Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow.
HOLY WATER
A MEANS OF
SPIRITUAL WEALTH
Holy water is a sacramental that remits venial sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, Holy Church strongly urges its use upon her children, especially when dangers threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness and other calamities. Every Catholic home always should have in it a supply of holy water.
We do not take advantage of the benefits derived from holy water.
LET US CULTIVATE ITS USE
Untold spiritual wealth is concentrated in a tiny drop of blessed water.
And we give it so little thought!
Did we realize now, as we shall realize after death, the many benefits which may be derived from holy water, we would use it far more frequently, and with greater faith and reverence.
Holy water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church, which its Divine Founder always accepts with complacency.
The following are some of the Petitions that the Priest makes to God when he blesses water.
"O God,.....grant that this creature of Thine (water) may be endowed with divine grace to drive away devils and to cast out diseases, that whatever in the houses or possessions of the faithful may be sprinkled by this water, may be freed from every thing unclean, and delivered from what is hurtful....Let everything that threatens the safety or peace of the dwellers therein be banished by the sprinkling of this water; so that the health which they seek by calling upon Thy Holy Name may be guarded from all assault."
PRAYERS EFFECTIVE
These prayers ascend to Heaven each time you take holy water and sprinkle a drop either for yourself or for another whether he be present or absent; and God's blessings descend for soul and body.
Dispel the Devil
The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He can not long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.
Do your dear ones live at a distance?
Holy water, sprinkled with faith and piety, can move the Sacred Heart to bless your loved ones and protect them from all harm of soul and body. When worry and fear take possession of your heart, hasten to your holy water font, and give your dear ones the benefit of the Church's prayers.
THE HOLY SOULS LONG FOR IT
Only in Purgatory can one understand how ardently a poor soul longs for holy water. If we desire to make a host of intercessors for ourselves, let us try to realize now some of their yearnings, and never forget them at the holy water font. The holy souls nearest to Heaven may need the sprinkling of only one drop to relieve their pining souls.
Remits Venial Sins
Because holy water is one of the Church's sacramentals, it remits venial sin. Keep your soul beautifully pure in God's sight by making the Sign of the Cross carefully while saying,
"By this holy water and by Thy Precious Blood
wash away all my sins, O Lord."
Imprimatur: Albert G. Meyer Archbishop of Milwaukee, Jan. 13, 1958
Read what St. Teresa of Avila had to say about her experience with holy water.........Saint Teresa of Avila wrote:
"From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the cross, but return; so holy water must have great value. For my own part, whenever I take it, my soul feels a particular and most notable consolation. In fact, it is quite usual for me to be conscious of a refreshment which I cannot possibly describe, resembling an inward joy which comforts my whole soul. This is not fancy, or something which has happened to me only once it has happened again and again and I have observed it most attentively. It is let us say, as if someone very hot and thirsty were to drink from a jug of cold water: he would feel the refreshment throughout his body. I often reflect on the great importance of everything ordained by the Church and it makes me very happy to find that those words of the Church are so powerful that they impart their power to the water and make it so very different from water which has not been blessed."
"One night, too, about this time, I thought the devils were stifling me; and when the nuns had sprinkled a great deal of holy water about I saw a huge crowd of them running away as quickly as though they were about to fling themselves down a steep place."
"I will only describe something that happened to me one night of All Souls. I was in an oratory: I had said one nocturn and was repeating some very devotional prayers which follow it -- they are extremely devotional: we have them in our office-book -- when actually the devil himself alighted on the book, to prevent me from finishing the prayer. I made the sign of the Cross and he went away. I then began again and he came back. I think I began that prayer three times and not until I had sprinkled some holy water on him could I finish it. At the same moment I saw several souls coming out of purgatory: their time there must have been nearly up and I thought that perhaps the devil was trying to impede their deliverance."
HOLY WATER, WHERE CAN IT BE FOUND?:
Holy Water can be found at any Catholic Church in a Holy Water Dispenser. Most dispensers will be clearly marked "Holy Water" and should be in plain sight however you can always ask someone like a another church parishioner or call the church office. And don't forget to bring a container like a bottle to collect it with because the churches do not provide them unless they have a gift shop or church office that sells them. You may also bring your own container {like a bottle or jug} filled with tap water to the Priest and ask him to bless it for you.
HOLY WATER USES:
- Bless Yourself and Others {family & friends}
- Bless Your Pets
- Bless Your House {especially during bad weather}
- Bless Your Electronics {computers, televisions, etc.}
- Bless Your Car, Motorcycle, and/or Boat
- Bless Your Work Space
- Bless the Sick and Dying
- Sprinkle Some on the Graves when you visit a Cemetery & also sprinkle some for the Poor Souls In Purgatory
HOLY WATER PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS
Sprinkle a few drops of Holy Water and pray fervently:
"O God, in Your Mercy multiply these drops into as many drops of Holy Water as there are souls in Purgatory, and allow them not to fear the pains of Purgatory, as long as the moisture of Holy Water is present."
PROPER DISPOSAL OF HOLY WATER:
Holy Water usually lasts for a long time. However, if you have holy water that is in need of disposal you may pour it into the ground {soil} like a flower bed around the outside of your home. The reason we pour it into the ground is because the ground is sacred and we are returning it to nature. Other religious articles such as broken rosaries, worn out scapulars, broken statues, etc. may be buried in the ground as well.
