Liturgia Mozarabica [Benedictio Aque]

BENEDICTIO AQUAE. [XCIII] ℣. Our help in the name of the Lord. ℟. Who made heaven and earth. ℣. Let the name of the Lord be blessed. ℟. From this now and forever. Here the priest makes the sign of the cross over the salt itself, and blows upon it three times; and afterwards he says the following exorcism: Exorcism of the Salt. I exorcize you, creature of salt. In the name of the Fa ✠ ther and of the So ✠ n and of the Holy Spi ✠ rit, who through Eliseus commanded you to be cast into the water, that the barren waters might be healed. And who by the voice of his own mouth said, You are the salt of the earth. And through his Apostle, the chosen vessel: Let your speech be seasoned with salt. Therefore, let the salt be exorcized, so that it may be for the remission of sins and the health of minds. For the protection of soul and [XCIV] body: for the confirmation of health, to expel and exclude all temptations of demons. R. In the name of God the omnipotent Fa ✠ ther and of Jesus Christ his So ✠ n, who in the Trinity one lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer. We beseech the invincible strength of your power, O holy Father, eternal, almighty God, who among all necessary things which you have ordained to be created through Jesus Christ our Lord, have deigned to bestow no small grace upon salt: that from it all things might be seasoned for food; you created your Son our Lord. We humbly entreat you to deign to look upon this salt. So that by the power of your majesty it may receive strength against all unclean spirits; may it expel from every place where it has been sprinkled with your invocation whatever can be pestilential; may it exhibit the full effect of salvation. May it deter all deceptions of the enemy and cause all monstrous kinds to flee far away. May it check all heaviness and phantasms, and through the sign of the Cross of your Son our Lord, may it grant the most faithful protection to those who desire it. ℟. Amen.

Then he brings the water in a pitcher to be consecrated, and blows into it three times in the same place and speaks the exorcism. Exorcism of the Water. Prayer. Depart, unclean Spirit, from all the sacraments of our religious office which our faith will use, and do not allege the guilt of a crime: you who acknowledge the power of the Savior. Not from confidence in merit, but by command. Although that power of the ministry is the dignity of the minister. Therefore I summon you, the common Lord of the water creature, so that, preserving the motions of sensibility, understanding, you submit to service: that you do not refuse what we use to please God. Purge from yourself all communion of demons, every company of iniquity. Destroy entirely the stain of phantasm, rapacious one, by the protection of the Lord, so that, having obtained the grace of sanctification, serving in due service to your and our creator alike, you may cast down the wickedness of all evil spirits wherever you are sprinkled, and bring in the abundance of holy blessing. R. Amen. Through your mercy, our God, who are blessed and live and rule all things forever and ever. R. Amen. Humble yourselves for the blessing. May the Lord be always with you. R. And.

Benediction. Holy Lord, almighty eternal Father God, founder and establisher of all elements, who through Jesus Christ our Lord wished this element of water to be for the salvation of the human race: we humbly beseech you, that having heard our prayers, you may sanctify it by the regard of your mercy, and that from it the incursion of all unclean spirits may depart, so that wherever it has been sprinkled in your name, the grace of your blessing may come, and all evils may depart with you propitious. ℟. Amen. Through mercy, etc. May the Lord always be, etc. This water, now sanctified, is placed with salt in the form of a cross, and it is said: This mixture of salt and water. In the name of the Fa✠ther and of the So✠n and of the Holy ✠ Spirit, who reigns God forever and ever. ℟. Amen. After the mixture of salt and water. Prayer. Eternal almighty God, who created for us the creature of water, you who distinguished it so that you provided a simple liquid for washing, a salty solidity for seasoning, so that both filth might be washed away and food be imbued, whereby original [sin] might be removed, and error corrected toward the way of salvation. We, unworthy in the function of our office, beseech you that this mixture of salt and water made in your name may be sanctified by the gaze of your mercy, and that which materially for the benefit of baptism, [and] the hostile act of error against wisdom, the translator of guilt, you may render sanctified by the holiness of your Holy Spirit.

May it not be rendered unclean by any contagion: which we believe is made blessed by your majesty; but may it through you provide the full effect of sanctification: so that wherever, with your name invoked, it is sprinkled by hand or taken up in any manner, with all the snares of the opposing side expelled and driven out, not only may all the machinations of demons be put to flight and vanish from that place, but also the guardianship of the holy angels may always remain there enduring. ℟. Amen. Through mercy, etc. May the Lord always be with you. ℟. And. May the blessing of God the Father almighty, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit descend and remain upon this creature of salt and water. ℟. Amen. Antiphon. God has sprinkled us with hyssop: and we shall be cleansed. You will wash us and whiten us more than snow. ℣. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy: and according to the multitude of your mercies, blot out my iniquity. Priest. You will wash. ℣. Glory and honor to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit. Priest. You will wash. ℣. Show us, O Lord, your mercy. ℟. And your salvation. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord. ℟. Throughout the ages of ages they will praise you. ℣. O Lord, hear my prayer. ℟. And the cry. May the Lord always be with you. ℟. And with the spirit. Let us pray.

Prayer. Hear us, O Lord, holy Father, eternal God, and deign to send your holy Angel from the heavens, who may guard us, cherish us, protect us, visit us, and defend all dwelling or assembling in this habitation of God. Through Christ the Lord, etc.