The Power of Holy Water

The powerful symbolic importance of Holy Water is evident in the opening chapter of the Bible, a transcendent sign of Gods creative power, The spirit of God hovered over the dark waters at the moment of Creation, bringing into being, beauty, order, and creation commenced and was birthed out of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

This beautiful image of the powerful nature of water is repeated at the most momentous event of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Here, when the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove settled upon Him, above the waters of the Jordan River, the Holy Trinity was completed and the Jordan River remains the site of the divine manifestation of God on earth. Jesus' immersion in the Jordan River sanctified the water and imbued it as a precious substance left for us in memory of Him.

Just as water had been the primeval element that witnessed Gods creation, the Holy Water of the Jordan River, blessed by the Holy Spirit, witnessed the beginning of Christianity. At the Baptism of Jesus, God sanctified the water of the Jordan River and it received the grace of the Holy Spirit transforming it into the water of Redemption and comfort to all mankind. The water of the Jordan River is the water of salvation and sanctification, a purification of flesh and spirit, a forgiveness of transgressions, an illumination of the soul, a revival of spirit, and a fountain of life. His blessing is imparted to the whole world cleansing it from sin. The water of the Jordan River became holy and purified, reviving the souls of people and saving them, healing illnesses, preserving and protecting people and their homes. The Jordan River Holy Water became a means of communion with God by touching the Holy Water that our Lord Jesus touched and blessed during His earthly mission.

The Jordan River is considered as the prototypical "river of life" and represents flowing to a new spiritual state and purification through Holy Water to enter the Kingdom of God. The divine spirituality and overwhelming serenity experienced at the Jordan River is unparalleled anywhere else on earth. Being at the Baptism Site of our Lord Jesus Christ, gives us a sense of peace as if it is the "haven" of the Holy Spirit. It is where the pages of the Bible come alive and many pilgrims are overcome with emotion and a sense of serenity and spirituality they find at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. 

The profound and beautiful power of the Holy Water that runs through the Jordan River today, is firmly rooted in the Baptism of Jesus Christ, over 2000 years ago, by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit who descended on Jesus Christ at the Jordan River in the form of a dove blessed the water, changing its natural properties making it a source of blessings for all mankind. As Jesus had no sin, His Baptism blessed the waters, making it holy, to be used for its original purpose to be an instrument of life. "In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven; Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."(Mark 1:9-11).

The Jordan River Holy Water is the only remaining earthly substance that Jesus touched. Early Christian writers asserted that Jesus Christ Baptism in the Jordan River with the presence of the Holy Spirit, sanctified the water of the Jordan River. Jesus Himself confirmed the importance and power of Holy Water to the rebirth of the believer, as He said, "Now I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."(John 3:5)

Therefore, Jesus Christ Baptism at the Jordan River had the effect of not only washing away sins, but also blessing the water making it Holy, and with it, all of creation. Jesus Christ Baptism altered the spiritual status of the water of the Jordan River. The blessed Holy Water became a powerful, special and unique substance which provides divine, spiritual healing for your mind, body and soul and provides infinite blessings. Untold spiritual wealth is concentrated in a tiny drop of this blessed Holy Water. Holy Water is a means of receiving the grace of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In a simple act of faith, Holy Water from the River Jordan offers us purification, cleansing and healing of body and soul.

Holy Water is one of the secrets of eternal life, as Jesus Christ said, "The water that I shall give will turn into a spring within them welling up into eternal life."(John 4:14) The power of Holy Water in our Baptism is evident in the Bible, as Jesus ministry, the beginning of Christianity, began with His Baptism in the Jordan River and He urged all mankind to follow him and be Baptized confirming the importance and power of Holy Water. " Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38) Just as Jesus ministry on earth began with His Baptism in the Jordan River, his ministry ended with His ascension into Heaven, reminding us of the importance of our Baptism and Holy Water.

In his last words to His his disciples he said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey all that I have commanded of you and behold I am with you until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Just as we have Bibles and crosses in our homes, Holy Water should be next to us daily and provides us with a means of salvation and comfort. Many have reached out to Holy Water in times of great need and have received divine miracles and blessings that Holy Water provides. For centuries people have used powerful Holy Water seeking a closer spiritual connection to God, for comfort, to increase their faith, to find healing and even receive divine miracles. Testimonies of God grace are overwhelming and many miracles have been documented as a result of using Holy Water. To read about divine miracles that have occurred as a result of Holy Water please visit our Miracles and Blessings page. Holy Water has the power to heal illnesses, drive away evil, to preserve people and their dwellings from danger and sanctify various objects. By being restored through the blessing to its proper function, Holy Water becomes again a means of communion with God. The Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ Baptism purified the nature of the waters. He came to redeem not only human beings but, through them, the entire material created world. Holy Water can be used at anytime, for baptisms, ill health, in times of worry, weddings, and in times of great need we can receive Divine blessings, comfort, protection, spiritual renewal and healing of the mind and body.

Holy water is also used for purification, "They will remain unclean until the water for impurity is sprinkled upon them ." (Numbers 19:9) Jesus told us, "With faith, everything is possible for those who believe." (Mark 9:23)  The powerful nature of Holy Water is shown to us at the time of Noah, when the earth was filled with violence, and Noah and his family were rescued from being destroyed by that violence, through water which allowed the rejuvenation of the Creation that God loved. The flood in the Old Testament points to our Baptism, through which the thoughts of our hearts are cleansed over time from the inside out, bringing about the rejuvenation of our souls and our salvation as Jesus showed us.

The Power of the Holy Water in a Modern Day Miracle at the Jordan River

The Jordan River is clearly mentioned in the Bible 190 times and is the site where biblical miracles occurred. The Jordan River has also witnessed a number of modern day miracles. A truly amazing miracle occurred when the Jordan River miraculously reversed its flow on January 18th, 2006. This beautiful miracle points to the spiritual nature of the Jordan River, and the surrounding Baptism Site. This miracle occurred the day before the Epiphany, during the blessing of the Jordan River Holy Water, which takes place yearly at the Jordan River, where Jesus was Baptized. On this special day in 2006, over 4000 pilgrims stood on the banks of the Jordan River. As soon as the priests put the crosses into the Jordan River, the Jordan River Holy Water began to mysteriously bubble in places and then two currents appeared. 

After a minute, the flow of the Jordan River reversed and the current took the Jordan River waters back upstream, much to the delight and wonder of the Pilgrims that experienced this miracle. This continued until the moment the crosses were taken out of the Jordan River. Such a miracle shows God presence amongst us and confirms the serene spirituality at the Jordan River, the haven of the Holy Spirit. Before the Jordan River reversed its flow, a beautiful white dove flew down to the waters as seen below, just as a dove came from heaven, as the Holy Spirit at the time of the Baptism of Jesus. To see this amazing miracle taken by one of the pilgrims during the blessing of the Jordan River in 2006, click on the following youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmrqZwUjCQ

The waters of the Jordan River are sanctified, and together with them all the waters of creation.  Water is given power to cleanse not only the body, but also to the soul, and to regenerate man into a new life through Baptism. The waters are sanctified and through them the whole world, in preparation for renewal and regeneration for God eternal Kingdom which is to come. Every year on this day the glory of God is revealed, renewing and confirming what was accomplished at Jesus Christ Baptism. Again the heavens are opened; again the Holy Spirit descends. We do not see this with our bodily eyes, but we sense its power. At the rite of blessing, the waters which are thereby sanctified are transformed; they become incorruptible and retain their freshness for many years. Those who with faith anoint themselves with these waters receive relief and healing from spiritual and bodily infirmities. Homes are sanctified by these waters, God blessing is brought down upon all who are sprinkled with these waters. Through the sanctifying of the waters God blessing is again imparted to the whole world, cleansing it from the sins we have committed and guards us from evil. In reference to the reversing of the flow of the Jordan River, the Icon of the Baptism of Christ below, shows four fish at Jesus feet. Two are swimming one way and two the other way, a reference to the Jordan River reversing its flow. The other creatures represent the Jordan River (left) and the Dead Sea (right).  In Psalm 114:3 we are told: The sea saw it and fled; the Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs. What ails you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back? O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O little hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters . The Psalm foreshadows the Jordan River reversing its flow and also the coming of Jesus.

St. Theresa of Avila Confirms the Power of Holy Water

In St. Theresa of Avila autobiography, chapter 31 we read about her strong belief in the power of Holy Water. She wrote that, "From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the cross, but return; so holy water must have great value.  For my own part, whenever I take it, my soul feels a particular and most notable consolation. In fact it is quite usual for me to be conscious of a refreshment which I cannot possibly describe, resembling an inward joy which comforts my whole soul. This is not fancy, or something which has happened to me only once, it has happened again and again and I have observed it attentively. It is let us say, as if someone very hot and thirsty were to drink from a jug of cold water, he would feel the refreshment throughout his body.

One night, too, about this time, I thought the devils were stifling me; and when the nuns had sprinkled a great deal of holy water about, I saw a huge crowd of them running away as quickly as though they were about to fling themselves down a steep place. I will only describe something that happened to me one night of All Souls Day.  I was in an oratory, I had said one nocturne and was repeating some very devotional prayers which follow it, they are extremely devotional. We have them in our office book, when actually the devil himself alighted on the book, to prevent me from finishing the prayer,  I made a sign of the cross and he went away.  I then began again and he came back.  I think I began the prayer three times and not until I had sprinkled some holy water on him could I finish it."

St. Theresa of Avila said she would die for one drop of holy water since what gave it its effectivity was the precious blood of Jesus.  She believed this because of the ancient saying that you say when blessing yourself with holy water. "By this holy water and by thy Precious Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord."