prayer of blessing

After the reading, the celebrant says:

Let us pray.

All pray briefly in silence; then, with hands outstretched, the celebrant says the prayer of blessing.

Blessed are you, Lord, all-powerful God,who in Christ, the living water of salvation,blessed and transformed us.Grant that, when we are sprinkled with this wateror make use of it,we will be refreshed inwardly by the powerof the Holy Spiritand continue to walk in the new lifewe received at baptism.

We ask this though Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

or

Lord, holy Father,look with kindness on your childrenredeemed by your Sonand born to a new life by water and the Holy Spirit.Grant that those who are sprinkled with this watermay be renewed in body and spiritand may make a pure offering of their service to you.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

or the celebrant says:

O God, the Creator of all things,by water and the Holy Spirityou have given the universe its beautyand fashioned us in your own image.

℟. Bless and purify your Church.

O Christ the Lord, from your pierced sideyou gave us your sacramentsas fountains of salvation.

℟. Bless and purify your Church.

O Holy Spirit, giver of life,from the baptismal font of the Churchyou have formed us into a new creationin the waters of rebirth.

℟. Bless and purify your Church.

After the prayer of blessing, the celebrant sprinkles those present with holy water, as a suitable song is sung; as circumstances suggest, he may first say the following words.

Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ, who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.

℟. Amen. ¹