Dominus Vobiscum
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
(the Lord be with you), a form of salutation used in the liturgies of several of the Christian churches. It is taken from the book of Ruth, together with the response et cum spiritu tuo — "and with thy spirit." It was introduced into Christian worship before the end of the second century. A canon of the first council of Braga, in 563, directed against a custom which the Priscillianists had adopted, of assigning one form of salutation to the bishops and another to the presbyters, enjoins all to use the same form, Dominus sit vobiscum — "the Lord be with you;" and the people to reply, Et cum spiritu tuo — sicut ab ipsis apostolis traditionemn omnis retinet oriens — "and with thy spirit," according to apostolic and Eastern custom. — Augusti, Christl. Archeologie, book 5, chapter 3, § 6.
