Church History, an order of monks, who profess to follow the rules of St Benedict.

The Benedictins, being those only that are properly called monks, wear a loose black gown, with large wide sleeves, and a capuche, or cowl, on their heads, ending in a point behind. In the canon law, they are styled black friars, from the colour of their habit.

The rules of St Benedict, as observed by the English monks before the dissolution of the monasteries, were as follows: They were obliged to perform their devotions seven times in 24 hours, the whole circle of which devotions had a respect to the passion and death of Christ: they were obliged always to go two and two together: every day in Lent they were obliged to fast till six in the evening, and abated of their usual time of sleeping and eating; but they were not allowed to practise any voluntary austerity without leave of their superior: they never conversed in their refectory at meals, but were obliged to attend to the reading of the Scriptures: they all slept in the same dormitory, but not two in a bed; they lay in their clothes: for small faults they were flung out from meals; for greater they were debarred religious commerce, and excluded from the chapel; and as to incorrigible offenders, they were excluded from the monasteries. Every monk had two coats, two cowls, a table-book, a knife, a needle, and a handkerchief; and the furniture of their bed was a mat, a blanket, a rug, and a pillow.

The time when this order came into England is well known; for to it the English owe their conversion from idolatry. In the year 596, Pope Gregory sent hither Augustine, prior of the monastery of St Andrew at Rome, with several other Benedictin monks. St Augustine became archbishop of Canterbury, and the Benedictins founded several monasteries in England, as also the metropolitan church of Canterbury, and all the cathedrals that were afterwards erected. Pope John XXII., who died in 1334, after an exact inquiry, found, that, since the first rise of the order, there had been of it 24 popes, near 200 cardinals, 7000 archbishops, 15,000 bishops, 15,000 abbots of repute, above 400 saints, and upwards of 37,000 monasteries. There have been likewise of this order 20 emperors and 10 empresses, 47 kings and above 50 queens, 20 sons of emperors, and 48 sons of kings; about 100 princesses, daughters of kings and emperors; besides dukes, marquises, earls, countesses, &c. innumerable. The order has produced a vast number of eminent writers and other learned men. Their Rabanus set up the school of Germany. Their Alcuinus founded the university of Paris. Their Dionysius Exiguus perfected the ecclesiastical computation. Their Guido invented the scale of music; and their Sylvestre, the organ. They boast to have produced Anselmus, Ildephonsus, Venerable Bede, &c.

There are nuns likewise who follow the rule of St Benedict; among whom those who call themselves mitigated, eat flesh three times a-week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; the others observe the rule of St Benedict in its rigour, and eat no flesh, unless they are sick.

**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 laying grace before or after meals. Neither the ancient Jews nor Christians ever ate 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 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 of *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 *facerdotal* and *matrimonial benediction*, by the Greeks *egkerymion* and *egkerymion*. 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*.