After greeting the people the priest remains standing at his chair. A vessel containing the water to be blessed is placed before him. Facing the people, he invites them to pray, using these or similar words:
Dominum Deum nostrum, fratres carissimi, suppliciter deprecemur, ut hanc creaturam aquae benedicere dignetur, super nos aspergendam in nostri memoriam baptismi. Ipse autem nos adiuvare dignetur, ut fideles Spiritui, quem accepimus, maneamus.