What benefits do you gain by blessing yourself?

[Terry]

Okay, you can bless yourself by using anointing oil and holy water, but what benefits do you gain from that?

What does blessing do? Why do we bless each other and ourselves?

What is the right way to bless ourselves?

I just got converted, so I am still learning.

thanks in advance,

Terry

[Father David Moser]

Any blessing is in truth a prayer to ask God's blessing upon the person or thing blessed. Every time you cross yourself, you "bless" yourself. Every time the priest blesses you - he is invoking not his own blessing, but God's blessing upon you.

Fr David Moser

[Irene]

Congratulations Terry on your baptism!

I have some links for some web sites that you might find interesting:

Instructions on living an Orthodox Life including how to greet Priests http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx

A booklet in pdf format on Living an Orthodox Life at the same site http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/guidintc.pdf

Orthodox America Online Articles
http://www.roca.org/OA/default.htm

Orthodox Online Prayer Book
http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/prayerbook/main.htm

The above links are only for some information and guidance if you wish to look at them, please don't be overwhelmed, go by what your Priest instructs. For instance different Orthodox Churches have some differences in customs, so if you read something on the internet ask your Priest about whether or not you should be doing it. If you feel a little uncomfortable about doing something the "right" way talk to your Priest about that too (Something like when to keep completely still in Church see: Monachos Thread "The Six Psalms" http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2798)

The most important things are the faith and following your Spiritual Father/Priests advice because they get to know you, pray for you and they know how you should be guided.

In Christ
irene

[Chrissi]

Okay, you can bless yourself by using anointing oil and holy water, but what benefits do you gain from that?

What does blessing do? Why do we bless each other and ourselves?

What is the right way to bless ourselves?

I just got converted, so I am still learning.

thanks in advance,

Terry

I have always been taught that we are protected by crossing ourselves, and by wearing our crosses, and also when we are annointed with holy oil. I have always believed that point, and by crossing others I am asking for those I care about to be protected too.

In Christ,
Christina