BENEDICTION, in a general sense, the act of
blessing, or giving praise to God, or returning thanks
for his favours. Hence also benediction is still applied
to the act of saying grace before or after meals. Nei-
ther the ancient Jews, nor Christians, ever eat without
a short prayer. The Jews are obliged to rehearse 100
benedictions per day; of which, 80 are to be spoken
in the morning. The first treatise of the first order in
the Talmud, entitled Seraim, contains the form and
order of the daily benedictions. It was usual to give
benediction to travellers on their taking leave; a prac-
tice which is still preserved among the monks. Bened-
ictions were likewise given among the ancient Jews, as
well as Christians, by imposition of hands. And when
at length the primitive simplicity of the Christian wor-
ship began to give way to ceremony, they added the
sign of the cross, which was made with the same hand,
as before, only elevated, or extended. Hence bene-
diction, in the modern Romish church, is used, in a
more particular manner, to denote the sign of the cross
made by a bishop, or prelate, as conferring some grace
on the people. The custom of receiving benediction,
by bowing the head before the bishops, is very ancient;
and was so universal, that emperors themselves did not
decline this mark of submission.—Under the name be-
nediction, the Hebrews also frequently understand the
presents which friends make to one another, in all pro-
bability because they are generally attended with bless-
ings and compliments, both from those who give, and
those who receive them.