Requirements for the Epiphany Water Blessing
  • mmayerle
    Posts: 2
    We have a new priest in our parish and he has requested that we have the traditional Epiphany Water Blessing on the Eve of Epiphany. He plans on celebrating it in Latin in its entirety and he has asked if I would cantor the Litany of Saints and the Psalms. My questions are 1) Is this allowed? 2) What are the minimum requirements for this liturgy to take place? Our previous priest, who celebrated this liturgy for us each year, mentioned the need for 3 clergy--priest, deacon, and sub-deacon. Is that correct? This is a diocesan parish which has a Sunday Latin Mass but is in general your typical NO parish.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 606
    The Roman Ritual is still the current ritual book for blessings in use despite the Book of Blessings. It is not impacted by TC and it isn’t a “Traditional Latin Mass” thing. Its continued use is mentioned and encouraged in the GIRM (in the section that talks about blessing the pipe organ). The only caveat is that it must be used in Latin. There is no approved English translation.

    This means that there is absolutely no requirement for a subdeacon since the subdiaconate has been suppressed. You also don’t need a deacon. It can be done by a single priest.

    Yes, you’re allowed to sing the chants that need to be sung, but if possible, I would encourage you to get a schola together. There’s a lot of singing. It’s a very long blessing that has to be done in its entirety.

    Here’s the chants that need to be sung:
    https://archive.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/21/01/04/18-30-10_0.pdf
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen mmayerle OMagnumMysterium
  • mmayerle
    Posts: 2
    Thank you so much. I am familiar with the music as I've sung it with our previous priest, but not as cantor. Our new priest is not as confident of a singer and will need a lot of voice support. We have a schola and I will encourage them to join but will be prepared to sing alone if need be.
  • Palestrina
    Posts: 501
    I thought that the blessing of Epiphany Water was proper to a bishop and a priest therefore required a faculty.
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 606
    I thought that the blessing of Epiphany Water was proper to a bishop and a priest therefore required a faculty

    Yes, but any priest can do it by requesting permission from the Diocese.
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