Beatic BENEDICTION, benedictio beatica, is the viaticum given to dying persons. The pope begins all his bulls with this form: Salutem et apostolicam benedictionem.
BENEDICTION is also used for an ecclesiastical ceremony, whereby a thing is rendered sacred or venerable. In this sense benediction differs from consecration, as in the latter unction is applied, which is not in the former: Thus the chalice is consecrated, and the pix blessed; as the former, not the latter, is anointed: though, in the common usage, these two words are applied promiscuously.—The spirit of piety, or rather of superstition, has introduced into the Romish church benedictions for almost every thing. We read of forms of benedictions for wax-candles, for boughs, for ashes, for church-vessels, and ornaments; for flags or ensigns, arms, first-fruits, houses, ships, paschal eggs, cilicium or the hair-cloth of penitents, church-yards, &c. In general, these benedictions are performed by aspersions of holy water, signs of the cross, and prayers suitable to the nature of the ceremony. The forms of these benedictions are found in the Roman pontifical, in the Roman missal, in the book of ecclesiastical ceremonies printed in pope Leo X.'s time, and in the rituals and ceremonies of the different churches which are found collected in father Martene's work on the rites and discipline of the church.