Although July 19 falls on a Sunday this year, I would like to take this opportunity to continue the series on the neglected cycle of liturgical blessings for the whole year by reminding everyone of the custom of blessing holy water for the sick in honor of St. Vincent De Paul, whose feast falls on this day in the calendar of the classical Roman Missal. Although the blessing of "St. Vincent Water" used to be reserved to the priests of the Congregation of the Mission, Pope Paul VI lifted this reservation on September 26, 1964, thus allowing all priests to impart this blessing; there seems to be no compelling reason why tradition-minded priests should not bless this sacramental. From the Sancta Missa website (see no. 52 of the linked webpage):
BLESSING OF WATER FOR THE SICK IN HONOR OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
All: Both now and forevermore.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit
P: Let us pray.
Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, who, in pouring out the grace of your blessing on the bodies of the sick, encompass your creatures with your generous love; hearken as we call on your holy name, and by the prayers of Blessed Vincent, your confessor, free your servants from illness and restore them to health, and then hasten their convalescence by your sure hand, strengthen them by your might, shield them by your power, and give them back in full vigor to your holy Church; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
He then immerses a medal or a reliquary of St. Vincent de Paul in the water, and holds it so until the following prayer is concluded:
Lord, bless this water, that it be a saving remedy for men; and grant that, by the prayers of Blessed Vincent, your confessor, whose relics (or medal) are (is) now immersed in it, all who will drink this water may have health in body and protection in soul; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
He then removes the medal or reliquary from the water, and says:
Antiphon: The poor of Sion I will sate with bread, and I will let my blessing overflow on her priests, and her saints will exult exceedingly.
P: God, you have provided in your kindness for the poor.
All: The Lord gives orders to his messengers with great authority.
P: Let us pray.
O God, who through Blessed Vincent have added to your Church a new community to serve the poor and to train the clergy; grant, we pray, that we may be imbued with the same fervor, so as to love what he loved and to carry out what he inculcated; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
(Note: I know that this is not the best translation, but for now it will have to do.)
