Advice concerning holy water?

[Andruschak]

One of the reasons I like my daily lessons at catechismclass.com is that we are given weekly “assignments” to deepen our faith.

This week we were asked, if we had not done so already, to bring holy water into our homes and start using it. By this I assume one holy water font by the door? I’ve ordered one by mail, and it should arrive next week. Also a few smaller holy water bottles for use outside the apartment.

Now, what about usage and ettiquette? Of course I know enough to mount the font in such a way so that the cats will not regard it as another of their water dishes or playtoys. Nor play finger patty-pat on the surface of the water

Should the font and bottles be blessed before use? Since this holy water also helps the Poor Souls, what is the best way to use it for that purpose? I assume I am to use the holy water when I do the SOTC on leaving the apartment. Other times? Bedtime?

Or just share how YOU use it.

 

[tcraig]

I have a Holy Water font by the front door. We bless ourselves with it each time we leave the house.

I keep Holy Water in a spray bottle marked with a cross (yes, really!) and whenever I change the sheets on the beds I give a light misting and pray a prayer for the person who sleeps in that bed. Occasionally I’ll take my Holy Water spray bottle and just walk through the house saying some prayers while giving light mistings of it in the rooms. If you’ve ever sprayed an air freshener like Febreeze around, you’ve got the idea!

I keep a plastic bottle of Holy Water in the spice cabinet above my stove. When I’m cooking I’ll occasionally add a few drops of Holy Water to the dish.

I also have two vintage glass Holy Water bottles (one is too cute, it says: "Holy Water. Keep constantly filled!). One is on my nightstand, the other on a bookshelf in the Living Room. It’s always available to give oneself a quick blessing with.

So, that’s how I use it!

Edit: I forgot that I also keep a plastic bottle of Holy Water in the car. If I’m stuck in traffic, I’ll bless myself with a few drops and offer up a prayer or two for someone in my life or the Poor Souls. We also take this plastic bottle with us on trips, and sprinkle some in our hotel room.

I want to add that I learned all of my tricks from a good friend and wonderful Catholic who is now deceased.

 

[Em_in_FL]

We have several bottles of holy water around the house. We do “family blessings” every morning and before bedtime and ask God to be with us and protect us that day (we make a small sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads with the holy water)… my boys even attempt to give each other blessings… it’s quite comical…

I’ve also… on occassion… found an empty bottle of holy water lying around the house… usually due to my menacing little boys deciding to take a drink! They’re VERY blessed!

 

[LilyM]

I’ve also… on occassion… found an empty bottle of holy water lying around the house… usually due to my menacing little boys deciding to take a drink! They’re VERY blessed!

:bigyikes:

Oh well, as long as it’s fresh water and hasn’t been stagnating in the bottle for ages …

Personally I have a bottle - I use it all sorts of ways, to bless my bed before I sleep, to bless myself before or after prayers, or before or after leaving the house, sprinkle most of the rooms of my apartment every so often, sprinkle my holy images and objects …

I prefer not to have a font, since the water tends to dry up quickly in hot weather.

 

[jmm08]

Andruschak, I went through RCIA not too long ago. And I went through a phase where I really thought Holy Water was the greatest thing.

I still really value Holy Water. I bought a Holy Water font that included a statue of Mary. It is finished (unlike some fonts that might be unfinished plaster).

In the foyer of our house (but not right next to the front door), we really have a small oratory (a place where one could contemplate or pray). There is the Holy Water font. We have a protestant-style crucifix that says “For we walk by faith, not by sight”. The crucifix has a few blessed palms from last year’s Palm Sunday. We also have a small plaque of Mary in a pose such as found on the Miraculous Medal (originally known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception). And I nailed a small Miraculous Medal to the bottom right of the plaque. There is a bouquet of plastic flowers on the table. And a mirror on one side. We have a variety of Saint cards and similar pictures stuck into the mirror or setting around the table. My wife often takes apart the paper perfume samples found in her women’s magazines and places them on or near the flowers.

In other words, why stop with just the Holy Water font? Why not make a nice place in your home where you can display your affection to Our Lady, where you may sometimes be distracted to pause and perhaps briefly pray in addition to using Holy Water.

If you wall-mount the Holy Water font (get that kind), you won’t have a problem with the cats. If you ordered something else or find that you cannot use something that you have, I’m sure you can give it to somebody else who can use it. Quite a few Catholics don’t have a Holy Water font that they use (I’m pretty sad about that).

As for the little plastic bottles – they empty too fast. Instead, I washed out an empty glass pickle jar (small size). I labeled both the side and lid with a sticky label “:heart:Holy Water:heart:”. And no exaggeration I found a heart on my label maker.

I think of Holy Water as being no less than pure love. It is a way we can show our devotion to Mary by receiving a grace. And all graces come to us from or through Mary. Even grace that comes to us from Jesus comes through Mary’s hands to us.

Don’t worry about everything at once. Just pick up bit by bit what you think will add to the oratory. When it becomes special and beautiful, visitors to your house may become inspired to do something similar.

jmm08

 

[Andruschak]

In other words, why stop with just the Holy Water font? Why not make a nice place in your home where you can display your affection to Our Lady, where you may sometimes be distracted to pause and perhaps briefly pray in addition to using Holy Water.

That would be my bedroom. I already have my kneeler there, and as time and money permit I will add icons and a bookshelf. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. One bedroom is given over to the cats and storage. (I am unloading “stuff” to charities as part of my CFP committment, and about time, too.) My living room is too public. My bedroom is not quite a closet, but good enough. Thank you for the encouragement. The cats WILL insist on “helping out”, but I’m sure Mary understands.

 

[Jeepmeade]

Where do you get your holy water? It just has never been part of my house… strange it seems.

 

[LilyM]

Where do you get your holy water? It just has never been part of my house… strange it seems.

A lot of churches, if you look around carefully, will have a little tank- or urn-looking contraption with a tap or spout, which is usually labelled ‘Holy Water’. You can get it from there. Or else straight from the Church’s own fonts.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Where do you get your holy water? It just has never been part of my house… strange it seems.

We usually pick up the little plastic bottles that say “holy water” on them at the Catholic bookstore… and they have a tank there where you can fill them… or you can just fill them at your parish from the baptismal font.

 

[Andruschak]

We usually pick up the little plastic bottles that say “holy water” on them at the Catholic bookstore… and they have a tank there where you can fill them… or you can just fill them at your parish from the baptismal font.

Thanks. I’ll check this sunday. My mail order Holy Spirit Holy water Fone arrived by mail, and is to the right of my apartment door, handy for going out and coming in. I also got two large and 4 small plastic bottles clearly labeled “holy water” which I will fill up this sunday. Thanks to ALL for your advice and encouragement

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

I just redecorated my icon corner and I included some seashells I picked up at the lagoon in La Bufadora, Mexico. I had a sort of spiritual renewal there, and it just seemed to me that I should keep part of that place in the area where I pray at home.

So, one of the shells is serving as a frame for a small picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe, one has the pyx containing the hair that was cut at my chrismation, some Mexican coins and a small rosary.

The third one is in use as a font for Holy Water, so I can bless myself before my prayers.

Is that OK?

 

[Go_Irish]

Prayer while making the Sign of the Cross (using Holy Water): I found this on a good, traditional Catholic site (I’m sorry I forgot which one). According to the site, the pious use of the Holy Water along with the prayer, cleanses one of venial sin.

As you are making the sign of the cross:

“By this Holy Water and by Your Most Precious Blood wash away all of my sins O Lord.”

 

[Andruschak]

Prayer while making the Sign of the Cross (using Holy Water): I found this on a good, traditional Catholic site (I’m sorry I forgot which one). According to the site, the pious use of the Holy Water along with the prayer, cleanses one of venial sin.

As you are making the sign of the cross:

“By this Holy Water and by Your Most Precious Blood wash away all of my sins O Lord.”

Update on 15 January. The font is set up, and filled up. The prayer I use is from Susan Tassone’s book 30-Day Devotions for the Holy Souls:

“By this holy water and by Thy precious blood, wash away all my sins, O Lord, and relieve the souls in purgatory” followed by the SOTC

Thanks to all for your help and advice:thumbsup: