Weihwasser

Whenever I visit a friend family in the Switzerland, I am surprised by the way they keep different traditions. I particularly like when they bless me for goodbye. One of them take holy water and make a sign of the Cross on my forehead.  The Grossmutter – grandma - how all call her,  always says that “Holy water, but this real one, blessed with the exorcism and salt, has the special power, because God Himself act through it and everyone can use it to bless.”

She told me once that in the good old days people sprinkled with holy water also fields, animals, stables and houses, it was given to sick people to drink and even cows get it to drink. 

In many churches in southern Germany and the Switzerland you can find containers, really big containers, with holy water to take away. And people really use it. 

 Holy water to take away in a parish church

The holy water container in Wigratzbad, Bavaria

Rituale Romanum

ORDO AD FACIENDAM AQUAM BENEDICTAM

V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.
Exorcizo te, creatura aquae, 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 ajusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christi: qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos, et saeculum per ignem. R. Amen.	I exorcize you, creature of water, 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 you may be water exorcized for putting all strength of the enemy to flight, and that you may be empowered to uproot and cast out the enemy himself with his apostate angels, by the power of the same Jesus Christ our Lord: Who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. R. Amen.
Oremus Deus, qui ad salutem humani generis, maxima quaeque sacramenta in aquarum substantia condidisti: adesto propitius invocationibus nostris, et elemento huic multimodis purificationibus praeparato, virtutem tuae bene + dictionis infunde: ut creatura tua, mysteriis tuis serviens, ad abigendos daemones, morbosque pellendos, divinae gratiae sumat effectum; ut quidquid in domibus, vel in locis fidelium, haec unda resperserit, careat omni immunditia, liberetur a noxa: non illic resideat spiritus pestilens, non aura corrumpens: discedant omnes insidiae latentis inimici; et si quid est, quod aut incolumitati habitantium invidet, aut quieti, aspersione hujus aquae effugiat: ut salubritas, per invocationem sancti tui nominis expetita, ab omnibus sit impugnationibus defensa. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.	Let us pray O God, who for the salvation of the human race have founded all the greatest mysteries (sacramenta) in the substance of water: be favorable to our prayers, and pour forth the power of your blessing + upon this element prepared with manifold purifications: so that your creature, serving your mysteries, may take up the effect of divine grace for expelling demons and driving away diseases; so that whatsoever this water sprinkles in the homes or places of the faithful, may be freed from all uncleanness, and delivered from harm: may the pestilential spirit not remain there, nor destroying air: may all snares of the hidden enemy depart; and if there be anything that is hostile towards either the safety or the repose of the inhabitants, let it flee with the sprinkling of this water: so that the well-being asked through the invocation of your holy name may be defended from all that attacks it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son: who with you lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. R. Amen.
Commixtio salis et aquae pariter fiat, in nomine Pa+tris, et Fi+lii, et Spiritus + Sancti. R. Amen	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. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Deus, invictae virtutis auctor, et insuperabilis imperii Rex, ac semper magnificus triumphator: qui adversae dominationis vires reprimis: qui inimici rugientis saevitiam superas: qui hostiles nequitias potenter expugnas: te, Domine, trementes et supplices deprecamur, ac petimus: ut hanc creaturam salis et aquae dignanter aspicias, benignus illustres, pietatis tuae rore sanctifices; ut, ubicumque fuerit aspersa, per invocationem sancti nominis tui, omnis infestatio immundi spiritus abigatur: terrorque venenosi serpentis procul pellatur: et praesentia Santi Spiritus nobis, misericordiam tuam poscentibus, ubique adesse dignetur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate ejusdem Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. R. Amen.	O God, source of invincible strength and king of insuperable dominion, and ever magnificent triumphant one: you who restrain the force of the adversary’s dominion: you who overcome the savagery of the raging enemy: you who powerfully defeat hostile influences: trembling and prostrate we humbly beseech and implore you, Lord: that you may look kindly upon this creature of salt and water, graciously illumine and sanctify it with the dew of your mercy: that wherever it shall be sprinkled, through the invocation of your holy name, every infestation of the unclean spirit may be banished: and the terror of the venomous serpent may be driven afar: and may the presence of the Holy Spirit deign to be everywhere with us, who ask your mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son: who lives and reigns in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. R. Amen.