There are two types of Holy Water. The Blessed water used for Baptism also called “Easter Water” because it was blessed at the Easter Vigil is just water.
Holy water like many other sacramentals do not need to be re-blessed when they are replaced. For instance if the crucifix you wear wears out, you can replace it with a like one, and it is not necessary to bless the replacement. (you can if you wish to have it blessed) A sacpular also need not be reblessed or the person re-enrolled when the original one wears out. Just keep refilling it when 1/3 is used and replace it every Easter season. by the way if blessed salt is added to the water before it is blessed by the priest or Deacon it does keep better, does not turn green as quickly.
Mary,
If I fill a bottle with Holy Water from the Holy water container at the parish and use 1/3 of it every month to fill the font and refill it with plain water every month at the end of 12 months what do I have? According to deacon I have a bottle of plain water. According to the practice of the Church I have a full bottle of Holy Water.
Because of the mixing of the water, there will still be some holy water in there. However, I’m trying to present the teachings of the Church, not some pious practice that does not have the authority of the Church behind it.
Not wanting to openly debate Deacon here. I did however want to insure what I was saying was correct so I spent a bit of time this morning digging around for information. I found that there is considered in the Church five different types of Holy Water, for different uses. Common Holy water used for most blessings is common water with only salt added. Baptismal water usually blessed with the Paschal candle and sometimes does have a few drops of Oil of Catechumens and Sacred Chrism added. Holy water known as Easter Water, blessed at the Easter Vigil, and Holy Water known as Gregorian Water which contains water, small amounts of wine, salt and ashes and is blessed and used by a Bishop. Also there is “Holy Water” taken from shrines. Sometimes it is found in a pool containing a Relic. Technically this water would be a “Third Class Relic” which is also a sacramental.
Br. Rich,.
With the reform of the rituals there are now two forms of blessing water, one in the context of Mass and the other outside of Mass. A deacon or priest may do the blessing outside of Mass but a priest does it within Mass. Neither ritual calls for adding anything to the water. The water used at the Easter Vigil is plain water that the Paschal Candle is lowered into. All other Holy Water is plain water blessed by a priest or deacon.
I’ve been confused by this. Apparently Thomas Aquinas takes for granted that water added to holy water becomes holy. These quotes come from Summa Theologica:
Wouldn’t this then mean that one could make an entire lake or ocean into holy water simply by pouring some holy water into it? I’d really like to see some quotes from official Church teaching.
I remember talking to my priest friend about this and he said that, if I remember correctly, you cannot delute the holy water more than half or it is no longer holy water. Sorry.
I’m curious, Deacon Ed … Is it the lowering of the Paschal Candle into the Baptismal Font the action that blesses the water, or are there words of blessing said over the water?
The blessing just goes away because the object no longer exists. No lay persons cannot Bless Holy Water.Is that really how you make it? I heard regular people can make holy water, I’m not exactly sure of what makes Holy water Holy. Can anyone tell me if this is true? I heard it is the person using it’s faith which makes it Holy. And we have this little Holy water container at home, when it evaporates where does the blessing go? Does the air become Holy with the vapors or does the blessing just go away? Thanks!
It turns green? Brother Rich, what are you using a storage container???