Picture 26

The priest sprinkles the assembly with holy water. This water has been blessed the previous night with the same solemn blessing of the waters. The faithful drink this water as a liturgical and sacramental manifestation of Christ's blessing of all water by his baptism. The use of holy water recalls the purification rite of ancient Judaism, in which the people were sprinkled with blessed water (hyssop) for cleansing of ritual impurities.