BENEDICTUS ben’ ə dik’ təs (Latin benedicare, meaning blessed; Gr. εὐλογητός, G2329). 1. NT: a technical designation referring primarily to Luke 1:68-79, Zechariah’s prophecy of the Redeemer of Israel, where the first line in the Lat. Vul. is Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.” Traditionally Matthew 21:9 has been given the Lat. title Benedictus Qui Venit, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” OT antecedents can be seen in Psalm 105; Micah 4:4; and Malachi 3:10.

2. Liturgically it has become part of the Rom. mass as a hymn sung immediately after the consecration of the Eucharist. In a modified form it also appears in the liturgy of the Church of England.