Benediction

'The word blessing evokes a sense of warmth and protection; it suggests that no life is alone or unreachable...A blessing is different from a greeting, a hug, a salute or an affirmation; it opens different door in human encounter...A blessing is a gracious invocation where the human heart pleads with the divine heart...A blessing illuminates a person or situation in a completely new way...in a dead wall a new window opens; in a dense darkness a path starts to glimmer and into a broken heart healing falls like morning dew...Let us begin to learn how to bless ourselves and each other'

From Benedictus: A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue

This wonderful reflection on the nature of blessing was used by Helen Jelfs to introduce our morning prayer liturgy today at St Bride's