Question: Water Consecrated for Baptism

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Neofight

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Is water consecrated for Baptism on Holy Thursday by the Bishop just as sacramental oils are? If so what happens if a church runs out?

I only ask because my church has a heated baptismal pond with continuously running water, and when the water level gets low, additional (tap) water is added.

I was under the (possibly false) assumption that water added must be consecrated by the Bishop. A fellow parishener explained that the vessel or pond is “blessed” so the water added does not necessarily need to be, because it comes in contact with the consecrated vessel.

Is that correct. Anyone have a reference (canon law, CCC article, etc.)?

Peace in Christ
 
Neofight said:
Is water consecrated for Baptism on Holy Thursday by the Bishop just as sacramental oils are? If so what happens if a church runs out?

I only ask because my church has a heated baptismal pond with continuously running water, and when the water level gets low, additional (tap) water is added.

I was under the (possibly false) assumption that water added must be consecrated by the Bishop. A fellow parishener explained that the vessel or pond is “blessed” so the water added does not necessarily need to be, because it comes in contact with the consecrated vessel.

Is that correct. Anyone have a reference (canon law, CCC article, etc.)?

Peace in Christ
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No, the Bishop doesn’t bless the water on Holy Thursday.

The water is blessed before each baptism, except at Easter, when the water blessed at the Vigil is used. The blessing of the water is part of the rite of Baptism.
 
Information on differences in different “categories” (so to speak) of water sacramentals:

Water
 
Neofight said:
I was under the (possibly false) assumption that water added must be consecrated by the Bishop.
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Priests may bless water. The bishop does not have to do so. The priest blesses the holy water regularly (i.e. water placed in the holy water fonts and available for you to take home) and blesses water in the baptismal font for baptisms as needed.
 
1ke said:
Priests may bless water. The bishop does not have to do so. The priest blesses the holy water regularly (i.e. water placed in the holy water fonts and available for you to take home) and blesses water in the baptismal font for baptisms as needed.
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As do deacons, who also perform the solemn Rite of Baptism.
 
As others have stated, the priest or deacon blesses the water prior to baptism. If an emergency baptism was necessary, anyone could baptize using any water available, even unblessed water, and just use the Trinitarian formula.
 
The waters blessed at the Easter Vigil service are intended for Baptisms on that night. Normally baptismal water is blessed at the beginning of each baptismal service and poured away to earth when it is no longer required. We are now more sensitive to the requirements of infants in terms of water temperature and cleanliness.

In the mediaeval church it used to remain in the font and was used throughout the year (breaking the ice when necessary). There was an abuse whereby people would steal the baptismal water for ceremonies at home. This was condemned by my church’s patron saint, Edmund of Canterbury who insisted that all English Baptismal fonts should have a lockable lid. He also introduced the practice of blessing “lustral” water - what we generally call holy water - for minor blessings and sprinkling. Baptismal water and lustral water should never be mixed - although this is a common abuse.
 
Neofight said:
Is water consecrated for Baptism on Holy Thursday by the Bishop just as sacramental oils are? If so what happens if a church runs out?

I only ask because my church has a heated baptismal pond with continuously running water, and when the water level gets low, additional (tap) water is added.

I was under the (possibly false) assumption that water added must be consecrated by the Bishop. A fellow parishener explained that the vessel or pond is “blessed” so the water added does not necessarily need to be, because it comes in contact with the consecrated vessel.

Is that correct. Anyone have a reference (canon law, CCC article, etc.)?

Peace in Christ
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No, water is usually blessed by a priest. He blesses fresh water for each baptism. I believe, however, that the water blessed at the Paschal Vigil on Holy Saturday night is retained for use during the remainder of the Easter season.
 
All the churches I’ve been to all have baptismal fonts and the water in those fonts is the same from one baptism to another. Now it might be that the priest re-blesses the water, but it is the same water, because they never empty it. Or they might empty it once in a while for sanitary purposes. But this is not done on a regular basis.

I do have another question for someone. Is there a any real difference between Baptismal water and blessed holy water since they are both blessed? Isn’t blessed water blessed water?
 
Anytime the holy water font runs low its just refilled and blessed by the priest.
 
fred_conty said:
All the churches I’ve been to all have baptismal fonts and the water in those fonts is the same from one baptism to another. Now it might be that the priest re-blesses the water, but it is the same water, because they never empty it. Or they might empty it once in a while for sanitary purposes. But this is not done on a regular basis.
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Are you sure it isn’t changed more frequently? We sometimes think that things don’t happen in our parishes because we don’t see them happen.
fred_conty said:
I do have another question for someone. Is there a any real difference between Baptismal water and blessed holy water since they are both blessed? Isn’t blessed water blessed water?
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I’m not going to say yes for certain. But, I’d come to the same conclusion as you: holy water is holy water.
 
Thanks all, for the insightful replies.

Another question came to mind as I made my way throught the thread.

A few made mention of Baptismal or Holy Water being “blessed”.

Is “blessing” of water for Baptismal purposes an accurate description, or is “consecrated” more accurate because the water will be used for sacramental purposes?
 
Neofight said:
Thanks all, for the insightful replies.

Another question came to mind as I made my way throught the thread.

A few made mention of Baptismal or Holy Water being “blessed”.

Is “blessing” of water for Baptismal purposes an accurate description, or is “consecrated” more accurate because the water will be used for sacramental purposes?
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I believe the correct term is ‘bless’.
 
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