BLESSED OR BLEST

SIR.-The discussion on the above word in Tee CATHOLIC HERALD has not made us any wiser. About 25 years ago I read a paragraph in the .Weekly Irish News from the pen of a Belfast priest who already advocated the pronunciation of the word as a monosyllable in the Divine Praises and the Hail Mary. Now let us say that the word " Blessed ' in the English language may be a qualificative or the past tense of the verb to bless. Used as the qualificativc, it is applied to a beatified person and is pronounced as two syllables; when used as a verb it is a monosyllable, "I have blessed a medal." In the Divine Praises it is evidently used as a verb, and therefore should be a monosyllable. The French and German languages will confirm this. The qualificative " Blessed " in French is "Bienheareux." in 'German "Selig" -ai a verb, it is in French " &rifr," in German "Benedelen." In the Divine Praises, the French say "Beni salt Dieu," the Germane say ."Gebertedeft sei Gott." it would be ridiculous, if not heretical, to hear the French say " Biertheureux soft Dieu."' Or the Germans "Seiie sei Goa." In conclusion, therefore, the word " 13lessed " in the Divine Praises is used as a verb and its correct pronunciation should be as a monosyllable. The same rule applies to the Hail Kary.
REGULAR.