The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-11-18
EASTER WATER AND ORDINARY
HOLY WATER.

Easter water must not be used in
the sick room for the ordinary bless
ings of the Church when holy water
is prescribed.
Easter water is the water blessed
by the Church on. Holy Saturday for
the baptismal font. Before the holy
oils are poured into the font the priest
takes some of the water and sprinkles
the congregation with it as on Sun
days before the high Mass. Some
more of it is taken for the holy water
fonts in the church; also for sprink-
ling in the houses of the people, as
well as for sprinkling the faithful in
the church on Easter Sunday before
the high Mass says A. l.. A. Klauder,
D. d.. in Catholic Practice"
AS the Church does not mention the
use of Easter water outside of these
occasions, it is not necessary to take
a large quantity, of it from the church,
but a small vial of it, is sufficient for
the sprinkling Of the, house and its
members, if it is desired, on Holy.
Saturday and Easter Sunday.
How, irreyerent and even disgrace
full is not the frequent sight on Holy.
Saturday of veritable mob of peo-
pie crushing around the vessel of
Easter water, clamering for their sup
ply, clanking and rafting cans and
bottles and jugs, and splitting the sa-
cred liquid over the floor and tramp
ling it with their feet. A small vial
of the water could be obtained at any
time on Holy Saturday without dan
ger of the average parishioner being
disappointed, if he did not apply inn
mediately after the morning. services.
On Holy Saturday when this water
is blessed, the prayer which is said
over it contains reference to the
power given the water by God, who
by secret mixture of His divine yir-
tue may rendeF 8hissWater fruitful for
the regeneration of men, to the end
that those who have been sanctified in
the immaculate womb Of this divine
font, being born again new creatures,
may come forth as heavenly offspring,
and that all may be brought forth to
the same infancy by grace, their spir-
itual mother. May 1t be liy-
ing fountain, regenerating water, a
purifying stream, that all those who
are washed in this saving bath may
obtain, by the operation of the Holy
Ghost, the grace of perfect purifica-
| ton"
Holy water which is blessed at any
time is consecrated with a prayer that
God infuse the power of his benedic7
ton into it, that it may serve to ban
ish disease and sin, that Divine Grace
may take its effect, and that whatever
house or place of the faithful is
sprinkled with it may be cleansed
from evil, and that all that may be
harmful to the peace and safety of the
inmates may be expelled by its asper-
sion
The supply of holy water, as be-
comes its sacred character, should be
kept in a large, presetitable bottle or
cruet, but not in a liquor bottle, or in
an open jar liable to gather dust and
form an unc1ean sediment.
Holy water should, moreover, be
kept in fonts hung on the wall or door
frames of the principal rooms, espe-
cially in the bedrooms that the mem
bers of the family may sign or
sprinkle themselves with it occasion
ally, especially on retiring at night
and on arising in the morning.
Holy water, both in church and at
home, Should not be used for any
other purpose but that intended by
the Church, namely, for blessings by
means of sprinkfing. Any other use
of it is more or less of an abuse,
which is sometimes even disgusting.