Holy water

"Lustral water" redirects here. For the purifying water described in the Old Testament, see Water of lustration.
For other uses, see Holy water (disambiguation).
Bottles of water collected in 1930 from the River Jordan, at the site where Jesus Christ was believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist
A Thai student pouring the holy water on his two hands at Erawan shrine, Bangkok

Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from Christianity to Sikhism. The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil is common among Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics,[1][2] and Eastern Christians.

  1. ^ "Tracts on Principles of Divine Worship: No. 3. The Sprinkling of Holy Water". New York: Men's Guild, St. Ignatius' Church. Retrieved 13 January 2013. Holy water has no power to beautify the soul here in time and the body in eternity, as Penance and the Eucharist have; but for those who reverently use it, having the right dispositions of faith and contrition, it has power to banish demons, dispel their deceits and vexations, cleanse the soul from stain of venial sins, avert earthly ills (other than those which God allows for our good), and to promote our temporal welfare.
  2. ^ Theiler, Henry (1909). Holy Water and Its Significance for Catholics. Ratisbon, New York: F. Puster & Co. Reprint: Sophia Institute Press, 2016. ISBN 0-7661-7553-7 pp. 13-15.