benedictio

Benedictio is a Latin noun meaning blessing. It is formed from the verb benedicere, “to bless,” itself from bene “well” and dicere “to say.” As a term, it can refer to the act of blessing in general or to the rite by which a person, object, place, or action is pronounced or invoked to receive divine grace or protection.

In Christian Latin, benedictio denotes a formal blessing performed by a minister, typically a priest, bishop, or deacon. In Roman Catholic and related liturgical traditions, benedictions are structured ceremonies that may involve spoken prayers, the Sign of the Cross, and, in certain rites, the exposure and blessing of the Blessed Sacrament. The English word benediction is derived from this Latin term.

The plural form benedictiones appears in Latin texts to indicate multiple blessings. In secular or classical contexts, benedictio can simply mean any act of blessing or, more loosely, the act of speaking well of someone.

Beyond Latin, the term has given rise to several modern languages: benedizione in Italian, bénédiction in French, and benediction in English, all retaining the core sense of a ceremonially or formally expressed blessing. In scholarly and liturgical writing, benedictio remains a technical term primarily associated with ecclesiastical rites, while benediction serves as the common English designation for the rite or act.