Holy water is, in fact, so important that we should use it daily—even multiple times a day.
But why?
As a bit of background, the use of holy water goes all the way back to the Old Testament. The priests used water to purify themselves before and after offering sacrifice. They also used it in rites of purification for the people. The use of water symbolized the cleansing of sin and impurities. In the New Testament, St. John the Baptist used water to baptize, calling the devout to repent in preparation for the coming of Christ.
Similarly, when we bless ourselves with holy water, we are reminded to truly repent of our sins and strive after a sinless and virtuous life.
We also use holy water as protection from evil. Demons hate holy water. God’s blessing is upon it and His power works through it—therefore evil spirits fear it as a weapon which God has given us against their workings.
As St. Teresa of Ávila says in her autobiography:
“From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again.”
Another reason to use holy water is that it reminds us of our own Baptism, when we were purified from sin and received into the Church. We recall the sinlessness of our newly-baptized souls, the promises we made to reject Satan and sin, and the Faith that we accepted and professed. It reminds us of who we are and what we are called to be.
This is a short rundown of the myriad benefits of holy water and why it is such a powerful sacramental. You can learn more in Holy Water & Its Significance for Catholics, available from The Catholic Company along with a beautiful Miraculous Medal holy water bottle to take with you wherever you go. Order your set today!
