What does a blessing do?

[chrisg93]

I plan to give a blessed crucifix to an Evangelical friend. He is going to ask “What does blessed mean? – Where is it in the Bible? – What does blessing do?” Can you help me answer these questions.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

chrisg93:

What does bless[ing] mean?

Here is the definition of blessing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1671)

Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father “with every spiritual blessing.” This is why the Church imparts blessings by invoking the name of Jesus, usually while making the holy sign of the cross of Christ.

chrisg93:

Where is it in the Bible?

For biblical support, just go to the Michigan RSV search engine and type in bless and search in the New Testament. The New Testament is filled with Jesus bestowing blessings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount.

chrisg93:

What does blessing do?

A blessing asks for God’s grace to be bestowed upon something. As an Evangelical, your friend probably prays before eating. Such a custom is often called “saying grace” or “saying a blessing.” Just as food can be blessed, so Catholics believe that religious objects that help us grow in devotion to God may also be blessed.