Chapter XXVIII. Of Exorcisms, and Benedictions or Blessings of Creatures in the Catholic Church, and of Thb Use of Holy Water

Q. What do you mean by Exorcism?

A, The rites and prayers instituted by the church for the casting out devils, or restraining them from hurling persons, disquieting places, or abusing any of God's creatures to our harm.

Q. Has Christ given his church any such po\ver over the devils?

A. Yes he has: see St. Matt. x. 1; St. Mark iii. 13; St. Luke ix. 1; 'where this power was given to the Apostles; and to the seventy-two Disciples,' St. Luke X. 19; 'and to other believers,' St. Mark xvi. 17. And that this power was not to die with the Apostles, nor to cease after the apostolic age, we learn from the perpetual practice of the church and the experience of all ages.

Q. What is the meaning of blessing so many things in the Catholic Church?

A, We bless churches, and other places set aside for divine service; altars, chalices, vestments, &;c. by way of devoting them to holy uses; we bless our meats and other inanimate things which God has given us for our use, that we may use them in moderation, in a manner agreeable to God's institution; that they may be servicable to us, and that the devil may have no power to abuse them to our prejudice: we bless candles, salt, water, &c. by way of begging of God that such as religiously use them may obtain his blessing, &;c.

Q. But does it not savour of superstition to attribute any virtue to such inanimate things as blessed candles, holy water, Agnus DeVs, &c.

A, It is no superstition to look for a good effect from the prayers of the Church of God; and it is in virtue of these prayers that we hope for benefit from these things, when used with faith, and daily experience shows that our hopes are not vain.

Q. What do you mean by Agnus DeVs?

A, Wax stamped with the image of the Lamb of God blessed by the Pope with solemn prayers, and anointed with the holy chrism.

Q. What warrant have you in scripture for blessing inanimate things?

A, 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5. 'Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be riefused, if it be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.'

Q, Why does the Church make use of the sign of the cross in all her blessings and consecrations?

A. To signify that all our good must come through Christ crucified.

Q. What do you mean by Holy Water?

A, Water sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Q. What is the use of Holy Water?

A, It is used by the Church with solemn prayers, to beg God's protection and blessing upon those that use it, and in particular that they may be defended from all the powers of darkness.

Q. Is the use of Holy Water very ancient in the Church of God?

A, It is very ancient, since it is mentioned in the Apostolical Constitutions, 1. 8. c. 29. And as for the English nation in particular, it is visible from the epistles of St. Gregory the Great, 1. 9. epist. 71. 'that we received it together with our Christianity.'

Q. Have the holy fathers and ancient Church writers left upon record any miracles done by Holy Water?

A, Yes they have; more particularly upon those occasions when it has been used against magical enchantments and the power of the devil. See instances in St. Epiphanius, IJser. 30. in St. Hie-rome, in the Life of St. Hilarion, in Theodoref^;

1. 6. Histor. Eccl. c. 21. in Palladium Histor. Laus. C. 6, &c.

Q. What is tho order and manner of blessing Holy Water?

A, First, the priest signs himself with the sign of the cross, saying, 'Our help is in the name of the Lord.' Ans, ' Who made heaven and earth.' Then hi proceeds to the blessing of the salt which is to be mingled with the water, saying.

The Exorcism of the Salt,

I exorcise thee, O creature of salt! by the living ijji God, by the true ^ God, by the holy ^ God; by that God, who by the prophet Elisha commanded thee to be cast into the water to cure its barrenness, that thou mayest by this exorcism be made beneficial to the faithful, and become to ^11 them that make use of thee healthful both to goul and body, and that in what place soever thou wilt be sprinkled, all illusions and wickedness and crafty wiles of satan may be chased away and depart from that place; and every unclean spirit commanded in his name, who is to come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. Amen.

Let us pray.

O Almighty and everlasting God! we most humbly implore thy infinite mercy that thou wouldst vouchsafe by thy piety to bless >J and to sanctify ^ this thy creature of salt, which thou hast given for the use of mankind: that it may be to all thai take it for the health of mind and body; and that ■ivhatever shall be touched or sprinkled with it may be free from all uncleanness, and from all n

CT5-1948 assaults of wielded spirits, through our Lord Jesofl Christ, &c.

After tilts ilie Priest proceeds to the blessing of the water J as follows.

I exorcise thee, O creature of water! in the name of God ^ the Father Almighty, and in the name of Christ ^ his Son our Lord, and in the virtue of the Holy)^ Ghost; that thou mayest by this exorcism have power to chase away all the power of the enemy; that thou mayest be enabled to cast him out, and put him to flight with all his apostate angels, by the virtue of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who is to come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God! who for the benefit of mankind hast made use of the element of water in the greatest sacraments, mercifully hear our prayers, and impart the virtue of thy blessing ^ to this element, prepared by many kinds of purifications; that this thy creature made use of in thy mysteries may receive the effect of thy divine grace for the chasing away devils and curing diseases; and that whosoever shall be sprinkled with this water in the houses or the places of the faithful, may be free from all uncleanness, and delivered from evil: let no pestilential spirit reside there, no infectious air; let all the snares of the hidden enemy fly away; and may whatever envies the safety or repose of the inhabitants of that place be put to flight by the sprinkling of this water, that the welfare which we seek by the invocation of thjr holy i 26

Na«ie may be defended from all sorts of assaults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &;c.

Then the Priest mingles the salt with the watery saying.

May this salt and water be mixed together, in the name of the Father ^, and of the Son >J, and of the Holy ^ Ghost. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you.

R, And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O God the author of invincible power, King of an empire that cannot be overcome, and for ever magnificently triumphant,- who retrainest the forces of the adversary, who defeatest the fury of the roaring enemy, who mightily conquerest his malicious wiles; we pray and beseech thee, O Lord! with dread and humility, to regard with a favourable countenance this creature of salt and water, to enlighten it with thy bounty, and to sanctify it with the dew of thy fatherly goodness, that wheresoever it shall be sprinkled all annoyance of the unclean spirit may be chased away, through the invocation of thy holy Name; and that the presence of the Holy Ghost may be every where with us, who seek thy mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the same Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen,

The Blessing being ended, the Priest sprinkles himself and the people with the water, saying.

Anthem, Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord! with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

Psalm, Have mercy on me, O God! according to thy great mercy, &;c. Glory be to the Father, dec.

After wJiich he repeats the Anthem. ' Thou shalt sprinkle,' 6z;c. Then returning to the altar, he says*

V. O Lord! show us thy mercy. i?. And give us thy salvation. V. O Lord! hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come to thee. F. The Lord be with you. E. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Hear us, O! holy Lord, Almighty Father, everlasting God! and vouchsafe to send thy holy angel from heaven to guard, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all that dwell in this habitation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.