Prayers
One of the aspects that drew me to Anglicanism was that everything had a meaning. What we do with our body matters because it teaches or tells us something. The small things we do have significance. From when we stand or bow, to when we cross ourselves or when the priest crosses the elements. Even the use of water plays a significant role in understanding what is happening in the Mass.
One of the ways that a priest can remind himself of the significance and importance of his actions is through the "secret" prayers, also known as his private prayers. Perhaps you didn't know that a priest has three different volumes or "voices" that he is supposed to use. One voice that only he can hear, though he truly must say the words; one slightly louder so that those serving can hear; and one that everyone can hear. The secret prayers are said in the quietest voice. You might have noticed a time when you saw the priest doing something after the music ended but you couldn't tell what he was doing or saying, this probably involved him saying a personal prayer.
These prayers provide meaning to things that people might not know about if they had not picked up an in-depth book on the liturgy or even the Missal and read it. Two of these secret prayers, when the priest is setting the altar, revolve around water. Scripture uses water to symbolize many different things, it can portray chaos, purity, and cleansing. We might even think of Baptism or when the spear was placed into the side of Christ and water and blood ran out of Christ's side. It is this latter image that I think is helpful to understand the Mass, an understanding aided by the priest's personal prayers.
The first prayer is said after the priest blesses the water and pours it into the chalice: "O God who didst lay the foundations of man's being in wonder and honour, and in greater wonder and honour didst renew the same: grant by the mystery of this water and wine, that he who was partaker of our humanity may make us joint heirs of his very Godhead, even Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth…." The second prayer concerning water during this time of preparation is when the priest goes and has water poured over his fingers, called the lavabo. This prayer comes from Psalm 26 and is a bit longer, but the first part says, "I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord: and so will I go to thine altar. That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving: and tell of all thy wonderous works."
In the first prayer, we are told that water signifies Christ's humanity while the wine portrays his divinity. So, in Christ, we have the fullness of humanity joined to the fullness of divinity and it is through this union that humanity is brought into the divine life. Now we must remember that Christ is fully human and fully divine and this union is not a mixture, the nature of his humanity is not made different than ours nor is his divinity lessened. But just as the woman who touched the hem of Christ's garment and through her faith was she healed, so in the joining of humanity to divinity Christ heals humanity and makes us "joint-heirs of his very Godhead." This is why many priests and bishops will tell you that the most frequent place they see supernatural healing take place is at the altar rail. For it is here in the Eucharist that we receive Christ.
The second prayer continues along these lines. The water used at the lavabo is not a way to simply remove dirt, though it does do that. The water used during this time is to reflect a purity of heart and desire. But where does purity begin? Through our being made clean in the waters of baptism, confession of sin, our continued visitation to the house of the Lord where we receive Christ in the Sacrament, and our living out of our encounter with Christ in all truth and holiness. Purity or holiness always begins when we encounter the Holy One.
If water, however, symbolizes humanity and humanity joined to divinity, why does the priest bless the water? Because that is what is happening, humanity is being blessed both in the incarnation and also through Christ giving himself for us and to us. It is proper then for the priest to provide this blessing because he has been given the authority and task to wield the keys of heaven: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." The task of the priest is to lead people to Christ, to protect God's people, and to further them in all holiness. The priest blesses the water as a proclamation of what Christ has done and also as participation in his task to bless the people, lead them to purity and holiness, and give them to Christ and Christ to them.
May God bless you and keep you,
Fr. Aaron
P.S. A fun liturgical fact is that during a Requiem Mass, the priest does not bless the water because he no longer has the authority to bless the deceased. This reminds us that God alone has authority over life, death, and eternity.