Woda w czasie Mszy świętej
Water in the Holy Mass

The sign and its symbolism

Summary/Abstract: According to Julien Ries water belongs to the triad of the cosmic structure, which embraces three great symbols: water, tree and mountain, through which sacrum is being revealed. During the Holy Mass celebrated of the Paschal Season water is present very often either in the words of the prayers or as a sign. The use of water is not only for hygienic reasons, but the water formerly blessed through aspersion reminds everybody about their relationship with the Church and God; the act of adding a drop of water into the chalice of wine reminds the Mystery of Christ’s Incarnation, His manhood and divinity; cleaning hands of the one who is offering the gifts means his purification; the epicletic formula Spiritus tui rore santifica emphasizes the efficiency and fertility of this intervention; the intercession prayer, which speaks about the reborn from the water and the Holy Spirit points to the newly baptized; a prayer ascribed to the purification of the chalice and paten expresses the will and possibility that all who receive Christ in the Eucharist will achieve eternal life.

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