blessing of holy water outside mass

On the basis of age-old custom, water is one of the signs that the Church often uses in blessing the faithful. Holy water reminds the faithful of Christ, who is given to us as the supreme divine blessing, who called himself the living water, and who, in water, established baptism for our sake as the sacramental sign of the blessing that brings salvation.

The blessing and sprinkling of holy water usually take place on Sunday, in keeping with the rite given in the Roman Missal (Sacramentary).

But when the blessing of water takes place outside Mass, the rite given here may be used by a priest or deacon. While maintaining the structure and chief elements of the rite, the celebrant should adapt the celebration to the circumstances of the place and the people involved.