Holy wateris water that has beenblessedby a member of theclergyor a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to abaptismand spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, fromChristianitytoSikhism.The use of holy water as asacramentalforprotection against evilis common amongLutherans,Anglicans,Roman Catholics,[1][2]andEastern Christians.
In Christianity
editInCatholicism,Lutheranism,Anglicanism,Eastern Orthodoxy,Oriental Orthodoxyand some otherchurches,holy water is water that has been sanctified by apriestfor the purpose of baptism, for theblessingof persons, places, and objects, or as a means of repelling evil.[3][4]
History
editTheApostolic Constitutions,whose texts date to about the year 400 AD, attribute the precept of using holy water to theApostle Matthew.It is plausible that the earliest Christians may have used water forexpiatoryandpurificatorypurposes in a way analogous toits employment in Jewish Law( "And he shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and he shall cast a little earth of the pavement of the tabernacle into it", Numbers 5:17).[5]Yet in many cases, the water used for thesacramentofBaptismwas flowing water, sea- or river-water, which — in the view of theCatholic Church— could not receive the same blessing as that water contained in the baptisteries.[6]However, Eastern Orthodox Christians do perform the same blessing, whether in a baptistery or for an outdoor body of water.
Use and storage
editSprinkling with holy water is used as asacramentalthat recalls baptism.[7]In the West the blessing of the water is traditionally accompanied by exorcism and by the addition of exorcised andblessed salt.[8]
Holy water is kept in theholy water font,which is typically located at the entrance to the church (or sometimes in a separate room or building called abaptistery). Smaller vessels, calledstoups,are usually placed at the entrances of the church, to enable people to bless themselves with it on entering.
In the Middle Ages Christians esteemed the power of holy water so highly that in some places fonts had locked covers to prevent the theft of holy water for unauthorizedmagic practices.The Constitutions ofArchbishop Edmund Rich(1236) prescribe that: "Fonts are to be kept under lock and key, because of witchcraft (sortilege). Similarly thechrismand sacred oil are kept locked up. "[9]
Proper disposal
editIn Catholicism, holy water, as well as water used during the washing of the priest's hands at Mass, is not allowed to be disposed of in regular plumbing. Roman Catholic churches will usually have a special basin (asacrarium) that leads directly into the ground for the purpose of proper disposal. A hinged lid is kept over the holy water basin to distinguish it from a regular sink basin, which is often just beside it. Items that contained holy water are separated, drained of the holy water, and then washed in a regular manner in the adjacent sink.[10]
Hygiene
editHoly water fonts have been identified as a potential source of bacterial and viral infection. In the late-19th century,bacteriologistsfoundstaphylococci,streptococci,coli bacilli,Loeffler's bacillus,and other bacteria in samples of holy water taken from a church inSassari, Italy.[11]In a study performed in 1995, 13 samples were taken when a burn patient acquired a bacterial infection after exposure to holy water. The samples in that study were shown to have a "wide range of bacterial species", some of which could cause infection in humans.[12]During theswine-fluepidemic of 2009,Bishop John SteinbockofFresno, California,recommended that "holy water should not be in the fonts" for fear of spreading infections.[13]Also in response to the swine flu, an automatic, motion-detecting holy-water dispenser was invented and installed in an Italian church in 2009.[14]In 2020, because of theCOVID-19 pandemic,Episcopal Conferencesdirected that holy water be removed from the fonts or stoups.[15]
Christian traditions
editRoman Catholics
editSacramental and sanctification
editA blessing, as a prayer,[16]is asacramental.[17]By blessing water, Catholic priests praise God and ask him for his grace.[16]As a reminder of baptism, Catholic Christians dip their fingers in holy water and make thesign of the crosswhen entering a church.
Fr. John F. Sullivan, writing in the early twentieth century, noted that, "Besides the pouring of baptismal water... the sprinkling with holy water is a part of the ceremonies ofMatrimony,ofExtreme Unctionand of the administration of theHoly Eucharist to the sick,and it is employed also inservices for the dead."[18]
The Sunday liturgy may begin with the Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water, in which holy water is sprinkled upon the congregation; this is called "aspersion" (from the Latin,aspergere,"to sprinkle" ). This ceremony dates back to the 9th century. An "aspergill" oraspergillumis a brush or branch used to sprinkle the water. Anaspersoriumis the vessel which holds the holy water and into which the aspergillum is dipped, though elaborateOttonianexamples are known assitulae.Blessed saltmay be added to the water where it is customary to do so.
The Catholic Church teaches this use of holy water and making a sign of the cross when entering a church reflects a renewal of baptism, a cleansing ofvenial sin,as well as providing protection against evil.[19]It is sometimes accompanied by the following prayer:[20]
By this holy water and by your Precious Blood, wash away all my sins, O Lord.
Some Catholics believe that water from specific shrines (such asLourdes) can bring healing - although that water is not the same as typical holy water found in parishes, since it has not been blessed by apriest.[21]
Formula
editThe traditional Latin formula for blessing the water is as follows:
Exorcizo te, creatura aquæ, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Jesu Christi, Filii ejus Domini nostri, et in virtute Spiritus Sancti: ut fias aqua exorcizata ad effugandam omnem potestatem inimici, et ipsum inimicum eradicare et explantare valeas cum angelis suis apostaticis, per virtutem ejusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christi: qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos et sæculum per ignem. Deus, qui ad salutem humani generis maxima quæque sacramenta in aquarum substantia condidisti: adesto propitius invocationibus nostris, et elemento huic, multimodis purificationibus præparato, virtutem tuæ benedictionis infunde; ut creatura tua, mysteriis tuis serviens, ad abigendos dæmones morbosque pellendos divinæ gratiæ sumat effectum; ut quidquid in domibus vel in locis fidelium hæc unda resperserit careat omni immunditia, liberetur a noxa. Non illic resideat spiritus pestilens, non aura corrumpens: discedant omnes insidiæ latentis inimici; et si quid est quod aut incolumitati habitantium invidet aut quieti, aspersione hujus aquæ effugiat: ut salubritas, per invocationem sancti tui nominis expetita, ab omnibus sit impugnationibus defensa. Per Dominum, amen.
A priest may choose from three other formulae found in theBook of Blessingsfor blessing water. They are to be accompanied by the priest blessing the water with thesign of the cross.They are as follows:[22]
V.Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God, who in Christ, the living water of salvation, blessed and transformed us. Grant that when we are sprinkled with this water or make use of it, we will be refreshed inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit and continue to walk in the new life we received at Baptism. We ask this though Christ our Lord.R.Amen.
V.Lord, holy Father, look with kindness on your children redeemed by your Son and born to a new life by water and the Holy Spirit. Grant that those who are sprinkled with this water may be renewed in body and spirit and may make a pure offering of their service to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord.R.Amen.
V.O God, the Creator of all things, by water and the Holy Spirit you have given the universe its beauty and fashioned us in your own image.R.Bless and purify your Church.V.O Christ the Lord, from your pierced side you gave us your sacraments as fountains of salvation.R.Bless and purify your Church.V.Priest: O Holy Spirit, giver of life, from the baptismal font of the Church you have formed us into a new creation in the waters of rebirth.R.Bless and purify your Church.
Protection against evil
editIn his bookThe Externals of the Catholic Church,originally published in 1917, Fr. John F. Sullivan writes:
The prayers said over the water are addressed to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that through the power of the BlessedTrinitythe spirits of evil may be utterly expelled from this world and lose all influence over mankind. Then God is besought to bless the water, that it may be effective in driving outdevilsand in curing diseases; that wherever it is sprinkled there may be freedom from pestilence and from the snares ofSatan.[23]
Catholic saints have written about the power of holy water as a force that repels evil. SaintTeresa of Avila(1515-1582), aDoctor of the Churchwho reportedvisions of Jesus and Mary,believed fervently in the power of holy water and stated that she used it with success to repel evil and temptations.[24]She wrote:
I know by frequent experience that there is nothing which puts the devils to flight like Holy water.[25]
The 20th-centurynunandmysticSaint Faustinain her diary (paragraph 601) said she once sprinkled a dying sister with holy water to drive away demons. Although this was wrong to do, since it was the priest's duty, she remarked, "holy water is indeed of great help to the dying".[26]
InHoly Water and Its Significance for Catholics,Cistercianpriest Henry Theiler states that in addition to being a strong force in repelling evil, holy water has the twofold benefit of providinggracefor both body and soul.[27]
The newRituale Romanumexcludes theexorcismprayer on the water. Exorcised and blessed salt has traditionally been added to the holy water as well. Priests can continue to use the older form if they wish as confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI inSummorum Pontificum,which states "What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too".[28]
Eastern Christians
editAmong theEastern Orthodoxand theByzantine RiteCatholics,holy water is used frequently in rites ofblessingandexorcism,and the water for baptism is always sanctified with a special blessing.
There are two rites for blessing holy water: the "Great Blessing of Waters", which is held on theFeastofTheophanyand at baptisms, and the "Lesser Blessing of Waters" which is conducted according to need and local custom during the rest of the year, certain feast days calling for the Lesser Blessing of Waters as part of their liturgical observance. Both forms are based upon the Rite of Baptism. After the blessing of holy water the faithful are sprinkled with it and each drinks some of it.
Holy water is drunk by the faithful after it is blessed and it is a common custom for the pious to drink holy water every morning.[citation needed]In the monasteries ofMount Athosholy water is always drunk in conjunction with consumingantidoron.Eastern Orthodox do not typically bless themselves with holy water upon entering a church as Western Catholics do, but a quantity of holy water is often kept in afontplaced in thenarthex(entrance) of the church, available for anyone who would like to partake of it or to take some of it home.
After the annual Great Blessing of Waters atTheophany(also known asEpiphany), the priest goes to the homes of the faithful within his parish and, in predominantly Orthodox lands, to the buildings throughout town, and blesses them with holy water.[citation needed]
When blessing objects such as the palms onPalm Sunday,Paschal eggsand other foods forEaster,candles, or liturgical instruments and sacred vessels (at least in some traditions, such as in that of the Georgian Orthodox Church,iconsand crosses must also be blessed, as they are not considered intrinsically holy and redeemed), the blessing is completed by a triple sprinkling with holy water using the words, "This (name of item) is blessed by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. "
Throughout the centuries, members of the Orthodox Church have believed many springs of water to be miraculous. Some still flow, such as the one atPochaev LavrainUkraine,and the Life-Giving Spring of theTheotokosinConstantinople(commemorated onBright Friday).
Anglicans
editAlthough "Holy water" is not a term used in official rites of theChurch of England,font water is sanctified in the Church of England baptism rite.[29]In contrast, theEpiscopal Church (United States)does expressly mention the optional use of holy water in some recent liturgies of blessing.[30]More generally, the use of water withinHigh ChurchAnglicanism orAnglo-Catholicismadheres closely to Roman Catholic practice. In many Anglican churches baptismal water is used for theasperges.[31][32]A widely-used Anglo-Catholic manual,Ritual Notes,first published by A. R. Mowbray in 1894, discusses the blessing and use of holy water. In addition to "the pious custom" of blessing oneself on entering and leaving a church "in memory of our baptism and in token of the purity of heart with which we should worship Almighty God", the book commends that "Holy water should be obtained from the parish priest, may be (and indeed should be) taken away and kept for use privately by the faithful in their homes."[33]An English translation of the traditional rite for the blessing of water andsalt,including the exorcisms, was included in theAnglican Missal.[34]Shorter forms are found inA Priest's Handbookby Dennis G. Michno,[35]andCeremonies of the Eucharistby Howard E. Galley.[36]Some parishes use a stoup, basin, or font to make holy water available for the faithful to use in blessing themselves, making thesign of the crossupon entering thechurch.[37]
In theBook of Occasional Servicesof theEpiscopal Church (United States),in the rite for Restoring of Things Profaned, the bishop or priest while processing around the church or chapel recitesPsalm 118with theantiphonVidi aquam:
I saw water proceeding out of the temple; from the right side it flowed, alleluia; and all those to whom that water came shall be saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
A rubric directs that as each profaned object is addressed, "it may be symbolically cleansed by the use of signs of purification, such as water or incense."[38]
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
editHoly water is important to theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Churchand regarded as healing from demonic possession and for treating sick people, particularly in cases of mental illness. It can be consumed or poured over someone supposed to be afflicted by harmful things.[39][40]A majority of studies show that many Ethiopians prefer holy water for biomedical purposes, especially for treatment ofHIV/AIDS.[41]Pilgrims visit different monasteries such as Tsadkane Mariam and Entoto Kidane Mehret to acquire holy water.[42][need quotation to verify][43]
Besides, holy water also used for Ethiopian Orthodox holidays such asTimkat(Epiphany) where Christians gather at notable squares and churches and priests bless holy water and spatter them.[44][45]InGondar,theFasilides Bathis used to bathe and represents theJordan River.[46]
Lutherans
editThe use of holy water in some synods ofLutheranismis for thebaptismof infants and new members of the church. The water is believed to be blessed by God, as it is used in asacrament.The water is applied to the forehead of the laity being baptised and the minister performs thesign of the cross.Lutherans tend to have baptismal water fonts near the entrance of the church.[47]
Other synods do not use holy water but do typically treat the water used for baptisms in a respectful manner.
Methodists
editIn theMethodisttradition, Holy Baptism is often administered by sprinkling or pouring holy water over the candidate.[48]The official Baptismal Liturgy, as well as the liturgy for Reaffirmation of Baptism commonly done through asperges, has a prayer for the blessing of this water:[49]
Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that, dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory. All praise to you, Eternal Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever. Amen.[50]
Other religions
editThis sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(March 2013) |
Sikhism
editOne of the holiest sites in Sikhism,Harmandir Sahib,is surrounded by a pool of water calledamritsaroramritsarovar.For those who wish to take a dip in the pool, the Temple provides a half hexagonal shelter and holy steps toHar ki Pauri.Bathing in the pool is believed by many Sikhs to have restorative powers, purifying one's karma.[citation needed]Some carry bottles of the pool water home particularly for sick friends and relatives. The pool is maintained by volunteers who performkar seva(community service) by draining and desilting it periodically.
Sikhsuse thePunjabitermamrita(ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ) for the holy water used in thebaptismceremony known asAmrit SanskarorAmrit Chhakhna.[51]
Hinduism
editThe significance of water in Hinduism is described in the hymn called themantra pushpam,present in theTaitiriya Aranyakamsection of the textYajurveda.Bathing in holy water is a key element inHinduism,and theGangesis considered the holiest Hindu river.[52]Holy water in Hinduism is thought to purify the soul and combat evil. Some Hindus use holy water to wash hands before ringing abell.
Buddhism
editThe idea of "blessed water" is used in virtually allBuddhisttraditions. In theTheravadatradition, water is put into a new pot and kept near aParitranaceremony, a blessing for protection. This "lustral water" can be created in a ceremony in which the burning and extinction of a candle above the water represents theelementsof earth, fire, and air.[53]This water is later given to the people to be kept in their home. Not only water but also oil and strings are blessed in this ceremony. MostMahayanaBuddhists typically recite sutras or various mantras (typically that of the bodhisattvaAvalokitesvarafor example) numerous times over the water, which is then either consumed or is used to bless homes afterwards. In Vajrayana Buddhism, aBumpa,a ritual object, is one of theAshtamangala,used for storing sacred water sometimes, symbolizing wisdom and long life.[54][55]
Islam
editThe Muslim variety of holy water is theZamzamwater that comes from a spring near theKaabainMecca.
The drinking of "healing water" (āb-i shifā) is a practice in various denominations ofShia Islam.[56]In the tradition of theTwelver Shi'a,many dissolve the dust of sacred locations such asKarbala(khāk-i shifa) andNajafand drink the water (āb-i shifā) as a cure for illness, both spiritual and physical.[56]
TheIsmailitradition involves the practice of drinking water blessed by theImamof the time. This water is taken in the name of the Imam and has a deep spiritual significance. This is evident from the names used to designate the water, including light (nūr) andambrosia(amṛt, amī, amīras, amījal). This practice is recorded from the 13th and 14th centuries and continues to the present day. The ceremony is known asghat-patin South Asia.[56]
Mandaeism
editInMandaeism,mambuha(Classical Mandaic:ࡌࡀࡌࡁࡅࡄࡀ), sometimes spelledmambuga,is sacramental drinking water used in rituals such as themasbuta(baptism), whilehalalta(Classical Mandaic:ࡄࡀࡋࡀࡋࡕࡀ) is sacramental rinsing water used in rituals such as themasiqta(death mass).[57][58]
Others
editInAncient Greek religion,holy water calledkhernips(Greek:χέρνιψ) was created when a torch from a religious shrine was extinguished in it. In Greek religion, purifying people and locations with water was part of the process of distinguishing thesacred from the profane.[59]
InWiccaand otherceremonial magictraditions, a bowl ofsaltis blessed and a small amount is stirred into a bowl of water that has been ritually purified. In some traditions of Wicca, this mixture of water and salt symbolizes the brine of the sea, which is regarded as the womb of the Goddess, and the source of all life on Earth. The mixture is consecrated and used in many religious ceremonies and magicalrituals.[60]
Unofficial uses
editHoly water has also been believed to ward off or act as a weapon against mythical evil creatures, such asvampiresandwerewolves.In eastern Europe, one might sprinkle holy water onto the corpse of a suspected vampire in order to destroy it or render it inert.[61][62]Thereafter, the concept proliferated into fiction about such creatures.
Gallery
edit- Stoups
-
Church of Santa Maria a Cintoia[it],Florence, Italy
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Church of Saints Saint Cajetan and Maximillian,Salzburg,Austria
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Tracts on Principles of Divine Worship: No. 3. The Sprinkling of Holy Water".New York: Men's Guild, St. Ignatius' Church.Retrieved13 January2013.
Holy water has no power to beautify the soul here in time and the body in eternity, as Penance and the Eucharist have; but for those who reverently use it, having the right dispositions of faith and contrition, it has power to banish demons, dispel their deceits and vexations, cleanse the soul from stain of venial sins, avert earthly ills (other than those which God allows for our good), and to promote our temporal welfare.
- ^Theiler, Henry (1909).Holy Water and Its Significance for Catholics. Ratisbon, New York: F. Puster & Co. Reprint: Sophia Institute Press, 2016.ISBN0-7661-7553-7pp. 13-15.
- ^Chambers's encyclopædia (1870). Philadelphia: Lippincott & Co. p. 374.
- ^Nathaniel Altman, 2002Sacred water: the spiritual source of lifeISBN1-58768-013-0pp 130–133
- ^Numbers 5:17
- ^"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Water".newadvent.org.Retrieved2020-08-11.
As, in many cases, the water used for the Sacrament of Baptism was flowing water, sea or river water, it could not receive the same blessing as that contained in the baptisteries. On this particular point the early liturgy is obscure [...].
- ^Catechism of the Catholic Church, Sacramentals,ss. 1667, 1668
- ^The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church(1974). J. D. Douglas (ed.). "Holy Water". Grand Rapids: Zondervan. p. 478.
- ^"Fontes sub serura clausi teneantur, propter saortilegia. Chrisma similiter et oleum sacrum sub clave custodiantur." (Wilkinson,Consilia,1:636, quoted inGeorge C. Homans,English Villagers in the Thirteenth Century,2nd ed. 1991:384 and note 2).
- ^Theiler, Henry (1909).Holy Water and Its Significance for Catholics. Ratisbon, New York: F. Puster & Co. Reprint: Sophia Institute Press, 2016.ISBN0-7661-7553-7p. 48.
- ^Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette,Volume 14, page 578. The Gazette Publishing Company, 1898.
- ^J.C. Rees and K.D. Allen, 1996 "Holy water—a risk factor for hospital-acquired infection".Journal of Hospital Infection32(1), pages 51–55.
- ^California Catholic Daily."Holy water should not be in fonts during this swine flu epidemic [...."] 4 May 2009.
- ^NPR Morning Edition."In Italy, An Automatic Holy-Water Dispenser".12 November 2009.
- ^Examples as the conferences ofEngland and WalesArchived2021-01-27 at theWayback Machine,New Zealandandvarious African conferences
- ^ab"Catechism of the Catholic Church - In the age of the Church".vatican.va.Retrieved2020-08-11.
- ^"Catechism of the Catholic Church - Sacramentals".vatican.va.Retrieved2020-08-11.
- ^Sullivan, John F. (1917).The Externals of the Catholic Church.New York: P. J. Kennedy. Reprint: New York: Nine Choirs Press, 2010.ISBN978-0-615-37095-8p. 167.
- ^Bold, Philip (1896).Catholic Doctrine and Discipline Simply Explained.Rev. and ed. by William H. Eyre. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner. Reprint: Kessinger Publishing, 2010.ISBN978-1-164-09868-3page 283.
- ^Jacquelyn Lindsey, 2001Catholic Family Prayer BookOSV PressISBN0-87973-999-1p.65
- ^Richard Clarke, 2008Lourdes, Its Inhabitants, Its Pilgrims, And Its MiraclesISBN1-4086-8541-8page 38.
- ^"Blessing of Holy Water Outside of Mass".Catholic News Agency.Retrieved2020-08-11.
- ^Sullivan, John F. (1917).The Externals of the Catholic Church.New York: P. J. Kennedy. Reprint: New York: Nine Choirs Press, 2010.ISBN978-0-615-37095-8p. 166.
- ^Tessa Bielecki, Mirabai Starr, 2008Teresa of Avila: The Book of My LifeISBN1-59030-573-6pp 238–241
- ^Teresa of Avila, 2008Life of St. Teresa of JesusISBN1-60680-041-8page 246
- ^Liturgical Year: Divine Mercy In My Soul
- ^Theiler, Henry (1909).Holy Water and Its Significance for Catholics. Ratisbon, New York: F. Puster & Co. Reprint: Sophia Institute Press, Manchester (New Hampshire), 2016.ISBN0-7661-7553-7pp. 24–31 - "The priest [...] first blesses the salt that he afterwards puts in the water. [...] 'I exorcise thee, thou creature salt, [...] that thou mayest become health of soul and body [...].' [...] In the following prayer the blessing is pronounced over the water: 'let Thy creature serving in Thy mysteries, by divine grace be effectual for casting out devils and for driving away diseases [...].'"
- ^Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara."Extraordinary Form; Book of Blessings".ZENIT.
- ^"Church of England Rite of Holy Baptism, The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000–2006".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-17.Retrieved2010-08-23.
- ^Enriching Our Worship 5: Liturgies and Prayers Related to Childbearing, Childbirth, and Loss; Church Publishing; 2009; p. 20.
- ^"Anglican Service Book--The Asperges and the Vidi Aquam".justus.anglican.org.Retrieved2020-08-11.
- ^Michno, Dennis G. (1998) [1983].A Priest's Handbook: The Ceremonies of the Church.(3rd ed.) Harrisburg, PA; New York: Morehouse Publishing.ISBN978-0-8192-1768-4p. 209.
- ^Ritual Notes: A Comprehensive Guide to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Book of Common Prayer of the English Church.(1926) [1894]. London: W. Knott & Son. (7th ed.) p.59. A tenth edition was published in 1956, and an eleventh edition in 1964.
- ^Anglican Missal in the American Edition(1961). "The Order of Blessing Water." Mount Sinai, New York: Frank Gavin Liturgical Foundation. pp.238-240.
- ^Michno, Dennis G. (1998) [1983].A Priest's Handbook: The Ceremonies of the Church."A Form for Blessing Holy Water." (3rd ed.) Harrisburg; New York: Morehouse Publishing. p. 266.ISBN978-0-8192-1768-4
- ^Galley, Howard E. (1989).Ceremonies of the Eucharist."The Setting Apart of Lustral Water." Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications. p. 232.
- ^An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church.Armentrout, Don S.; Slocum, Robert Boak (eds.) (2000). "Holy Water". New York: Church Publishing.ISBN978-0-89869-701-8
- ^The Episcopal Church (United States) (1991).The Book of Occasional Services."Restoring of Things Profaned". New York: Church Hymnal Corporation. p. 217.ISBN0-89869-227-X
- ^"Church endorses 'holy water' and ARVs as people flock to miracle mountain".The New Humanitarian.2007-05-25.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-14.Retrieved2022-07-14.
- ^"HIV Prevention and Counseling at Holy Water Sites in Ethiopia".globalhealth.washington.edu.2015-09-28.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-14.Retrieved2022-07-14.
- ^Tadesse, Zelalem (14 July 2022).The Practice of Holy Water Therapy for Mental Disorders(Thesis). Addis Ababa University.Archivedfrom the original on 16 September 2019.Retrieved14 July2022.
- ^"Holy water in Ethiopia". 14 July 2022.CiteSeerX10.1.1.966.8407.
- ^itechadmin (2014-09-08)."Stories of Success from Ethiopia: The Tsadkane Holy Water Well".I-TECH.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-11-19.Retrieved2022-07-14.
[...] The Tsadkane monastery, located within the Amhara region of Western Ethiopia. [...] The holy water site is visited daily by up to 5,000 pilgrims, all in search of a cure to their ailments by way of prayer, holy water consumption, and bathing. The majority of these pilgrims are extremely ill, and a large group have been diagnosed with advanced HIV/AIDS.
- ^Fuller, Linda K. (2004).National Days/national Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations Around the World.Greenwood Publishing Group.ISBN978-0-275-97270-7.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-14.Retrieved2022-07-14.
- ^Bierbaum, Bernd (2011).In Ethiopia.BoD – Books on Demand.ISBN978-3-8448-5884-6.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-14.Retrieved2022-07-14.
- ^Hoh, Anchi (2022-01-19)."Epiphany and Timkat in Ethiopia: The City of Gondar Hosts Annual Epiphany Celebrations | 4 Corners of the World: International Collections and Studies at the Library of Congress".blogs.loc.gov.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-02-18.Retrieved2022-07-14.
- ^Getz, Keith (February 2013)."Where is the Baptismal Font?"(PDF).Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 May 2014.Retrieved5 May2014.
By having the font at the entrance of the church, and using the font every Sunday, we are intentionally and dramatically revealing the importance of Holy Baptism and highlighting it as foundational to our life in Christ. It symbolically reminds us that we enter into the life of the church, into the life of Christ's body, through the birthing waters of the baptismal font, where we are born again from above. Dipping our fingers in the holy water of the font and making the sign of the cross, reinforces who and whose we are. We are reminded that we have been baptized; daily we die to sin and rise to new life in the Spirit. The font is also positioned so that from the font there is a direct and central path leading to the altar, highlighting how these two Holy Sacraments are intimately connected. As we leave the church, we see the baptismal font, reminding us that we have been baptized, named and claimed, to serve others in proclamation and service to others.
- ^Hannon, Dan (2014)."Baptism". Life Events.The United Methodist Church.
Holy Baptism is a Covenant between an individual and God. It is God's word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace and our word to God, promising our response of faith and love. Persons of all ages can be baptized at Christ Church. We baptize by sprinkling Holy Water. The United Methodist Church recognizes baptisms from other denominations and churches and therefore does not "re-baptize".
- ^This is your Baptismal Liturgy: A Resource for Understanding The United Methodist Ritual of Holy Baptism.The United Methodist Church. 2001.
Holy Spirit is invoked to bless and use the water, in anticipation that God will act again, even now.
- ^This is your Baptismal Liturgy: A Resource for Understanding The United Methodist Ritual of Holy Baptism.The United Methodist Church. 2001.
- ^Sikhism,2004, by Geoff TeeceISBN1-58340-469-4page 7
- ^Hinduism,2004, by Geoff TeeceISBN1-58340-466-Xpage 22
- ^"Buddhism in Thailand: Lustral Water".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-10-12.Retrieved2007-10-03.
- ^Smithsonian Institution."Buddhist ritual sprinkler (kundika) <Internet>".Archived fromthe originalon 21 June 2007.Retrieved16 July2007.
- ^The British Museum."Stoneware kundika (water sprinkler) <Internet>".Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.Retrieved16 July2007.
- ^abcVirani, Shafique. The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation (New York: Oxford University Press), 2007, pp. 107–108.
- ^Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002).The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-515385-5.OCLC65198443.
- ^Burtea, Bogdan (2008).Zihrun, das verborgene Geheimnis(in German). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.ISBN978-3-447-05644-1.OCLC221130512.
- ^Greek religion: archaic and classical,by Walter Burkert, John Raffan 1991ISBN0-631-15624-0page 77
- ^Wicca for Life: The Way of the Craft -- From Birth to Summerland,2003, by Raymond BucklandISBN0-8065-2455-3page 85
- ^Bonnerjea, Biren. A Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology, Folk Press Limited, 1927, p. 242.[1]Archived2014-03-14 at theWayback Machine
- ^Library of universal knowledge: A reprint of the last (1880) Edinburgh and London edition of Chambers' encyclopaedia, with copious additions by American editors, Volume 14. American Book Exchange (Original from Harvard University), 1881, p. 804.[2]
Further reading
edit- (Mother) Mary; Ware, (Archimandrite) Kallistos (Tr.)(1998).The Festal Menaion(reprint), pp 348–359. South Canaan: St. Tikhon's Seminary Press.ISBN1-878997-00-9.
- Isabel Florence Hapgood(Tr., ed.)(1983).Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church(6th ed.), pp 189–197. Englewood: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.
- Collectio Rituum ad instar appendicis Ritualis Romani pro dioecesibus Statuum Foederatorum Americae Septentrionalis.Milwaukee: Bruce (1954)
External links
edit- Photo of Great Blessing of Watersat Theophany (Russian Orthodox)
- Photo of Lesser Blessing of Waters(Russian Orthodox)
- St Brigid's Well, County Kildare