Benediction

Benediction, an invocation of the Divine blessing (Latin benedictio) on persons or things. The term covers, on the one hand, such short invocations as "grace before meat," or the "Pax Vobiscum" usually given at the end of service in the Anglican Church; and on the other, short dedicatory services, more common before the Reformation than now, over new church utensils, new bells, new regimental colours, or foundation-stones. Services of the two latter kinds are still in use. The term is also applied to a short evening service used in the Roman Church.