bendición

Bendición is a Spanish noun that refers to the act of blessing or the blessing itself, as well as the grace or favor invoked or conferred. It derives from the Latin benedictio, from benedicere, meaning “to say well.”

In religious contexts, a bendición is a rite or prayer by which a sacred or spiritual favor is invoked over persons, objects, or places. It is typically performed by a priest, pastor, or other authorized person and can be ceremonial or devotional. Examples include the blessing of a table before meals, the blessing of a home, a wedding blessing, or the blessing of the sick. Different Christian traditions—Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and various Protestant communities—have their own liturgical forms and prayers for blessings.

Bendición also has social and cultural dimensions. It is common at life milestones such as birth, baptism, marriage, or death, and it may be extended to animate or inanimate things believed to require protection or favor. In everyday speech, the term is used metaphorically to express gratitude, relief, or good fortune, as in “qué bendición” or “gracias, fue una bendición tenerte cerca.”

Etymology and related terms: bendición comes from bendecir, from Latin benedicere; related words include benedictio in Latin and cognates in other Romance languages. The concept contrasts with terms like benediction in English, which refers to a formal blessing or prayer often used in liturgical contexts.