How to Make Your Own Holy Water

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Various religions use holy water for cleansing, protection, and blessings. Many people believe that holy water can only be truly sanctified by an ordained priest. For this reason, depending on your faith , you may not be able to create genuine holy water. However, you can try making your own holy water by following traditional Catholic rituals and prayers . There are also a variety of pagan rituals for making holy water.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Blessing Water with Catholic Prayers and Rituals

PDF download Download Article
  1. Gather and consecrate your salt.You will need to create holy salt before you can create holy water, so consecrate the salt (i.e. make it sacred or holy) first. Take some pure salt (e.g., Kosher salt or natural rock salt with no added ingredients) and add it to a container, such as a small bowl or jar. Once you are ready to bless the salt, say the following words from The Roman Ritual:
    • “Our help is in the name of the Lord , who made heaven and earth. O salt, creature of God, I exorcise you by the living God, by the true God, by the holy God, by the God who ordered you to be poured into the water by Eliseo the Prophet so that its life-giving powers might be restored. I exorcise you so that you may become a means of salvation for believers, that you may bring health of soul and body to all who make use of you, arid that you may put to flight and drive away from the places where you are sprinkled every apparition, villainy, and turn of devilish deceit, and every unclean spirit, adjured by Him Who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.”
    • If you are consecrating the salt in front of witnesses, invite them to join you in prayer: “Almighty and everlasting God, we humbly implore Thee, in Thy immeasurable kindness and love, to bless and sanctify this salt which Thou did create and give over to the use of mankind, so that it may become a source of health for the minds and bodies of all who make use of it, and may rid whatever it touches or sprinkles of all uncleanness and protect it from every assault of evil spirits. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ , Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
    • You can find the text of The Roman Ritual (or Rituale Romanum ) online or purchase it as a book from a Catholic bookstore.
    • There are no special requirements for the container you use for the salt. If you keep any holy salt that you do not mix with the water, make sure you mark the container so you don’t confuse it with regular table salt.
  2. If you can, get your water from a nearby lake, stream, or river. Try to stay away from tap water, since it may have additives such as chlorine and fluoride in it. However, if your water is obtained naturally, filter it beforehand—you don't want dirty holy water!
    • Place the water in an open container, such as a large bowl.
    • You can also use tap water or bottled water if a natural source isn’t available. Store-bought distilled water or spring water are also good choices.

    Safety precaution: If you plan to sprinkle the holy water on yourself, put it on your lips, or drink it, it’s very important to make sure that it’s clean and well-filtered. You may get sick if you drink unclean holy water. [1]

    Advertisement
  3. Before combining the salt and water, you will need to perform an exorcism over the water, as well. Recite these words from The Roman Ritual:
    • “O water, creature of God, I exorcise you in the name of God the Father almighty, and in the name of Jesus Christ His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. I exorcise you so that you may put to flight all the power of the Enemy, and be able to root out and supplant that Enemy with his apostate angels: through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will come to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.”
    • If you’re doing the exorcism in front of witnesses, have them join you in the following prayer: “O God, Who for the salvation of mankind has built Thy greatest mysteries on this substance, water, in Thy kindness hear our prayers and pour down the power of Thy blessing into this element, made ready for many kinds of purifications. May this, Thy creature, become an agent of divine grace in the service of Thy mysteries, to drive away evil spirits and dispel sickness, so that everything in the homes and other buildings of the faithful that is sprinkled with this water may be rid of all uncleanness and freed from every harm. Let no breath of infection, no disease-bearing air, remain in these places. May the wiles of the lurking Enemy prove of no avail. Let whatever might menace the safety and peace of those who live here be put to flight by the sprinkling of this water, so that the healthfulness, obtained by calling upon Thy holy name, may be made secure against all attack. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
  4. Once you’ve exorcised both the salt and the water, the final step is to combine them. Add the salt to the water, making the form of a cross as you pour it in. As you pour in the salt, recite the following:
    • “May this salt and water be mixed together; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”
    • If you are performing the ritual in front of witnesses, you should then say, “The Lord be with you.” They will respond, “May He also be with you.”
    • Invite anyone present to join you in this prayer: “God, source of irresistible might and king of an invincible realm, the ever-glorious conqueror; who restrain the force of the adversary, silencing the uproar of his rage, and valiantly subduing his wickedness; in awe and humility we beg you, Lord, to regard with favor this creature thing of salt and water, to let the light of your kindness shine upon it, and to hallow it with the dew of your mercy; so that wherever it is sprinkled and your holy name is invoked, every assault of the unclean spirit may be baffled, and all dread of the serpent's venom be cast out. To us who entreat your mercy grant that the Holy Spirit may be with us wherever we may be; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
  5. Once you’ve made your holy water, you can bless it using the following prayer from the Novus Ordo Book of Blessings : “Blessed are you, Lord, Almighty God, who deigned to bless us in Christ, the living water of our salvation, and to reform us interiorly, grant that we who are fortified by the sprinkling of or use of this water, the youth of the spirit being renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit, may walk always in newness of life.”
    • When you finish the blessing, make the sign of the cross over the water.
    • You can find the text of this prayer from the Book of Blessings online or purchase the book from a Catholic bookstore.
  6. Use your holy water to bless your home and family. Once you’ve finished making your holy water, place it in the container of your choice, such as a small glass vial or plastic spray bottle. You can sprinkle it around different rooms in your home to bless them, or use it to bless yourself or a family member when they go to bed at night.
    • If you’re not comfortable using holy water that you blessed yourself, go to a priest in your parish and ask for some. Some churches also have a holy water fount where you can fill up a container to take home with you.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Creating Pagan Holy Water

PDF download Download Article
  1. Collect sea water to use for cleansing and purification rituals. Sea water is already considered sacred in most Pagan traditions. If you’d like to use sea water for blessings and rituals, gather a little in a small bottle and leave an offering of thanks in return. [2]
    • For example, you might leave some fresh flowers or a little food (such as fruit or vegetables) that the animals living in the area can eat.
  2. Gather rainwater for rituals of purity, fertility, and abundance. If you want to use water in fertility rituals, set out an open container, such as a glass jar or chalice, to gather some rain. You can also gather the water from a well or rainwater reservoir. [3]
    • Water gathered during a lightning storm is thought to be infused with powerful energy.
    • You can also collect morning dew for use in rituals relating to beauty, healing, and rejuvenation.

    Tip: Many Pagans believe you can use rainwater to help bring fertility to your garden. Simply use it to water your plants as you normally would. Don’t add salt if you plan to use it this way, though—it will damage your plants!

  3. Practitioners of many religious traditions believe that salt can help ward off unfriendly spirits and entities. To make holy water for this purpose, place the water in a chalice. Say prayers over the salt and water that are appropriate for your particular Pagan tradition, then combine the 2 ingredients together and say a final prayer to bless the water and make it holy. [4]
    • For example, you might first dip your fingers or a magic wand into the water and say the following prayer: “Behold this water that is the giver of life. I ask that this water be blessed and purified and made holy. In the name of Goddess and of God, in love, light, peace, and trust.” [5]
    • Next, dip your fingers or wand into the salt and recite: “Behold the salt that is the preserver of life. I ask that this salt be blessed and consecrated and purified. In the name of Goddess and of God, in love, light, peace, and trust.” [6]
    • Add a pinch of the salt to the water and mix them together, stirring in a clockwise direction. After you’re done mixing, say the final prayer while still touching the mixture of water and salt: “For, as the water is holy and as the salt is holy, may the union of these two be blessed and purified and consecrated. In the name of Goddess and of God, by the almighty power of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, may this now be holy water, to be used in goodness, love, light, peace, and trust. So mote it be.” [7]
    • Any kind of water or salt will work for this purpose, including tap water and table salt.
    • In addition to dispelling negative energy , many Pagan magic practitioners believe you can use this type of holy water to bless and purify your body by gently dabbing it on your skin.
  4. Many Pagans believe that simply exposing water to moonlight can make it holy. Put any type of water in the container of your choice and set it in a place where it will receive plenty of moonlight. You can “charge” this water with any intention you like and use it for a variety of purposes—for example, you might use it in love spells or purification rituals.
    • Preferably, you should use a silver or glass container for this purpose, since these materials are believed to be good at holding spiritual energy.
    • As you set out the container of water, say a prayer or chant expressing your intention for the water. For example, you might ask for a blessing of love, purity, or protection.
  5. In addition to consecrating your water by moonlight, many Pagans believe you can bring extra lunar blessings by putting a piece of silver metal into the water. Choose any silver object, such as a ring or a coin, and drop it into the water before leaving it out in the moonlight.
    • For a sunlight blessing, which is associated with healing and positive energy, you can add a piece of gold to the water and leave it out in the sun.
    • Add silver to a bowl with snow and ice and charge it with an intention such as “freezing” your enemies or getting stuck energies to flow. You can then put this “Winter Blessing Water” out in the light of the full moon to make it holy. [8]
    6. Advertisement

Consecration Help

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What if you are not Catholic?🙏🙏
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Non-Catholics can use holy water as well. Follow your own beliefs when using holy water, or talk to a religious leader in your faith about how (and whether) you can use it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 101
  • Question
    My friend said that you can create holy water by water and salt, is that true?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    In many religious traditions (including Catholicism and some Pagan traditions), yes, holy water is created by combining water with salt. Typically, the salt and water must both be ritually consecrated (either together or separately) in order for the water to be considered holy.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 30 Helpful 80
  • Question
    I tried to make a Holy Water by the Catholic method, and I used water from the tap, but it is filtered and boiled. Is that okay? And I put it in a metal container, is that all right?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, that should all be okay. If you plan to drink the holy water, make sure the metal container you used is safe to drink from. For example, aluminum and stainless steel are good choices.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 28 Helpful 66
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • To make holy water with salt, use kosher salt or another type of natural salt without additives (such as sea salt or natural rock salt).
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      Blessing Water with Catholic Prayers and Rituals

      • Natural water
      • Pure salt
      • Containers for salt and water
      • Text of the Rite for Providing Holy Water from the Roman Ritual

      Creating Pagan Holy Water

      • Natural water
      • Salt
      • Non-metal container for water
      • A small, silver object (optional)
      • An altar

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make Wiccan Blessed Water
      How to
      Become Pope
      How to
      Make a Rosary: 3 DIY Methods
      Visit a Catholic Mass: Etiquette for Catholics and Non-Catholics
      How to
      Address Catholic Clergy
      How to
      Join the Roman Catholic Church
      How to
      Properly Address an Archbishop
      How to
      Make a Cord Rosary
      How to
      Pray the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds
      How Does Someone Become a Saint?
      How to
      Wear the Brown Scapular
      Catholic Confession: How to Perform the Sacrament of Penance
      How to
      Select a Saint for Your Confirmation Name
      How to
      Become a Catholic Priest
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22960479
      2. ↑ https://www.patheos.com/blogs/waterwitch/2017/01/water-magic.html
      3. ↑ https://www.watercache.com/education/rainwater-harvesting-101
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/04DK7tz_GcA
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/04DK7tz_GcA?t=79
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/04DK7tz_GcA?t=96
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/04DK7tz_GcA?t=121
      8. ↑ https://www.patheos.com/blogs/waterwitch/2017/01/snow-magic.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make holy water for a Catholic ritual, you’ll need to start by making holy salt. You can do this by putting pure salt in a bowl and repeating the salt blessing prayer from The Roman Ritual. Once your salt is blessed, head to a nearby lake, stream, or river and gather some water to bring home and filter. Avoid using tap water in your ritual, because it might have additives like chlorine or fluoride that can affect the blessing. Before combining the salt and water, bless the water by saying the water exorcism prayer from The Roman Ritual. Finally, pour the water into the salt in the shape of a cross and say, “May this salt and water be mixed together; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” For more help, like how to bless the holy water and use it on your home, read on.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,023,347 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Ian Ford

        Mar 24, 2018

        "Over many years we have used holy water to spiritually cleanse houses from demonic spirits, or simply clean out ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement