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A priest in white vestments sprinkles holy water to bless a small dog held by a woman in a pink sling, surrounded by people outside a church in Mexico City.
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A priest in white vestments sprinkles holy water to bless a small dog held by a woman in a pink sling, surrounded by people outside a church in Mexico City.
Pet blessing in Mexico City A priest blessing a dog with holy water during the annual ā€œBlessing of the Animalsā€ to celebrate the feast day of St. Anthony of Egypt (also called St. Anthony Abbot) on January 17, 2025, at the Cathedral of San Bernardino de Siena in Mexico City.

benediction

religion
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ā€¢History

benediction, a verbal blessing of persons or things, commonly applied to invocations pronounced in Godā€™s name by a priest or minister, usually at the conclusion of a religious service. The Aaronic benediction (Numbers 6:24ā€“26) was incorporated by Martin Luther into his German mass and is preserved by modern Lutherans because of its impressive dignity; it is also used in the Mozarabic liturgy of Spain before the reception of the eucharistic host. The Swedish liturgy appends a trinitarian formula to this same benediction. Some Christian churches, however, prefer the Pauline benediction (II Corinthians 13:14).

In the Roman Catholic Church benediction commonly means a blessing of persons (for example, pilgrims) or objects (religious articles such as rosaries). Benediction of the blessed sacrament, a nonliturgical devotional service, has as its central act the blessing of the congregation with the eucharistic host.

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by RenƩ Ostberg.