Blessing of Epiphany Water
(Approved by the Congregation of Sacred Rites, Dec. 6, 1890)
(This blessing comes from the Orient, where the Church has long emphasized in her celebration of Epiphany the mystery of our Lord's baptism, and by analogy our baptism. This aspect is not neglected in western Christendom, although in practice we have concentrated on the visit of the Magi. Many years before the Latin Rite officially adopted the blessing of Epiphany water, diocesan rituals, notably in lower Italy, had contained such a blessing).
1. At the appointed time the celebrant, vested in white cope (if a bishop, the mitre is worn but removed during the prayers), and the deacon and subdeacon, vested in white dalmatic and tunic respectively, come before the altar. They are preceded by acolytes, who carry the processional cross and lighted candles (which are put in their proper place), and by the other clergy. A vessel of water and a container of salt are in readiness in the sanctuary.)
First the Litany of the Saints is sung, during which time all kneel. After the invocation "That you grant eternal rest," etc. the celebrant rises and sings the following two invocations, the second in a higher key:
V. That you bless + this water.
R. We beg you to hear us.
V. That you bless + and sanctify + this water
R. We beg you to hear us.
Then the chanters continue the litany up to and including the last Lord, have mercy. After this the celebrant chants Our Father the rest inaudibly until:
P: And lead us not into temptation.
All: But deliver us from evil.
2. Then the following psalms are sung:
Psalm 28
P: Give to the Lord, you sons of God, * give to the Lord glory and praise,
All: Give to the Lord the glory due His name; * adore the Lord in holy attire.
P: The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders, * the Lord, over vast waters.
All: The voice of the Lord is mighty; * the voice of the Lord is majestic.
P: The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, * the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
All: He makes Lebanon leap like a calf * and Sarion like a young wild bull.
P: The voice of the Lord strikes fiery flames; the voice of the Lord shakes the desert, * the Lord shakes the wilderness of Cades.
All: The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests, * and in His temple all say, "Glory!"
P: The Lord is enthroned above the flood; * the Lord is enthroned as king forever.
All: May the Lord give strength to His people; * may the Lord bless his people with peace.
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
Psalm 45
P: God is our refuge and our strength, * an ever-present help in distress.
All: Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea;
P: Though its waters rage and foam * and the mountains quake at its surging.
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; * our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
P: There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, * the holy dwelling of the Most High.
All: God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; * God will help it at the break of dawn.
P: Though nations are in turmoil, kingdoms totter, * His voice resounds, the earth melts away;
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; * our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
P: Come, see the deeds of the Lord, * the astounding things He has wrought on earth.
All: He has stopped wars to the end of the earth; * the bow he breaks; He splinters the spears; He burns the shields with fire.
P: Desist, and confess that I am God, * exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth.
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; * our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
Psalm 146
P: Praise the Lord, for He is good; * sing praise to our God, for He is gracious; it is fitting to praise Him.
All: The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; * the dispersed of Israel He gathers.
P: He heals the brokenhearted * and binds up their wounds.
All: He tells the number of the stars; * He calls each by name.
P: Great is our Lord and mighty in power; * to His wisdom there is no limit.
All: The Lord sustains the lowly; * the wicked He casts to the ground.
P: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; * sing praise with the harp to our God.
All: Who covers the heavens with clouds, * who provides rain for the earth;
P: Who makes grass sprout on the mountains * and herbs for the service of men;
All: Who gives food to the cattle, * and to the young ravens when they cry to Him.
P: He delights not in the strength of the steed, * nor is He pleased with the fleetness of men.
All: The Lord is pleased with those who fear Him, * with those who hope for His kindness.
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
The celebrant then chants:
Exorcism against Satan and the apostate angels
In the name of our Lord Jesus + Christ and by His power, we cast you out, every unclean spirit, every devilish power, every assault of the infernal adversary, every legion, every diabolical group and sect; begone and stay far from the Church of God, from all who are made in the image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of the divine + Lamb. Never again dare, you cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God, nor to strike the chosen of God and to sift them as + wheat. For it is the Most High God who commands you, + He to whom you heretofore in your great pride considered yourself equal; He who desires that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. God the Father + commands you. God the Son + commands you. God the Holy + Spirit commands you. The majesty of Christ, the eternal Word of God made flesh + commands you; He who for the salvation of our race, the race that was lost through your envy, humbled Himself and became obedient even unto death; He who built His Church upon a solid rock, and proclaimed that the gates of hell should never prevail against her, and that He would remain with her all days, even to the end of the world. The sacred mystery of the cross + commands you, as well as the power of all the mysteries of Christian faith. The exalted Virgin Mary, Mother of God + commands you, who in her lowliness crushed your proud head from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and the other apostles + commands you. The blood of the martyrs and the devout intercession of all holy men and women commands you.
Therefore, accursed dragon and every diabolical legion, we adjure you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by the God who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have life everlasting; cease your deception of the human race and your giving them to drink of the poison of everlasting damnation; desist from harming the Church and fettering her freedom. Begone Satan, you father and teacher of lies and enemy of mankind. Give place to Christ in whom you found none of your works; give place to the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church, which Christ Himself purchased with His blood. May you be brought low under God's mighty hand. May you tremble and flee as we call upon the holy and awesome name of Jesus, before whom hell quakes, and to whom the virtues, powers, and dominations are subject; whom the cherubim and seraphim praise with unwearied voices, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts!
Next the choir sings the following antiphon and canticle:
Antiphon:
Today the Church is espoused to her heavenly bridegroom, for Christ washes her sins in the Jordan; the Magi hasten with gifts to the regal nuptials; and the guests are gladdened with water made wine, alleluia.
Canticle of Zachary
Luke 1.68-79
P: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! * He has visited His people and brought about its redemption.
All: He has raised for us a stronghold of salvation * in the house of David His servant,
P: And redeemed the promise He had made * through the mouth of His holy prophets of old--
All: To grant salvation from our foes * and from the hand of all that hate us;
P: To deal in mercy with our fathers * and be mindful of His holy covenant,
All: Of the oath he had sworn to our father Abraham, * that He would enable us--
P: Rescued from the clutches of our foes--* to worship Him without fear,
All: In holiness and observance of the Law, * in His presence, all our days.
P: And you, my little one, will be hailed 'Prophet of the Most High'; * for the Lord's precursor you will be to prepare His ways;
All: You are to impart to His people knowledge of salvation * through forgiveness of their sins.
P: Thanks be to the merciful heart of our God! * a dawning Light from on high will visit us
All: To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadowland of death, * and guide our feet into the path of peace."
P: Glory be to the Father.
All: As it was in the beginning.
Or instead of the "Benedictus" the "Magnificat" may be chosen. At the end of the canticle the antiphon given above is repeated. Then the celebrant sings:
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, who on this day revealed your only-begotten Son to all nations by the guidance of a star, grant that we who now know you by faith may finally behold you in your heavenly majesty; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Next he blesses the water:
From here on the exorcism of salt and the prayer that follows it, the exorcism of water and the two prayers that follow it, the mixing of the salt and water and then the concluding prayer--all of these are the same as the ones used on pp. 395-97.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
The exorcism of salt follows:
Thou creature of salt, I purge thee of evil by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by the God Who ordered thee through Eliseus, the prophet to be cast into the water to cure its unfruitfulness. Be thou a purified salt for the health of believers, giving soundness of body and soul to all who use thee. In whatever place thou art sprinkled, may phantoms and wickedness, and Satan’s cunning be banished. And let every unclean spirit be repulsed by Him Who shall come to judge the living and dead, and the world by fire.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
O Almighty, everlasting God! Humbly we implore thy boundless mercy that thou wouldst deign of thy goodness to bless + and sanctify + this creature of salt which thou hast given for the use of mankind. May all that use it find in it a remedy for soul and body. And let everything which it touches or sprinkles be freed from uncleanness and assault from evil spirits. Through our Lord.
R. Amen.
Exorcism of water:
Thou creature of water, I purge thee of evil in the name of God + the Father almighty in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou mayest be water fit to brace us against the envious foe. Mayest thou be empowered to drive him forth and exile him together with his fallen angels by the power of the selfsame Jesus Christ, our Lord Who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.
R. Amen.
Let us pray.
O God, Who for man’s salvation dost dispense wondrous mysteries with the efficacious sign of water, hearken to our prayer - pouring forth thy benediction + upon this element which we consecrate with manifold purifications. Let this creature serve thee in expelling demons and curing diseases. Whatsoever it sprinkles in the homes of the faithful, be it cleansed and delivered from harm. Let such homes enjoy a spirit of goodness and an air of tranquility freed from baneful and hidden snares. By the sprinkling of this water may everything opposed to the safety and repose of them that dwell therein be banished, so that they may possess the well-being they seek in calling upon thy holy names, and be protected from all peril. Through our Lord.
R. Amen.
Now salt is thrice put into the water in the form of a cross, saying only once:
May this salt and water be mixed together, in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit.
R. Amen.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Author of invincible strength and king of an unconquerable empire, ever the gloriously triumphant One! Who restrainest the force of the adversary, Who overcomest the fierceness of the devouring enemy, Who valiantly putteth down hostile influences! Prostrate and fearsome we beseech thee, Lord, consider kindly this creature of salt and water, make it honored, and sanctify it with the dew of thy sweetness. Wherever it is sprinkled in thy name, may devilish infection cease, venomous terror be driven afar. But let the presence of the Holy Spirit be ever with us as we implore thy mercy. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in unity of the same Holy Spirit, God, eternally. R. Amen.
At the end of the blessing the priest sprinkles the people with the blessed water.
(Lastly the "Te Deum" is sung (for the "Te Deum" and its oration see Renewal of the Marriage Vows).
Te Deum
We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee and the Father everlasting.
To Thee all Angels: to Thee the heavens and all the Powers therein.
To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim cry with unceasing voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts.
The heavens and the earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
Thee the glorious choir of the Apostles.
Thee the admirable company of the Prophets.
Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs praise.
Thee the Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge.
The Father of infinite Majesty.
Thine adorable, true and only Son
Also the Holy Ghost the Paraclete.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man
didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
Thou having overcome the sting of death
didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants:
whom Thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting.
Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine inheritance.
Govern them and lift them up forever.
Day by day we bless Thee.
And we praise Thy name forever: and world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day to keep us without sin.
Have mercy on us, O Lord: have mercy on us.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us: as we have hoped in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I hoped: let me never be confounded.
V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
R. Praised, worthy and exalted above all forever.
V. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
R. Let us praise him and exalt him above all forever.
V. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
R. And forget not all he has done for Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray
O God, whose mercy is unlimited and whose goodness is inexhaustible, we thank Thee for all that Thou in Thy loving majesty hast given us. We ask that Thou, who always answerest those who pray, may in Thy mercy not abandon them, but prepare them to receive eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.