Choir Members will help lead singing for the Epiphany Water blessing ritual, THIS Tuesday at 5pm.
The blessing takes about 45 minutes total, and the rite is similar to singing vespers: done in the evening, for example, it includes the Magnificat.
The Rite begins with the Litany of Saints,followed by chanted psalms, and a couple special petitions about the blessing of the water to follow. Satan and the fallen demons are then driven from the place with a mighty exorcism prayer. Then the Magnificat is chanted, with a special antiphon. At the end, the Catholic hymn of praise “Te Deum”, is sung before the closing prayer.
This short liturgical service originated in the eastern churches, and was incorporated into the Roman Ritual in 1890.
For a more complete description, and example of the blessing in greater detail with pictures, The Brothers of the Little Oratory in San Diego have a nice post about it HERE.