How do you use Holy Water correctly as a layman?

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EMFrost

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I’ve posted a shorter version of this about once a week for a month under “Ask an Apologist” and I’m guessing that was the wrong place to do so. My mistake, if any apologists read this- sorry.

I have a bottle of holy water from Church I want to use to purify/sanctify/protect (not actually sure what the proper terminology is) the place I’m staying while up college. Is it appropriate for a layman rather than a priest to “sprinkle the holy water” for this purpose? How does one “sprinkle the holy water” (is there a specific way)? Are their certain prayers that need to be said while doing so? Lastly I read that St. Teresa of Avila actually drank the stuff. Is there a certain way to do that? I just don’t want to misuse the sacramental (is holy water a sacramental?) I struggle to articulate this without the proper terminology. If anyone could help me understand this, that would be great.
 
EMFrost said:
I’ve posted a shorter version of this about once a week for a month under “Ask an Apologist” and I’m guessing that was the wrong place to do so. My mistake, if any apologists read this- sorry.

I have a bottle of holy water from Church I want to use to purify/sanctify/protect (not actually sure what the proper terminology is) the place I’m staying while up college. Is it appropriate for a layman rather than a priest to “sprinkle the holy water” for this purpose? How does one “sprinkle the holy water” (is there a specific way)? Are their certain prayers that need to be said while doing so? Lastly I read that St. Teresa of Avila actually drank the stuff. Is there a certain way to do that? I just don’t want to misuse the sacramental (is holy water a sacramental?) I struggle to articulate this without the proper terminology. If anyone could help me understand this, that would be great.
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it is a sacramental.
you just have to sprinkle it in any way. no special prayers are needed. still, you can say any prayer if you want to.
if you can drink the body and blood of christ, you can drink holy water. again,there is no proper way.

if you are talking about blessing of homes and enthronement to the sacred heart, only a priest can do it.
 
So what would the benefit of sprinkling holy water around be?
In contrast to a priest’s blessing?

This is where I get confused, I know holy water is used to bless things. I also know only priests can perform blessings. So when lay people talk about “sprinkling holy water around” what are they doing? I’m not asking that rhetorically, I’m genuinely confused.

I sprinkled the holy water around the place a few weeks ago, but it keeps nagging me that I’m really not sure what I was doing.
 
You could buy a holy water font and put it next to your main door so that you bless yourself coming and going.
 
It is always preferable to have a Deacon or a Priest bless any object.

with that said:

Blessing of Homes by Laity:

(Click Here) EWTN: Blessings by Laity
(emphasis is mine 🙂 )

EWTN Catholic Q&A
Blessings by Laity
Question from Diane Gaudin on 05-25-2005:
I do not mean to supplant any blessings that should be said by a priest. But is it licit to bless the doors and rooms in my home and business with Holy Water and the sign of the cross or use blessed salt in the same manner. Also, my granddaughter who is not baptised is being raised by my daughter, who left the church to marry a protestant. I regularly have my granddaughter make the sign of the cross with holy water when we take her to church and I make the sign of the cross on her forehead and ask God to bless her and keep her safe. Is what I am doing correct?

Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 05-25-2005:

There isn’t any point in someone who is not baptized blessing themselves with holy water on the way into church. The purpose and meaning of this custom is to remind the person of his or her baptism. In this case, the child is reminder herself of a past event that never occurred.

People may bless their own homes with holy water. This should be done according to the ritual provided in the Book of Blessing, following the directions for a lay person. (There are different rubrics that apply for this to be done by a priest or deacon.)

There is no provision for the blessing of offices or places of business by a lay person.

I am familiar with the practice of blessed salt being added to holy water by a priest or deacon. However, I don’t know what you are doing with it.

Be careful that your little practices are not bordering on superstition.

COPYRIGHT 2002 www.ewtn.com

Use of Holy water in the house
Use of Holy water in the house
Question from Jim R. on 07-03-2012:
Hello Father,

I was uncertain where to post this question. I’ve sprinkled my home liberally with Holy water only recently learning that I should not do this. Now that objects normally disposed of after use (paper, pens, bags, bulletins,etc) have possibly been touched by the water, am I required to keep everything even though I had no intention of sacramentalizing non religious objects?

Answer by Fr. John Echert on 07-04-2012:
Not sure who told you not to sprinkle your home with Holy Water but I see no problem with this. I assume your object is to sanctify your home and since you are not a priest these items do not become sacramentals, so they may be used and disposed of as would normally be done. Think about the consequences of sprinkling rites in the churches if anything touched by water was so sacred it could never be thrown away–you would not even be able to spend “holy money” in your purses and wallets, if the assumption is that they are now sacramentals (they would only be fit for the collection basket 🙂

So I would feel free to use Holy Water in your home, not intending to bless every item as such but to sanctify the home.

Thanks, Jim

Father Echert
COPYRIGHT - www.ewtn.com

as for the proper form… get the rubrics from the book of blessings…

as for blessing a car or a dog etc… Father has told us to use a simple form…
the “Glory Be…”, “Lord we ask you to watch over all that use this and keep them safe from all harm”, and sprinkle the water on the item.
Obviously not the same as a priest’s blessing (which is partially the point) but none the less caries our intent.
There are rubrics for the Laity in the book of blessings for other such things… one can find this online and in any good Catholic book store.

It’s encouraged to have a holy water font by your doors (even so far as in every room). Husbands and wives can bless each other and their children etc… A lot of this is covered in the CCC and has been covered in other threads here on CA.

Consuming holy water… I’ve heard of it; however, personally I don’t see the point. One would not receive the graces from consuming the sacramental to any greater degree than if one merely blesses oneself with it.

As for blessing other sacramentals… that must be done by someone with proper holy orders.
 
So what would the benefit of sprinkling holy water around be?
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First of all, holy water has the power to forgive venial sins. When we turn to God and remember our baptism, in which we vowed to reject sin and satan, our sins are forgiven!
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Second, holy water prepares us to receive the sacraments. With our sins forgiven, our baptism remembered, and with God’s blessing upon us, we are ready to receive the grace of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
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Finally, demons hate holy water. St. Teresa of Avila once said,…
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In contrast to a priest’s blessing?
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i dont find much difference except that holy water is “portable” and can be taken to area without priests.
I know holy water is used to bless things.
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correct
I also know only priests can perform blessings.
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wrong.
So when lay people talk about “sprinkling holy water around” what are they doing? I’m not asking that rhetorically, I’m genuinely confused.
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I sprinkled the holy water around the place a few weeks ago, but it keeps nagging me that I’m really not sure what I was doing.
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you are basically and technically carrying the priests blessing with holy water.

i will elaborate these later
 
holy water carries the priests blessing:

i have taken these from the rite of blessing water

a) new rite
Grant that when we are sprinkled with this water
or make use of it,
we will be refreshed inwardly by the power
of the Holy Spirit
and continue to walk in the new life
we received at Baptism
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alternatively,
Grant that those who are sprinkled with this water
may be renewed in body and spirit
and may make a pure offering of their service to you.
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b) old rite
Grant that this, Your creature,
may receive power by divine grace,
in serving Your mysteries,
to drive away evil spirits, and dispel diseases.
Grant that everything in the homes or other buildings of the faithful
that is sprinkled with this water
may be freed of all uncleanness,
and be freed from harm.
Let no harmful spirit abide here,
nor breath of corruption approach,
and may all the snares of our hidden enemy vanish.
If there be anything which threatens
either the health or the peace of those living there,
may the sprinkling of this water put it to flight.
Grant that the well-being sought by calling on Your holy name
may be defended from all attacks,
through Christ our Lord.
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R. Amen.
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Grant that wherever it is sprinkled at the invocation of Your holy name,
the attacks of the unclean spirit may be banished,
and the fear of the fatal serpent be kept far away.
Let the presence of the Holy Spirit within us,
who humbly implore Your mercy,
be everywhere granted,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and is King and God with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
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R.Amen.
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(both these prayers are said in the old rite). frankly speaking, i prefer to have water blessed with the old rite. it also has exorcism and some other prayers and blessed salt might be added.
 
Jack007 said:
holy water carries the priests blessing:

i have taken these from the rite of blessing water

a) new rite

alternatively,

b) old rite

(both these prayers are said in the old rite). frankly speaking, i prefer to have water blessed with the old rite. it also has exorcism and some other prayers and blessed salt might be added.
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Oh, i quoted these so that you could understand how hw carries blessing. carry is, however not the proper term.
 
You are free to use it yourself. You don’t have to be a priest or layman for this. In my local churches, there are fonts where anyone coming in can take holy water.
One thing that gives me special respect for holy water is that the devil hates it and avoids it.
 
EMFrost, have we answered your question? do you have any doubts remaining?
 
Jack007 said:
it is a sacramental.
you just have to sprinkle it in any way. no special prayers are needed. still, you can say any prayer if you want to.
if you can drink the body and blood of christ, you can drink holy water. again,there is no proper way.

if you are talking about blessing of homes and enthronement to the sacred heart, only a priest can do it.
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You just sprinkle it and ask God to Bless your home, family, children or whatever. I was told by a Nun many years ago to Bless my children at bedtime with Holy Water so I did and still do. They don’t have to even be right in front of you. Fr. told me Grace knows no distance. I bless my home with Holy Water whenever there is a bad storm and I bless all in the path of it also.
There is a Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heat that can be done by a layperson. But I think having a priest do it is better if possible. I don’t think I would drink Holy water, it really isn’t meant for that purpose and should never be compared to receiving the Sacred Blood of our Lord. God Bless, Memaw
 
You just sprinkle it and ask God to Bless your home, family, children or whatever. I was told by a Nun many years ago to Bless my children at bedtime with Holy Water so I did and still do. They don’t have to even be right in front of you. Fr. told me Grace knows no distance. I bless my home with Holy Water whenever there is a bad storm and I bless all int the path of it also.
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I agree 100%
There is a Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heat that can be done by a layperson. But I think having a priest do it is better if possible.
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iirc, a layperson can say the act of consecration. he can also renew the enthronement. but i dont think he can “officially” enthrone. even if he can, the following will not take place.
  1. The priest gives his blessing:
    Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper. Amen.
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(May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.)
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Then the members of the family and the priest sign the Certificate of the Enthronement, which should be framed and hung near the picture of the Sacred Heart or kept in the family archives
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I don’t think I would drink Holy water, it really isn’t meant for that purpose and should never be compared to receiving the Sacred Blood of our Lord. God Bless, Memaw
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I am not saying that drinking holy water generates similar grace to communion. i am saying that it is perfectly fine to drink it. i learnt this from ask an apologist section. and not just sacred blood, but body too, as we believe that ‘each’ (i prefer that term a trillion times to ‘both’) species contains our lord in whole.

and memaw, i find discussions with you charitable, as opposed to violent and vehement.
 
Reclaim said:
You could buy a holy water font and put it next to your main door so that you bless yourself coming and going.
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mdgspencer said:
You are free to use it yourself. You don’t have to be a priest or layman for this. In my local churches, there are fonts where anyone coming in can take holy water.
One thing that gives me special respect for holy water is that the devil hates it and avoids it.
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z_0101 said:
It is always preferable to have a Deacon or a Priest bless any object.

with that said:

Blessing of Homes by Laity:…
…
…with it.

As for blessing other sacramentals… that must be done by someone with proper holy orders.
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👍
(and z 0101, sorry for reducing your post)
 
in the Latin Catholic church holy water is a sacramental intended for the purpose of engaging in blessings. Ordinarily, it should not be adapted to other, profane purposes, such as using it for drinking
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originally posted by Michelle arnold.

i posted it to 'refute" an argument not yet presented. i dont say that you should drink every drop of holy water you see. i just stated that it is fine and not sinful to drink it.

water is sometimes blessed for the sick, right? if they suffer in speech, ingestion,digestion or egestion, they may feel more devotion in drinking it. sacramentals are ex opere operantis, so drinking is more beneficial, so the church encourages it.
 
Blessings go along with authority. As a parent, I can bless my children; as a wife, I can **not **bless my husband, altho he can bless me. A child cannot bless parents unless a son became a priest, in which case, *as a priest, *he would be able to.

We have authority over our homes, so we can bless them. A priest’s blessing would be stronger, so to speak, so is more desirable, and even necessary in certain circumstances.
 
St_Francis said:
Blessings go along with authority. As a parent, I can bless my children; as a wife, I can **not **bless my husband, altho he can bless me. A child cannot bless parents unless a son became a priest, in which case, *as a priest, *he would be able to.

We have authority over our homes, so we can bless them. A priest’s blessing would be stronger, so to speak, so is more desirable, and even necessary in certain circumstances.
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When, therefore, laymen and women are represented as blessing others it is to be understood that this is an act of will on their part, a wish or desire for another’s spiritual or temporal prosperity, an appeal to God which has nothing to recommend it but the merits of personal sanctity.
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i dont see why you dont want your husbands spiritual or temporal prosperity, lol.
 
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