Benedict, Benedick

A term employed to denote a newly married man. (Derived from "Benedick," one of the characters in Shakspeare's comedy of Much Ado about Nothing.) Benedic'ta, in Maine , a township in A roos took county. Benedic'tine, a . Belonging, or relating to, the monke of the order of St. Benedict, or Bennet. Benedictines, n . pl . ( Eccl . Hist .) An order of monks in the Roman Catholic Church, founded by St. Benedict or Bennet, who introduced monachism into Western Europe, and erected his first monastery on the site of a temple of Apollo, on Monte Ca ino, abt. 50 m. from Subiaco, in Italy, A. D. 529. The order spread rapidly in Europe. St. Benedict himself founded several monasteries, and his example was followed by others. The monks took the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. By some authorities, the B. are said to have been introduced into England by Augustine in 596, and by others the event is a igned to a later period, Dunstan (925-988) being considered the first English abbot of that order. Towards the end of the 8th century, they had become so numerous that Charlemagne caused inquiry to be made whether any other kind of monks existed than those of the order of St. Benedict. The austerity of their habits soon became relaxed, and Matthew Paris mentions a reformation that was attempted in 1238. Their merits in collecting, preserving, and multiplying copies of cla ical manuscripts must not be forgotten, and the order is every way distinguished for the numerous services rendered to literature. There were several branches of the B. living under the same rule, but observing a different discipline, - the chief being the Cluniacs, established in 912, the Car thus i ans , founded in 1080, and the Cistercians or Bernardines , founded in 1098. The dre of the B. was black, and hence they have been called Black Monks or Friars, or the Black Monks of St. Benedict. According to an inquiry instituted by Pope John XXI. (1316-1334), this order had at that time produced 20 emperors, 10 empre es, 47 kings, 50 queens, 24 popes, 68 princes, 100 prince es, 200 cardinals, 7,000 archbishops, 15,000 bishops, 15,000 abbots, and 4,000 saints, besides a host of other dignitaries both in church and state. There were nuns as well as monks of this order. -For a notice of the learning of the B. , see MAUR, (ST.) Benediction, ( ben -e - dik's hon ,) n. [Lat. benedictiobene, well, and dico , dictum , to speak.] The act of invoking the favor of God, prosperity, long life, and other ble ings upon individuals. (Eccl. Hist.) The ceremony of ble ing is of a very remote antiquity. We find in the Scriptures, that the patriarchs, before they died, solemnly bestowed their ble ing on their sons. Isaac, giving by mistake to his younger son Jacob the ble ing which he intended for his elder son Esau ( Genesis xxvii.), is an interesting instance of this custom. In Numbers vi. 23-26, the words are specified in which the high-priest was to ble the people of Israel. Aaron ble ed the people, "lifting lis hand towards them." ( Levitic us ix.) Christ, after his resurrection, and before parting from his disciples at Bethany, "lifted up his hands and ble ed them." ( St. Luke xxiv. 50.) In the early Church, the bishop gave his ble ing to the people with his hands extended towards them. In the Roman Catholic Church 14 is the custom for the bishop to lift up his right hand towards the people with the fingers extended, and with it to The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia describe the sign of the cro , in commemoration of the Redemption. The priests also give the benediction, but with some difference in the form and words, and they can only give it at ma , or while administering the sacrament, or in other solemn ceremonies; but the bishop has the power of giving it anywhere or upon any occasion he may think fit. In the Roman Pontific ale are found the various forms of benediction. One of the most impre ive instances of this ceremony is that of the Pope, in full pontificals, attended by the cardinals and prelates, giving his benediction " Urbi et Orbi " on Easter Sunday after ma , from the great gallery in the front of St. Peter's church, while the vast area beneath is filled with kneeling spectators. The benedic torium is the vase containing the holy water, which is placed at the entrance of Catholic churches for the use of the people, who dip their fingers into it and cro themselves as they go in and out. The water is ble ed by the priest, and is mixed with salt. Benedictive, a. Giving a ble ing. Benedictory, a . Giving good wishes for one's welfare. Benefaction, n. [Lat. benefactio- bene , well, and facio, factum, to make, to do.] The doing of a favor or good office; act of conferring a benefit. - A benefit conferred, especially a charitable donation. "One part of the benefactions was the expre ion of a grateful and generous mind." - Atterbury .