In its widest acceptation this word has a variety of meanings in the sacred writings:
With these various significations it is not the present purpose to deal. Coming, then, to its strictly liturgical and restricted sense, blessing may be described as a rite, consisting of a ceremony and prayers performed in the name and with the authority of the Church by a duly qualified minister, by which persons or things are sanctified as dedicated to Divine service, or by which certain marks of Divine favour are invoked upon them... |
So it seems that one may not know from a non-technical account, just what kind of blessing was invoked or intended.
I bless people fairly promiscuously. I admit that. I am grateful for blessings, too: if they were rightly intended, they will do me good; if they were sarcastic or heretical or in some other way defective, they will do me no harm.
Muslims bless each others, too. Do you think that does them any good?
That's a very good way to look at it.