Blessing

==Abrahamic religions==
[[File:Isaak zegent Jakob Rijksmuseum SK-A-110.jpeg|thumb|''[[Isaac]] Blessing [[Jacob]]'', painting by [[Govert Flinck]] ([[Rijksmuseum Amsterdam]])]]
{{Main|Abrahamic religions}}
'To be blessed' means to be favored by [[YHWH|God]], the source of all blessing.<ref name="Chinuch"/> 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 the [[Bible]], positive and negative blessings are related; the book of [[Deuteronomy]] prescribes that obedience to the [[Ten Commandments|Law of Moses]] brings God's blessing. One of the first incidences{{verify spelling|date=September 2022|reason=''incidence'' is normally used only in the singular form, perhaps ''incidence'', ''incidents'',  or ''instances'' was intended}} of blessing in the Bible is in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]], {{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|12:1-2|HE}} where [[Abram]] is ordered by the [[YHWH|God]] to leave his country and is told:

{{Blockquote|"I will bless you, I will make your name great."}}

The [[Priestly Blessing]] is set forth at [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] {{bibleverse-nb||Numbers|6:24-26|HE}}:

: May [[Names of God in Judaism#Adonai|Adonai]] bless 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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=von Rad |first1=Gerhard |title=Old Testament Theology |date=2012 |publisher=[[ Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd ]] |isbn=978-1-56563-652-1 |pages=1–101 |author-link=Gerhard von Rad}}</ref>

===Judaism===
{{main|Berakhah}}
[[File:Synagoge, Enschede, Mozaiek.jpg|thumb|right|Position in which a Jewish [[kohen]] places his hands and fingers during the [[Priestly Blessing]], detail of a mozaic in the Synagoge of Enschede, Netherlands<ref>The mosaic text reads "בשמאלה עשר וכבוד" ("in her left hand riches and honor"), which is a part of Proverbs 3:16.</ref>]]
In [[Rabbinic Judaism]], a blessing (or ''[[berakhah]]'') 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 acknowledge [[God in Judaism|God]] as the source of all blessing.<ref name="Chinuch">[[Sefer ha-Chinuch]] 430</ref> A ''berakhah'' of 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.<ref name="Chinuch"/> [[Jewish law]] does 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 two [[Shabbat candles]].

===Christianity===
[[File:First communion blessing.jpg|thumb|A bishop blesses a girl with the sign of cross on her forehead during [[Confirmation in the Catholic Church|Confirmation in the catholic church]]]]
Blessings and [[curse]]s of [[Christ]] appear in the [[New Testament]], as recounted in the [[Beatitudes]] of Luke 6:20-22. Within [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Lutheranism]], and similar traditions, formal blessings of the church are performed by [[bishop]]s, [[priest]]s, and [[deacon]]s. Particular formulas may be associated with [[episcopal blessing]]s and [[papal blessing]]s. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches blessings are bestowed by [[bishop]]s and [[priest]]s in a [[liturgy|liturgical]] context, raising their right hand and making the [[Sign of the Cross#Use of the sign|sign of the cross]] with it over persons or objects to be blessed. They also give blessings to begin [[daily office|divine services]] and at the [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] at the end.

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] liturgical 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 a [[blessing cross]], [[candle]]s, an [[icon]], the [[chalice (cup)|Chalice]] or [[Gospel Book]] to bestow blessings, always making the [[Sign of the Cross]] therewith. When blessing with the hand, a priest uses his right hand, holding his fingers so that they form the Greek letters [[IC XC]], the monogram of Jesus Christ. A bishop does the same, except he uses both hands, or may hold the [[crozier]] in his left hand, using both to make the Sign of the Cross. A bishop may also bless with special candlesticks known as the [[dikirion and trikirion]]. When blessing an object, the [[rubrics]] often instruct Orthodox bishops and priests to make use of such substances as [[incense]] and [[Holy water in Eastern Christianity|holy 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 own [[spiritual father]]. When an Orthodox [[laity|layperson]] bestows 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 of [[Reformed church]]es or [[Evangelical church]]es, the minister blesses the congregation during the concluding part of the service of worship, known as the [[benediction]].<ref> Geoffrey Wainwright, ''The Oxford History of Christian Worship'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2006, p. 471, 549, 567-568</ref> For example, the [[Orthodox Presbyterian]] Directory 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://opc.org/BCO/BCO_2020.pdf |title=Chapter 1, The Principles of Public Worship. |publisher=opc.org |access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> The Methodist ''[[Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965)|The Book of Worship for Church and Home]]'' (1965) contains "An Office for the Blessing of a Dwelling".<ref name="BOW1964">{{cite book|title=The Book of Worship for Church and Home: With Orders of Worship, Services for the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Aids to Worship According to the Usages of the Methodist Church|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ckw6vgAACAAJ|access-date=25 March 2017|year=1964|publisher=Methodist Publishing House|language=en |pages=373}}</ref>

In the [[Blessing (Roman Catholic Church)|Roman Catholic Church a priest or bishop blesses]] the faithful with the [[Blessed Sacrament]] in the [[monstrance]] during [[Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament]]. According to the guidelines given by the Vatican's [[Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments]] that 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 a [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], which requires a priest to celebrate), such as [[Eucharist]]ic adoration, the [[Rosary]], or celebration of the [[Liturgy 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 the [[Lutheran Church]]es, priests are often asked to bless objects frequently used by or sacred to individuals, such as a [[cross necklace]]; in addition, Lutheran clergy also bless the homes of members of the congregations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/2017/03/01/what-is-house-blessing-and-should-have-one.html|title=What is a house blessing and should you have one?|last=Jackson|first=Katie|date=1 March 2017|publisher=[[Fox News]]|language=en|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref>

In [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], blessings are given by worthy, male members who hold the [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek priesthood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/handbook-2-administering-the-church/priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings/priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings |title=20. Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref>

===Islam===
{{main|Barakah}}
Blessings in [[Islam]] have two aspects, according to major scholars of Islam. Blessings are given by [[Allah]] as 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.<ref name="wordpress1">{{Cite web|url=https://seekingthedivinecountenance.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/dual-nature-of-blessings-in-islam/|title=Dual Nature of Blessings in Islam|date=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

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 of [[Muhammad]] or indeed, any of the prophets. Muslims will also greet one another with a blessing every time they meet and depart: {{Lang|ar|السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته}} {{Lang|ar-latn|as-salāmu alaikum wa rahmatul-lāhi wa barakātuh}} (meaning "[[As-salamu alaykum|may peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you]]").<ref name="wordpress1"/>