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 water or make use of it, we will be refreshed inwardly by the power of the Holy Spirit and continue to walk in the new life we received at baptism.

We ask this though Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

or

Lord, holy Father, look with kindness on your children redeemed by your Son and born to a new life by water and the Holy Spirit. Grant that those who are sprinkled with this water may be renewed in body and spirit and 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 Spirit you have given the universe its beauty and fashioned us in your own image.

℟. Bless and purify your Church.

O Christ the Lord, from your pierced side you gave us your sacraments as fountains of salvation.

℟. Bless and purify your Church.

O Holy Spirit, giver of life, from the baptismal font of the Church you have formed us into a new creation in 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