Holy Water – A Means of Spiritual Wealth

In virtually every These prayers ascend to heaven each time culture, water is seen you take holy water and sprinkle a drop as a symbol of either for your self or for a loved one, happiness and divine whether the loved one be present or ab- blessing. Hindus, sent. Because of the blessing attached to it, Muslims, Egyptians, Holy Mother Church strongly urges its use Babylonians, Greeks, upon her children, especially when dangers Romans, and Hebrews threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness and all engaged in ritual other calamities. washings before they Every catholic home always should have in entered their places of it a supply of holy water. Holy water is one worship. As churches of the Church’s sacramentals that remits were built, they included a porch or court- venial sin. Did we realize now, as we shall yard where people could wash before enter- realize after death, the many benefits which ing. The ritual was a reminder to Christians may be derived from holy water, we would that they were entering a holy place, away use it far more frequently, and with greater from the noise outside the church. faith and reverence. Today as we enter the Church we bless our- Something that I still do before I bless selves with Holy water. Holy water is a myself when I approach the holy water sacramental – it is a sacred sign instituted font, which I was taught by my grandaunt by the Church to prepare us to receive the at a very young age, is to sprinkle a drop of fruit of the sacrament and sanctify us water at the font for the souls in purgatory (Catechism of the Catholic Church@1677). praying that they may rest in peace. Only in There are few sacramentals that respond so purgatory can one understand how ardently universally and dramatically to the needs a poor soul longs for holy water. If we and culture of the Christian people as holy desire to make a host of intercessors for water. Its roots are very humble, but its ourselves, let us try to realize now some of applications are broader than any other their yearnings, and never forget them at sacramental. At the Easter Vigil, the the holy water font. plunging of the Pascal Candle into the The devil hates holy water because of its blessed water was said to recall the power over him. He cannot long abide in a baptism of Jesus in the Jordan whereby he place or near a person that is often sanctified the water and gave it the power sprinkled with this blessed water. Holy of regeneration. water, sprinkled with faith, can move the Throughout the year water is blessed for Sacred Heart to bless your loved ones and use in the church and in homes. The prayer protect them from all harm of soul and of blessing that is used is: “Lord God body. When worry and fear take possession Almighty, creator of all life, of body and of your heart, hasten to your holy water soul, we ask you to bless this water: as we font, and give your dear ones the benefit of use it in faith forgive our sins and save us the church’s prayers. from all illness and the power of evil. Lord Lets us take advantage of the benefits in your mercy give us living water, always derived from the use of holy water. springing up as a fountain of salvation: free us, body and soul, from every danger, and Food for thought from Fr Fabian admit us to your presence in purity of heart.” (Sacramentary)