Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index A Blessing, also used to refer to bestowing such, is infusing something with holiness, divine will, or ones' hopes. Within Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and similar traditions, formal blessings are performed by priests, but as in many other religions, anyone may formally bless another. A curse, at least in its most formal sense, is the opposite of a blessing. In the Bible, blessings and curses are related; the book of Deuteronomy prescribes that obedience to the Torah brings God's blessing, while disobedience brings a curse. A formula for priestly blessing is set forth at Numbers 6:24-26: The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (KJV) This formula has been introduced into Christian worship as well. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ pronounces blessings on the poor, the humble, and the persecuted in the Beatitudes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Blessing can also be a request for permission, as in "gaining your parents blessing" would consist of having been granted consent. In Spanish, there is a blessing which can used as a tender farewell, especially from a parent: Vaya con Dios; Go with God. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.