Ordinary Form·Concluding Rites
Blessing
The priest invokes God's blessing on the people.
What happens
The priest greets the people ('The Lord be with you… And with your spirit') and blesses them with the sign of the cross ('May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit'). On certain days a Solemn Blessing or a Prayer over the People may be used.
Why it happens
The blessing sends the people forth enriched by the divine life they have received in Word and Sacrament, invoking the protection and grace of God as they depart.
Sources
- GIRM §90a–b