THE ORDER OF BLESSING WATER
On a Sunday, the salt and the water to be blessed being made ready in the sacristy, the Priest who is about to celebrate the Mass, or another deputed for the purpose, being vested in an alb or surplice, with a stole about his neck, first says:
℣. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R/. Who hath made heaven and earth.
Then straightway he beginneth the exorcism of the salt:
I ADJURE thee, O creature of salt, by the living ✠ God, by the true ✠ God, by the holy ✠ God : by God, who through Elisha the prophet did command that thou shouldest be cast into the water to the healing of its barrenness : that thou be exorcized for the salvation of all them that believe : be thou made profitable for all them that receive thee, to their healing both in body and soul : let all places wherein thou shalt be sprinkled be delivered from all evil imaginations and wickedness, and the crafts and subtleties of the devil, and let all unclean spirits be exorcized thence, by him who shall come to judge the quick and the dead, and the world by fire.
R/. Amen.
Let us pray. COLLECT.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we humbly beseech thy infinite goodness, that thou wouldest vouchsafe of thy mercy to bl✠ess and sanct✠ify this thy creature of salt, which thou hast bestowed for the necessities of mankind : let it be profitable for all them that receive it for their healing both in body and soul : and grant that all such things as are touched or sprinkled with the same may be delivered from all uncleanness, and defended against the assaults of all spiritual wickedness. Through Christ our Lord.
He straightway continueth with the exorcism of the water:
I ADJURE thee, O creature of water, in the Name of God ✠ the Father Almighty, and in the Name of Jesus ✠ Christ his Son our Lord, and by the power of the Holy ✠ Ghost : that thou be exorcized to the casting forth of all the power of the enemy, and that thou be enabled to root out and expel the enemy himself and his apostate angels, through the power of the same Jesus Christ our Lord : who shall come to judge the quick and the dead, and the world by fire.
R/. Amen.
Let us pray. COLLECT.
O GOD, who in the chiefest of thy sacraments appointed for the salvation of mankind, hast ordained the use of the substance of water : mercifully assist us who call upon thee ; pour forth upon this creature, cleansed and made ready for thy service, the abundance of thy benediction : that in the service of thy mysteries the same may effectually receive the power of thy heavenly grace for the casting forth of devils, and the healing of diseases : grant that all such things as in the dwellings or possessions of thy faithful people are sprinkled with this water may be cleansed from all uncleanness, and delivered from all evil : suffer not the spirit of pestilence to dwell therein, nor the breath of corruption : cause to depart from thence all the snares of the unseen enemy : and cast forth by the sprinkling of this water all such things as are contrary to the health and peace of them that dwell therein ; that like as we do call upon thy holy Name for their salvation, so the same may be effectually preserved against all the assaults of adversity. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord: Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Here he thrice putteth salt into the water in the form of a cross, saying once :
LET this mingling of salt and water be wrought in the Name of the Fa✠ther, and of the S✠on, and of the Holy ✠ Ghost.
R/. Amen.
℣. The Lord be with you.
R/. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray. COLLECT.
O GOD, who art the author of strength invincible, the King of the empire that none may overcome, who art ever wondrous in thy triumphs : who quellest the might of the dominion that is against thee : who dost conquer the fierce ness of the roaring enemy : and overthrow by thy might the wickedness of the adversary : we beseech thee, O Lord, in fear and in lowliness : that thou wouldest regard with mercy this creature of salt and water, that thou wouldest enlighten the same with thy mercy and sanctify it with the dew of thy loving-kindness ; that wheresoever the same shall be sprinkled with the invocation of thy holy Name, the assaults of the unclean spirit may be driven forth from thence, and the dread of the poisonous serpent be cast forth : and grant that in all such places the presence of thy holy Spirit may be vouchsafed to us that call upon thy mercy. Through . . . in the unity of the same Spirit.
R/. Amen.
THE ASPERGES
¶ The following order for the aspersion of holy water is to be observed on all Sundays before the principal Mass, even though it be not sung.
Having blessed the water, the Priest who is going to celebrate, vested in a cope of the colour of the day, proceeds to the Altar. And there kneeling, even in Eastertide, with the ministers below the steps, he receives the aspersory from the Deacon, and first asperses the Altar thrice, then himself, and, standing up, the ministers, beginning the Antiphon Thou shalt purge me. And the Quire continues: O Lord, with hyssop, etc., as below. Meanwhile the Celebrant asperses the Clergy, and then the people, saying with a low voice with the ministers the Psalm Have mercy upon me, O God.
Antiphon. Thou shalt purge me, *
O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean : thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Ps. 51. Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness. ℣. Glory be to the Father.
And the Antiphon is repeated: Thou shalt purge me.
This Antiphon is said after the manner prescribed in the aspersion of holy water on Sundays throughout the year : except upon Passion Sunday and upon Palm Sunday, when Glory be to the Father is not said, but after the Psalm Have mercy, the Antiphon Thou shalt purge me, is. immediately repeated.
Tone VII.
Thou shalt purge me, O Lord, with hyssop,
and I shall be clean:
thou shalt wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Have mercy upon me, O God:
afer thy great goodness.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son;
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning
is now and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
Thou shalt purge me, O Lord, with hyssop,
and I shall be clean:
thou shalt wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
In Eastertide also, that is from Easter Sunday until Pentecost inclusively, is sung this Anthem:
Antiphon. I beheld water *
issuing from the right side of the temple, alleluia : and all to whom that water came were saved, and they shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. 118. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious : because his mercy endureth for ever.
℣. Glory be to the Father.
Antiphon is repeated. I beheld water issuing.
Tone VIII.
I beheld water, which proceeded out of the temple, on the right side thereof, Alleluya: and all they to whom that water came were healed every one: and they say, Alleluya, Alleluya.
O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
I beheld water, which proceeded out of the temple, on the right side thereof, Alleluya: and all they to whom that water came were healed every one: and they say, Alleluya, Alleluya.
On Trinity Sunday is resumed: Thou shalt purge me, O Lord.
On the Feastdays of Easter and Pentecost, in places where there is a Baptismal Font, the aspersion is made with the water blessed the previous day in the Font for Baptism, and taken from it before the infusion of the Oil and Chrism.
¶ Having finished the Antiphon after the manner prescribed above, the Priest who has sprinkled the water, returning to the Altar, with joined hands, says :
℣ . O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
In Eastertide is added : Alleluia.
R/. And grant us thy salvation
℣. Lord, hear my prayer.
R/. And let my cry come unto thee.
℣. The Lord be with you.
R/. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray. COLLECT.
O LORD holy, Father almighty, everlasting God, we beseech thee to hear us : and vouch safe to send thy holy Angel from heaven, to guard and cherish, protect and visit, and evermore de fend all that dwell in this dwelling-place. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
