in a general sense, the act of blesting, 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. Neither the ancient Jews, nor Christians, ever eat without a short prayer. The Jews are obliged to rehearse 100 benedictions per day; of which, so 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 practice which is still preserved among the monks. Benedictions 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 worship 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 benediction, in the modern Roman 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 benediction, the Hebrews also frequently understand the presents which friends make to one another, in all probability because they are generally attended with blessings and compliments, both from those who give, and those who receive them. Nuptial Benediction, the external ceremony performed by the priest in the office of matrimony. This is also called sacerdotal and matrimonial benediction, by the Greeks ἀγαπητικός καὶ ἀγαπητικός. The nuptial benediction is not essential to, but the confirmation of, a marriage in the civil law.

Beatific Benediction, benedictio beatifica, 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 everything. 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, cincture 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.

Benefice (beneficium), in middle-age writers, is used for a fee, sometimes denominated more peculiarly beneficium militare. In this sense, benefice was an estate in land, at first granted for life only; so called, because it was held ex merito beneficio of the donor; and the tenants were bound to swear fealty to the lord, and to serve him in the wars. In after-times, as these tenures became perpetual and hereditary, they left their name of beneficia to the livings of the clergy; and retained to themselves the name of fees.