BLESSED SALT
Any superstition other faiths may attribute to salt warding off evil, can be said gets its roots from the age old Christian-Judeo faith.
However, this is ‘not’ superstition it is religious tradition, big difference in intent and history. Salt blessed by the liturgical
prayer of a priest may be used by itself, unmixed, as in exorcisms, and formerly in the exorcism prayer at baptism, or it may be mixed
with water to make holy water, as the Ritual prescribes (reminiscent of Elisha’s miracle). In whichever form, it is intended
to be an instrument of grace to preserve one from the corruption of evil occurring as sin, sickness, demonic influence, or other
manifestations.
I know a seasoned paranormal investigator, here in my home state of Missouri, had discovered firsthand, the effect sea salt has on evil
spirits, even unblessed! As he poured a line in front of himself, when he was confronted by a ‘shadowy figure’, it effectively
backed off. Still it is better to have the salt blessed by a priest to make it more effective.
NOTE:
-Blessed Salt can be used for reasons similar to Holy Water.
-Holy Water is a symbol of our baptism — a physical symbol of
washing clean what was previously unclean.
-Salt is a symbol of purifying, preserving.
-The most common use of laity using blessed salt is probably in
doing a lay blessing of one’s home.
-The salt can be sprinkled around the parameter of one’s property,
or in windows ledges and places like that.
-A good practice when traveling is to say a blessing and sprinkle
salt or holy water in the hotel/motel rooms. Who knows what has
gone on in those rooms?
But this is mainly to note that ‘blessed salt’, like holy water, can be
used to consecrate a place for God such as one’s home, property,
room, car, etc.
I really don’t recommend salt, and need to mention that you try to
use it carefully…
Salt is used by some carelessly and messy as ‘water’, and part of
the issue here is salt can cause ‘corrosion’ and damage some
surfaces, especially after prolonged exposure. This is why we
would use holy water and even holy oil in some cases, rather than
to spread salt.
Salt is also more a preventative, creating threshold barriers for
example by running it across a threshold, window sills, gateway
entrances to your property. Again it is better to be ‘blessed’
Prayer To Exorcise Salt: (Recommended)
1.On Sundays, or whenever this blessing takes place, salt and fresh water are prepared in the church or in the sacristy.
The priest, vested in surplice and purple stole, says:
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
2.The exorcism of salt follows:
God’s creature, salt, I cast out the demon from you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by God who
ordered you to be thrown into the water- spring by Eliseus to heal it of its barrenness. May you be a purified salt, a means
of health for those who believe, a medicine for body and soul for all who make use of you. May all evil fancies of the foul fiend,
his malice and cunning, be driven afar from the place where you are sprinkled. And let every unclean spirit be repulsed by Him
who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.Let us pray.
Almighty everlasting God, we humbly appeal to your mercy and goodness to graciously bless + this creature, salt,
which you have given for mankind’s use. May all who use it find in it a remedy for body and mind. And may everything that
it touches or sprinkles be freed from uncleanness and any influence of the evil spirit; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
(Prayer Source: Roman Ritual: Volume III, The Blessings by Philip T. Weller, The Bruce Publishing Company, 1952)
Prayer to bless salt:
Priest: “Almighty God, we ask you to bless † this salt, as once you blessed the salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha.
Wherever this salt † is sprinkled, drive away the power of evil, and protect us always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen”