Benediction
Benediction is a short prayer for help and blessings from God. They are usually delivered at the end of a worship service. Roman Catholics have many more benedictions, usually with many candles (even poor churches have at least ten),[1] than Protestants, who only have a few simple benedictions. A kind of benediction that is often done in both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches is for the worship leader to raise his hands and say the Biblical Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:23-27). This was made popular by Martin Luther in his Deutsche Messe (German Mass).[2] It is a tradition in most Lutheran Churches.[3] F. Scott Fitzgerald also wrote a short story called Benediction in 1920.
Benediction Media
Icon of Jesus Christ Pantokrator by Theophanes the Cretan. His right hand is raised in benediction.
Benediction given by a Lutheran priest at the Lutheran Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Moscow
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Sacred Heart Chaplaincy, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.
References
- ↑ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament". newadvent.org. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
- ↑ "benediction (religion) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
- ↑ Precht, Fred L. Lutheran Worship History and Practice. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1993. p. 434.
