How many times in a day does "GOD" have to bless upon a sneezer? Give me a number.
2006-08-25 12:14:39 · 14 answers · asked by jaycavalino 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The custom of saying "God bless you" after a sneeze was begun literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague (his successor succumbed to it). Gregory (who also invented the ever-popular Gregorian chant) called for litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's help and intercession. Columns marched through the streets chanting, "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy"). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.
2006-08-25 12:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by Jay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The custom of blessing someone when they sneeze started a hundred or so years ago, I think in England or Germany. Back then, it was sort of an urban legend, that a person's soul could "leak out" of their body when they sneezed hard enough. To prevent a demon or evil spirit from "taking advantage" of their neighbor in such a "state", people would say "God bless you" (English) or "Geschundtieidt" (German, sp?)
Like many customs, long after we forgot WHY we were doing this, we just kept doing it out of habit.
God is not required to bless sneezes, just because somebody says so.
2006-08-25 12:22:04 · answer #2 · answered by MamaBear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heart does not stop beating when you sneeze, that is a myth! They believe that the soul would leave the body during a sneeze, and that saying God bless you would not allow it to leave.
2006-08-25 12:23:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the movie Leprachaun 2, if you don't say God bless you before a person sneezes three times then they have to marry the leprchaun thats making them sneeze.
2006-08-25 13:48:12 · answer #4 · answered by Link 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has become a worldly habit to say such a thing. However, how it began deals with a supersition that when one sneezes...it allows the devil a small chance to sneak in and take over you to some extent. I personally never believed such hocus pocus...however...I still do say bless you all the time when someone sneezes. Call it habit. :)
2006-08-25 12:49:00 · answer #5 · answered by Bible Trekker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old tradition from the middle ages. Some people back then believed that when you sneezed you were temporarily open to demonic possession.
In the present day it is just a meaningless polite expression.
2006-08-25 12:19:58 · answer #6 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im not sure, but people in the early days saw the sneeze to be one of the first signs of plague, others think the soul leaves the body through the nose........
2006-08-25 12:19:26 · answer #7 · answered by AMT 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's all good intention even if you don't believe in God - you're hoping for good health for the person. Anyway, God has the power to heal.
Peace
2006-08-25 12:20:12 · answer #8 · answered by trace 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It used to be believed that you were closest to death when you sneezed. Therefore, 'god bless you.'
2006-08-25 12:19:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't say "God Bless You" .
I always only say "Bless You"
2006-08-25 12:21:01 · answer #10 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋