Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title Posted By Question Date
different blessings for holy water Maria Monday, February 24, 2014

Question:

Dear Brother,

Does it make a difference which official form a priest uses to bless holy water? I have seen some web sites that suggest one should prefer the extraordinary (pre-Vatican II) form because it contains an exorcism of the salt and water. The implication is that the exorcism blessing makes the holy water a more powerful or effective sacramental. Is this true? Does it make a meaningful difference? I try to bless my children with holy water every night before they go to bed. I specifically tried to get holy water with an exorcism blessing on it because it feels like we have been under spiritual attack, and I can use all the help I can get.

Thank you for your advice and insight.

Sincerely,

Maria



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Maria:

The blessing of Holy Water according to the Ordinary Form is true Holy Water as it is an approved form by the Church, and is efficacious for blessing your children and ourselves, to recall and renew our baptismal promises, to remit venial sins, to use when dangers threaten (such as fire, storms, sickness, and calamities), warding off and protection of evil, all reasons that the Church gives us this sacramental to use.

In deliverance work I prefer the blessing of water according to the extraordinary form, but outside of extraordinary circumstances I would not worry about which form the water was blessed.

If you are under attack and feel the need for the Extraordinary Form here is the text of the extraordinary form of blessing water that you can copy and take to a priest to ask him to bless water for you under this form.

If you cannot find a priest who will do the extraordinary form I have Holy Water blessed under the extraordinary form that I can send you.

Here is the Blessing of Water under the Extraordinary Form:

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Creator unconquerable, invincible King, Victor ever-glorious, Who did hold in check the forces bent on dominating us, Who did overcome the cruelty of the raging enemy, Who did in Thy power beat down the wicked foe:

Humbly and fearfully do we pray to Thee, O Lord, and we ask Thee to look with favor on this salt and water which Thou has created. Shine on it with the light of Thy kindness. Sanctify it by the dew of Thy love, so that, through the invocation of Thy holy name, wherever this water and salt is sprinkled it may turn aside every attack of the unclean spirit and dispel the terror of the poisonous serpent. And wherever we may be, make the Holy Spirit present to us who now implore Thy mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

R. Amen.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

Exorcism of Salt (if not done in advance)

God's creature, salt, I cast out the demon from you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by God who ordered you to be thrown into the water-spring by Eliseus to heal it of its barrenness. May you be apurified salt, a means of health for those who believe, a medicine for body and soul for all who make use of you. May all evil fancies of the foul fiend, his malice and cunning, be driven afar from the place where you are sprinkled. And let every unclean spirit be repulsed by Him who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, we humbly appeal to your mercy and goodness to graciously bless + this creature, salt, which you have given for mankind's use. May all who use it find in it a remedy for body and mind. And may everything that it touches or sprinkles be freed from uncleanness and any influence of the evil spirit; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Exorcism of the Water

God's creature, water, I cast out the demon from you in the name of God + the Father almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit. May you be a purified water, empowered to drive afar all power of the enemy, in fact, to root out and banish the enemy himself, along with his fallen angels. We ask this through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who for man's welfare established the most wonderful mysteries in the substance of water, hearken to our prayer, and pour forth your blessing + on this element now being prepared with various purifying rites. May this creature of yours, when used in your mysteries and endowed with your grace, serve to cast out demons and to banish disease. May everything that this water sprinkles in the homes and gatherings of the faithful be delivered from all that is unclean and hurtful; let no breath of contagion hover there, no taint of corruption; let all the wiles of the lurking enemy come to nothing. By the sprinkling of this water may everything opposed to the safety and peace of the occupants of these homes be banished, so that in calling on your holy name they may know the well-being they desire, and be protected from every peril; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Now the priest pours the salt into the water in the form of a cross, saying:

May this salt and water be mixed together; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

God, source of irresistible might and king of an invincible realm, the ever-glorious conqueror; who restrain the force of the adversary, silencing the uproar of his rage, and valiantly subduing his wickedness; in awe and humility we beg you, Lord, to regard with favor this creature thing of salt and water, to let the light of your kindness shine upon it, and to hallow it with the dew of your mercy; so that wherever it is sprinkled and your holy name is invoked, every assault of the unclean spirit may be baffled, and all dread of the serpent's venom be cast out. To us who entreat your mercy grant that the Holy Spirit may be with us wherever we may be; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

 

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum