T
Trying2overcome
Guest
Does the priest have to say certain prayers over the water, or can he simply make the sign of the cross over it?
Thank you.
Thank you.
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C
Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
Depends on when the water is being blessed, but presuming it’s just a blessing of holy water for any non-specific use, a sign of the cross is sufficient.
During baptisms and other rites, there are particular prayers that are intended to accompany the blessing, but only because they’re part of the rite - not to make the blessing more effective (and the blessing isn’t less somehow without them).
During baptisms and other rites, there are particular prayers that are intended to accompany the blessing, but only because they’re part of the rite - not to make the blessing more effective (and the blessing isn’t less somehow without them).
J
jimXroberts
Guest
There are two kinds of holy water: Baptismal water used for Baptisms and lustral water used in holy water stoups, at funerals and for general blessings. The distinction is often misunderstood by sacristans. Using left over Baptismal water to top up the supply of lustral water is an abuse.
Baptismal water is usually blessed at the baptismal service and there are specific prayers of blessing. At the Easter Vigil service, there is a longer form of blessing and the water is used for RCIA baptisms, other baptisms during Easter week and for sprinkling the congregation when they renew their baptismal promises at Easter Masses.
There is a ceremony in the Roman Missal for blessing holy water and sprinkling the congregation with it as a form of the penitential rite. This is broadly similar to the Asperges used in EF. Holy water left over from this rite may be sued as lustral water. The same prayer of blessing should be used for lustral water, although there is an alternative prayer in the “Book of Blessings” used in many churches.
Making a quick sign of the cross over water may be effective for blessing it, but it would not be proper to expect the use of water blessed in that way to impart the blessing to other people.
Baptismal water is usually blessed at the baptismal service and there are specific prayers of blessing. At the Easter Vigil service, there is a longer form of blessing and the water is used for RCIA baptisms, other baptisms during Easter week and for sprinkling the congregation when they renew their baptismal promises at Easter Masses.
There is a ceremony in the Roman Missal for blessing holy water and sprinkling the congregation with it as a form of the penitential rite. This is broadly similar to the Asperges used in EF. Holy water left over from this rite may be sued as lustral water. The same prayer of blessing should be used for lustral water, although there is an alternative prayer in the “Book of Blessings” used in many churches.
Making a quick sign of the cross over water may be effective for blessing it, but it would not be proper to expect the use of water blessed in that way to impart the blessing to other people.
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C
Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
Can you guide me to the proper documents that describe these distinctions of holy water?
J
JohnLilburne
Guest
The General Introduction to the Book of Blessings has:
“27 The outward signs of blessing, and particularly the sign of the cross, are in themselves forms of preaching the Gospel and of expressing faith. But to ensure active participation in the celebration and to guard against any danger of superstition, it is ordinarily not permissible to impart the blessing of any article or place merely through a sign of blessing and without either the word of God or any sort of prayer being spoken.”
In the USA edition of the Book of Blessings there is a chapter “Order for the Blessing of Holy Water Outside Mass” which begins at n. 1388. In the original Latin it is n. 1085. It may be used by a Priest or a Deacon. To outline the ceremony:
Introduction – Sign of the Cross by everyone, greeting, introductory words by the celebrant.
Reading, eg John 7:37-39
Prayer of Blessing. There are three of which one is chosen. This is the first:
“Let us pray.
All pray briefly in silence; then, with hands outstretched, the celebrant says the prayer of blessing.
Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God,
who in Christ, the living water of salvation,
blessed and transformed us.
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.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.”
“1399 After the prayer of blessing, the celebrant sprinkles those present with holy water, as a suitable song is sung; as circumstances suggest, he may first say the following words.
Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ,
who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.
R. Amen.”
The Book of Blessings does not indicate a Sign of the Cross to actually bless the water. But on 14 September 2002 there was a decree that there be the Sign of the Cross by the right hand of the celebrant over the item to be blessed, even if the Book of Blessings does not have this. The Latin original text is at http://notitiae.ipsissima-verba.org/pdf/aas-2002-684-684.pdf and an unofficial English translation at Notitiae Responses . So in the above ceremony the Sign of the Cross is made at then end of the Prayer of Blessing.
Sometimes a blessing is made without words. For example with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, Ceremonial of Bishops has in 1109: “the bishop puts incense into the censer and blesses it”. No words are provided for this blessing. But from the context of the ceremony it is fairly clear what is happening.
[Excerpts from the English translation of the Book of Blessings © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops © 1989 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
“27 The outward signs of blessing, and particularly the sign of the cross, are in themselves forms of preaching the Gospel and of expressing faith. But to ensure active participation in the celebration and to guard against any danger of superstition, it is ordinarily not permissible to impart the blessing of any article or place merely through a sign of blessing and without either the word of God or any sort of prayer being spoken.”
In the USA edition of the Book of Blessings there is a chapter “Order for the Blessing of Holy Water Outside Mass” which begins at n. 1388. In the original Latin it is n. 1085. It may be used by a Priest or a Deacon. To outline the ceremony:
Introduction – Sign of the Cross by everyone, greeting, introductory words by the celebrant.
Reading, eg John 7:37-39
Prayer of Blessing. There are three of which one is chosen. This is the first:
“Let us pray.
All pray briefly in silence; then, with hands outstretched, the celebrant says the prayer of blessing.
Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God,
who in Christ, the living water of salvation,
blessed and transformed us.
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.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.”
“1399 After the prayer of blessing, the celebrant sprinkles those present with holy water, as a suitable song is sung; as circumstances suggest, he may first say the following words.
Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ,
who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.
R. Amen.”
The Book of Blessings does not indicate a Sign of the Cross to actually bless the water. But on 14 September 2002 there was a decree that there be the Sign of the Cross by the right hand of the celebrant over the item to be blessed, even if the Book of Blessings does not have this. The Latin original text is at http://notitiae.ipsissima-verba.org/pdf/aas-2002-684-684.pdf and an unofficial English translation at Notitiae Responses . So in the above ceremony the Sign of the Cross is made at then end of the Prayer of Blessing.
Sometimes a blessing is made without words. For example with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, Ceremonial of Bishops has in 1109: “the bishop puts incense into the censer and blesses it”. No words are provided for this blessing. But from the context of the ceremony it is fairly clear what is happening.
[Excerpts from the English translation of the Book of Blessings © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Excerpt from the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops © 1989 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
C
Cor_ad_Cor
Guest
@(name removed by moderator)
As I suspected, there is NO documentation to support @jimXroberts’s claims, because they aren’t consistent with Church teaching. I’ve searched high and low this week and come up with nothing.
As I suspected, there is NO documentation to support @jimXroberts’s claims, because they aren’t consistent with Church teaching. I’ve searched high and low this week and come up with nothing.
C
CRV
Guest
AFAIK, lustral water is holy water. At my parish the water in the baptismal font (at the Easter Vigil) has both Chrism and catechumen oils in it as well. But otherwise the water in the baptismal font is just holy water, (with the infants head anointed during the rite.)
I was interested to see the documentation too.
I was interested to see the documentation too.
Q
quies
Guest
A few years ago, Fr. Richard Heilman blog-posted the full Exorcism Blessing Rite for Salt and Water from the Roman Ritual that he began using.
As he mentions, it doubtless takes much time and effort to use this ritual - but the form IMHO surely would make a powerful impression on witnesses who were present to respond?!
Regards.
As he mentions, it doubtless takes much time and effort to use this ritual - but the form IMHO surely would make a powerful impression on witnesses who were present to respond?!
Regards.
T
TheHolyTrinity
Guest
Lusteral Water also known as Gregorian Water (used by Bishops during a Church consecration). It has a combination in the water ashes, salt and wine.lustral water
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