We frequently say ‘God bless’ to people. We even hear it on TV when some celebrities say goodbye. And when life is going well, we often say how blessed we are. But as with many aspects of our faith, a closer look reveals deeper meanings and gives us the opportunity to think of the act of blessing in an enlightening way.

Old Testament Origins

Throughout the Old Testament there are examples of God bestowing blessings on his people. This should be very comforting to us because from the beginning, God is reassuring us of his love and showing us that with his blessing, all will be well.

In the act of Creation, God blessed all living things. He also blessed Moses and the Israelites with words which are so well known and are the oldest biblical inscription in existence:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord be kind and gracious to you;
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

God blesses his people when they obey him. In Exodus, he says, ‘If you worship me the Lord your God, I will bless you with food and water and take away all your illnesses.’

Deuteronomy contains a similar theme of God rewarding faithfulness with blessing:
The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake.
And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. Deuteronomy 28:8-12.

The Psalms contain some beautiful phrases of blessing. Psalm 1 begins:
‘Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or sit in the seat of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and ponders the law, day and night.’

The Psalms illustrate that we can also bless God in thanksgiving and praise for his goodness. ‘Bless the Lord my soul, all my being bless his holy name… Bless the Lord my soul, Lord God how great you are, you are clothed with majesty and glory…’ Psalm 104:1.

Daniel 3:52-56 contains the most beautiful poem of blessing and praising God:                                
Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors,
and to be praised and highly exalted forever;
and blessed is your glorious, holy name,
and to be highly praised and highly exalted forever.

Those who are blessed in the Old Testament are people whom God has chosen, has singled out to do his work. It has made them holy. And this is what happens to someone or something that is blessed. It is singled out, it is set apart as an instrument of God.

Christ’s example
Jesus taught lessons by the blessings he gave. After telling his disciples to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” he instructed them to “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). On his final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus blessed the children that people brought to him, and he touched them. This act redefined an old custom where Hebrew fathers blessed their children (including Noah, Abraham Isaac and Jacob). But touching was something the Scribes and Pharisees did not do (they believed touching would defile them). This simple action, whilst telling people ‘The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these,’ was an important message, even to the disciples.
Jesus also blessed food, including the loaves for the feeding of the 5,000 and most significantly the bread and wine at the Last Supper.

For the Early Christians, the blessing was the heart of the Eucharist. Edward Foley says the ‘berakah(blessing) attitude and intention is at the heart of Jesus’ table ministry.’ Jesus expected his disciples not only to imitate his actions of blessing, but they were ‘to continue living in the spirit of blessing. It was this spirit of gracious acceptance for God’s initiative… that Christian Eucharist emerged and flourished.’

St Paul wrote, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.’ He also echoed the Lord’s command when he instructed the Romans to “bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14).

St. Peter urged that each time we are on the receiving end of evil, we should return “a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

When Christians could finally celebrate their faith without fear of persecution, blessing themselves and each other with the Sign of the Cross became commonplace in everyday life and in the Liturgy.

Who can Bless?
Every baptised person is called to be a ‘blessing’ and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life,
the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1669,

Traditionally it has been those in ordained ministry who have had the authority to bless and priests are the ordinary ministers of blessing. The Rite of Ordination includes the words, ‘whatsoever they bless may be blessed.’  But Vatican II increased the role of the laity, with the restored belief that by way of our Baptism we are all part of the Universal Priesthood. The Church invites us to bless our children, our families and each other. This kind of blessing is known as an ‘Invocative blessing.’ We are asking (or invoking) the goodness of God in a temporary way.

Other occasions where lay people can bless include at mealtimes (there is a large and helpful collection of meal prayers in the Book of Blessings) and blessings connected with many other aspects of our daily life. We should be careful to follow the prescribed wording and remember that making the Sign of the Cross at blessings is reserved for a priest or deacon. When an ordained minister blesses, it is a ‘Constitutive’ blessing. This means the person or object is permanently sanctified and dedicated for sacred use. For example, the blessing of an altar or chalice or when someone takes their religious vows.

Various blessings are assigned to deacons, priests and bishops, and then of course, there is the Papal Blessing given only by the Pope.

In the Liturgy and beyond
At all times and in every situation, the faithful have an occasion for praising God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, for calling on divine help, and for giving thanks in all things. Book of Blessings.

Blessings are an integral feature of the life of the Church known as Sacramentals. They bestow God’s favour on people or objects.

In a liturgy blessings are accompanied by outward signs including the outstretching of hands, the Sign of the Cross, laying of hands, incense and holy water. But they extend far beyond the liturgical sphere into every aspect of our lives and the Church encourages this.  

The Book of Blessings is a rich resource and provides a short formula for the blessing of just about every human situation, including: the blessing of the elderly; a mother after miscarriage; parents; those suffering from addiction; victims of crime; adopted children; before and after childbirth and departing pilgrims. The list is long.

There are blessings for buildings and human activity including: a new home; a new shop; an athletic event; boats and fishing gear; work tools; animals; fields; technical equipment.

There are blessings for articles of piety, for various events during the Liturgical Year, such as a Christmas Tree, throats, ashes and visiting a cemetery. In taking a fresh look at the categories for blessing, I was struck at what an underused resource it is. So many people say that religion is irrelevant in today’s world. But here there is huge potential for sanctifying people and situations where they need God’s grace the most. Let’s not ignore them and delve into the Book of Blessings.

What does it mean to be blessed?

It’s a phrase we use so frequently. ‘I am blessed.’ When life is going our way, with family, work, money, good friends, are we blessed? Does God bless us with material luxuries or nice experiences? What we probably mean is that we are thankful to God. But with so much poverty in the world, is that right? Does God deprive some people of his grace and mercy? Of course not. God’s blessings go much deeper. So, it’s worth a look at the language we use and to reflect on what God does give us, that we may be overlooking.

In the Old and New Testaments, all blessings were spiritual gifts, not material ones. Think of the Beatitudes. God imparts his love, strength and grace in times of greatest need, in situations of despair and to those who are suffering. These are true blessings. So rather than think we are blessed when things are go well, we should see God’s help when life tests us. Then he is truly with us.

So when are we truly blessed? When we live in the certainty of God. When his love overpowers us. When we feel his mercy. When we don’t need material possession because we are filled with hope and assurance. Let’s thank God for what we have, and share what is ours, but see His blessings in a new and exciting way; God loves us, and he has a place waiting for us in His Kingdom. The promise of that should make us truly blessed.

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