Holy Water- What Is the Meaning of It?
What is Holy Water? What is the Meaning of It?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, holy water is “an efficacious means for prophylaxis and defense against impurity.”
The expression holy water can have a generic meaning which designates any water on which a blessing has been made; this is the case of baptismal water or Gregorian water, intended for the dedication of churches, in which we added salt, wine, and oil. “Holy water” can also have a specific meaning which then means the water over which the prayers of blessing taken in the Roman ritual were pronounced; it is this holy water that is used for sprinkling in the various benefits of people or things, in the sprinkling at the beginning of the mass, or put in holy water fonts. It is in this specific sense that we use this expression here.
Origin of Holy Water
Even if the simple blessing of water has its inspiration in the gift of baptismal water, the formulas for the benefit of holy water develop on the sidelines of the making of the baptismal font.
The oldest known formulas for the blessing of water date back to the 4th century; in these formulas, one already finds the essence of the effects required of holy water: "to produce health, to drive out diseases, to put demons to flight, to protect houses, to remove pitfalls."
The presence of salt in holy water dates back at least to the very beginning of the 2nd century under the pontificate of Alexander, pope from 108 to 119.
The 5th century bears witness to a well-attested use of exorcised water, which became a custom.
The use of holy water will quickly extend to houses, fields, and people. In short, all human life is protected by holy water. The intimate conviction explains this practice that nothing can be placed at the service and praise of God without having been previously blessed. As man's whole life must be ordered to the glory of God, everything must be blessed. Very early on, an exorcism was associated with this blessing to save things and people from the domination of the devil who opposes the glory of God and wants to lead man into his misfortune.
Thus the rite of blessing was structured as follows:
- Exorcism and blessing of salt to acquire the soul's health and repel all temptations and evil influences.
- Exorcism and blessing of water for the purification of places and people, healing of soul and body, protection against demons.
- A prayer over water and salt mixed so that this holy water can remove places and people from the demon's influence.
Holy Water on Sunday
In 847, Pope Saint Leo IV ordered Sunday mass to begin with the blessing and the sprinkling of holy water. This disposition spread through Christendom. It was thus customary to put holy water fonts at the church entrance so that the faithful signed themselves before entering and could take sacred water home for their daily use.
This Sunday, sprinkling is linked to the water rite of the Easter Vigil. By this sprinkling, we recall the purification effected by our baptism. It allows us to relive our baptism and renew our renunciation of Satan and sin.
Water has a unique role in the Church. Water is used in many places throughout the Catholic faith to signify the new life offered in baptism. For example, it is used to bless church altars and other sacred objects, to wash the face during confession and absolution, and to bless people at various Catholic events such as weddings and anniversaries.
Despite being a minor sacrament, holy water is a powerful reminder of our baptism and should be used often to protect ourselves and our homes from negativity. It also acts as a “wholesome remedy against sins and a means of averting punishments.”
