Holy Water: A powerful aid in living a sacramental life
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I always use Holy Water as I enter church as a way to purify myself from “the world” and mentally enter a sacred space. We also always keep a bottle of Holy Water at home for certain occasions such as blessing a new car or blessing our grandson before he goes home. But we just bought a small font of Holy Water and put it by the front door. We bless ourselves every time we leave home or when we return. Sometimes I use it even if I’m not going anywhere. Why the recent emphasis? I have always read that the devil hates Holy Water and of course it is used by priests during exorcisms. Recently I came to learn of a friend whose son have had emotional problems for years and exhibited some behaviors and attachments that can only be described as demonic. Behaviors that are a drastic departure from his normally sweet nature. One recent day my friend blessed him with Holy Water and the reaction was quick and violent. Whatever had a hold of him hated this act with a passion and this turned into days of evil spirits aggressively sabotaging his life and those around him. However, it became bad enough for the son to be able to qualify for professional medical help, and hopefully for a priest intervention if still needed. The effects were powerful.
We don’t like to think about it, but we are always in a battle with the devil and he knows our weaknesses and always tries to make us trip with his temptations. Holy Water used with faith, along with prayer, repentance, penance, participation in the sacraments, and living a life of love are good weapons against the snares of the devil. One of my favorite saints, St Teresa of Avila wrote:
“I was once in an oratory, and [the devil] appeared to me in an abominable form at my left side. Because he spoke to me, I looked particularly at his mouth — which was most frightening. It seemed that a great flame, all bright without shadow, came forth from his body. He told me in a terrifying way that I had really freed myself from his hands but that he would catch me with them again. I was struck with great fear and blessed myself as best I could; he disappeared, but returned right away. This happened to me twice. I didn’t know what to do. There was some holy water there, and I threw it in that direction; he never returned again … I often experience that there is nothing the devils flee from more — without returning — than holy water.”
What is Holy Water? It is what the Church calls a sacramental. Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church that resemble sacraments and signify spiritual effects. These effects are obtained by the intercession of the Church. Sacramentals (like blessed candles, blessed medals, etc.) remind us of the grace received through sacraments and dispose us to receive actual graces from the Holy Spirit. We don’t put on Holy Water, we instead bless ourselves with it, reminding us that by the sanctifying grace of baptism we are children of God, using the occasion to ask God for forgiveness for our sins while reflecting on the purifying effects of water, and asking for God’s protection from the devil. Sacramentals like Holy Water or doing the sign of the cross, are simple aids that help us consecrate our daily lives to God and live more of a sacramental life while we go about our business.
We can trace the use of Holy Water to the Old Testament. In Leviticus we find that instructions on how to do purification rituals with water after certain unclean events and how to purify with water before entering the priestly courtyard of the temple. In the Book of Numbers we learn of the Israelites blessing their homes and belongings with Holy Water. Even the early Christians used Holy Water. Around A.D. 130, Pope Alexander in his Apostolic Constitutions wrote: ‘We bless salt and water for the people, that all who may be sprinkled therewith may be cleansed and sanctified.’
During mass for certain holy days instead of the priest leading us through the Penitential Rite, he blesses the water and sprinkle the congregation with Holy Water as we do the sign of the cross and repent for our sins. We do this while signing from Psalm 50: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Let me finish with the prayers the priest says in blessing the water so that we can be mindful of the Church’s petition of God for the water and us:
“Almighty ever living God, who willed that through water, the fountain of life and the source of purification, every soul should be cleansed and receive the gift of eternal life; be pleased, we pray, to + bless this water, by which we seek protection on this your day, O Lord. Renew the living springs of your grace within us and grant that by this water we may be defended from all ills of spirit and body and so approach you with hearts made clean and worthy to receive your salvation. through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Although not required, many priests also bless salt and add it to the water: “We humbly ask you, almighty God: be pleased in your faithful love to + bless the salt you have created, for it was you who commanded the prophet Elisha to cast salt into water, that impure water might be purified. Grant, O Lord, we pray, that, wherever this mixture of salt and water is sprinkled, every attack of the enemy may be repulsed and your Holy Spirit may be present to keep us safe at all times. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Reference: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1667-76
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