ABSTRACT
THOSE nations hold it beautiful, sacred, and indeed requisite, to dispense a blessing, invoked by either a priest or themselves, upon all things that are to be devoted to use by human beings, for they feel that when the name of God has been invoked an abundance of everything is everywhere at hand, or soon will be. For they hear cited by their preachers from Ch. 28 of Deuteronomy the great blessings bestowed on those who keep the commandments of God, and again how unfortunate and accursed are those who turn aside from them. 2 Public ceremonies are held, however, for the blessing of seeds, crops, and foods at Eastertime, and in the middle of August, on the day dedicated to the most Holy Virgin, they pray that fruits of every kind may be blessed. 3 If any of these which are intended for domestic use, chiefly beer and other kinds of drink, seem to have been contaminated by poisonous and unclean animals that have fallen into them, they are soon restored by the administration of a priestly benediction in the following form of words: ‘God, to whose immeasurable compassion it belongs to wipe away filth, to restore what has been spoiled to its former cleanliness, and by blessing to hallow it, we humbly entreat Thee to rid this liquor of whatever filth, impurity, or harm lies in it; and with Thy wonted pity to purge by sanctification and to sanctify by purgation the means of support which Thou hast deigned to grant Thy servants for their use; so that this liquor, cleansed of all pollution, may be sanctified by Thy divine blessing, and may be undefiled for all who taste thereof.’ 4 There is also another form of blessing, this time of the corn, on St Stephen’s day: ‘Almighty, everlasting God, creator and sanctifier of all the elements, who art trinity and unity, we pray Thee, O Lord, our most merciful Father, that this corn may be blessed through Thy compassion, and by our invocation of Thy most holy name grant that the beasts which shall taste of it may receive restoration, health, and strength; that they, whom Thou hast created for our use, may by Thy grace live to be of assistance to us. Through Our Lord.’ 5
