this formula as now forming part of the Rite of Blessing in the Dismissal Rite of the Christian Eucharist.

Purpose of blessings

Blessings have five distinct purposes:

God blesses creation: e.g. nature (Gen 1:22); humanity (Gen 1:28); the Sabbath (Gen 2:3); nations (Ps 33:12); and individuals (Gen 24:1). God also blesses people by giving life, riches, fruitfulness or plenty (Gen 1:22, 28).

People “bless” God-for the purposes of worship, adoration and praise (Deut. 8:10; Ps 101:1, 2 etc.).

Those in positions of power and authority and holy leaders can bestow blessings on others: patriarchs pronounced benefits on their children, often when near death (Gen 49:1-28). Leaders often blessed people, especially when getting ready to leave them - e.g. Moses (Deut 33); Joshua (22:6-7); and Jesus (Luke 24:50).

Equals can bless each other in friendship (Gen 12:3); support and to establish connections and links with people who are special - see for example:

People can bless things when they are set aside for sacred use. (1Cor 10:16)