Benediction

short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance

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.

References

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  1. "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament". newadvent.org. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  2. "benediction (religion) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  3. Precht, Fred L. Lutheran Worship History and Practice. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1993. p. 434.