A Very Old Blessing

By Fred Schaeffer, OFS

 The  source of the text is the Book of Numbers 6:24-26, where  Aaron and his sons bless the Israelites with this blessing.  The text of the blessing, in Hebrew and English:

·           יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהֹוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ 

·           יָאֵר יְהֹוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ 

·           יִשָּׂא יְהֹוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם 

 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; 

 The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be  gracious unto thee; 

 The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give  thee peace. 

 This is  the oldest known biblical text that has been found; amulets  with these verses written on them have been found in graves  in dating from the First Temple Period (1006 BC-586 BC), and  are now in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Image provided by: Karen Szczesniak, OFS

Various  interpretations of these verses connect them to the three  Patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or to three  attributes of God; Mercy, Courage, and Glory.

 St.  Francis of Assisi, also used this blessing, which is also  known as the "Priestly Blessing," as follows:     

  May the Lord bless you and keep you;
 may the Lord show his face to you
 and have compassion on you!
 May he turn his face to you
 and give you peace!
 
    St. Francis of Assisi - Blessing to Brother  Leo

 As  Franciscans, St. Francis' Blessing is a part of every  Fraternity Meeting. In the "Ritual of the Secular Franciscan  Order," in fact, this blessing ends all of the rites and  meetings. Next time you participate in saying or receiving  this blessing, please remember Aaron and his sons when they  blessed the Israelites almost 3012 years ago! And then,  please ask Our Heavenly Father, to protect and bless the  Israelites of today. 

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

6/25/2023

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