Holy water omitted from the Church durning lent

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SMateja

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I was just wondering if it is permissable to allow the Holy Water to be removed from the fonts durning the Lenten season.

I am seeing this practice more and more, i have even seen sand put into the fonts.

Where did this practice begin? What is the “theory” behind it? And how do they justify removing a sacramental?
 
I was just wondering if it is permissable to allow the Holy Water to be removed from the fonts durning the Lenten season.
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It is a tradition in many parishes, in the spirit of the fasting during lent, many parishes “fast” from holy water.

I don’t think that this common practice is really recommended, but since it is actually done publicly and nobody is called to the carpet over it, it is permitted de facto being a longer standing tradition in many places.
 
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SMateja:
I was just wondering if it is permissable to allow the Holy Water to be removed from the fonts durning the Lenten season.

I am seeing this practice more and more, i have even seen sand put into the fonts.

Where did this practice begin? What is the “theory” behind it? And how do they justify removing a sacramental?
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This new liturgucal innovation is actually forbidden by Rome.
 
It’s actually not supposed to happen during lent, it’s supposed to after lent, during the Triduum. This is the 3 days starting after the Mass of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, and going through until the after Easter Vigil when the Holy Water is blessed with the Paschal Candle.
 
So, here’s my question:

What do I do to correct this abuse? I gave the letter to the priest, he put the water back and then took it out again after he preached a homily at a weekday mass specifically aimed at me - claiming that I did not think about things spiritual, rather that I was concerned with the “letter of the law.”

My contention is that with the amount of spiritual warfare going on at our parish, we need all the sacramental help we can get, especially during lent.

They have holy water in the fonts at Holy Name Cathedral (in Chicago) during lent - why should my parish be different than the bishop’s church?
 
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iguana27:
What do I do to correct this abuse? I gave the letter to the priest, he put the water back and then took it out again after he preached a homily at a weekday mass specifically aimed at me - claiming that I did not think about things spiritual, rather that I was concerned with the “letter of the law.”
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That was very uncheritable and mean-spirited of him. I will pray for him and that God will guide you.
 
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iguana27:
So, here’s my question:

What do I do to correct this abuse? I gave the letter to the priest, he put the water back and then took it out again after he preached a homily at a weekday mass specifically aimed at me - claiming that I did not think about things spiritual, rather that I was concerned with the “letter of the law.”

My contention is that with the amount of spiritual warfare going on at our parish, we need all the sacramental help we can get, especially during lent.

They have holy water in the fonts at Holy Name Cathedral (in Chicago) during lent - why should my parish be different than the bishop’s church?
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I have had the same sort of experience.

Just keep the fonts filled yourself. It’s easy to keep them full, and a pain to drain. Don’t confront anyone, just do it quietly and be extremely persistant about it.

I personally fill a gallon bottle with Holy Water before Lent begins. I put a shot glass (1 oz.) of holy water per one gallon of regular water to create a new gallon of Holy Water.

I have been told to stop, threatened, pleaded with, etc. but I never will. I just “dummy-up” and continue to keep them filled…
 
We had that at my old parish. It was more an overenthusiastic Liturgist who read too many of the wrong books.

We had series of email conversations that eventuallly ended when I showed the Notarae document to the pastor.

I asked the pastor to explain to me exactly why this would not apply to our parish. He could not.

The fonts were filled the next Sunday.
 
Pariah Pirana:
I have had the same sort of experience.

Just keep the fonts filled yourself. It’s easy to keep them full, and a pain to drain. Don’t confront anyone, just do it quietly and be extremely persistant about it.

I personally fill a gallon bottle with Holy Water before Lent begins. I put a shot glass (1 oz.) of holy water per one gallon of regular water to create a new gallon of Holy Water.

I have been told to stop, threatened, pleaded with, etc. but I never will. I just “dummy-up” and continue to keep them filled…
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Pariah Pirana:
I have had the same sort of experience.

Just keep the fonts filled yourself. It’s easy to keep them full, and a pain to drain. Don’t confront anyone, just do it quietly and be extremely persistant about it.

I personally fill a gallon bottle with Holy Water before Lent begins. I put a shot glass (1 oz.) of holy water per one gallon of regular water to create a new gallon of Holy Water.

I have been told to stop, threatened, pleaded with, etc. but I never will. I just “dummy-up” and continue to keep them filled…
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To replenish Holy Water you must add slightly less fresh water to what remains of Holy Water. In other words if you have a gallon container of Holy Water that is slightly more than half full you can add slightly less than a half gallon of fresh to it.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
To replenish Holy Water you must add slightly less fresh water to what remains of Holy Water. In other words if you have a gallon container of Holy Water that is slightly more than half full you can add slightly less than a half gallon of fresh to it.
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Oh yeah? Where is that documented by the Church? Thanks.
 
Pariah Pirana:
Oh yeah? Where is that documented by the Church? Thanks.
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Is it documented somewhere? I don’t know. I’m sure it is. It is just what I was taught and have always done as well as many others I know. I’ll ask someone if they know where to find this. If you are unsure it might be best to just obtain fresh Holy Water from the Church. Is there a reference someplace where it says that adding 4oz of Holy water to a gallon of plain water makes a gallon of Holy Water?
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Is it documented somewhere? I don’t know. I’m sure it is. It is just what I was taught and have always done as well as many others I know. I’ll ask someone if they know where to find this. If you are unsure it might be best to just obtain fresh Holy Water from the Church. Is there a reference someplace where it says that adding 4oz of Holy water to a gallon of plain water makes a gallon of Holy Water?
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Is there a limit to the percentage of Holy Water in the fresh water to create new Holy Water?
Would a gallon holy Water poured into lake Michigan make Lake Michigan Holy Water?
And Lake Huron as well, as both are connected!
Will the Soo prevent Lake Superior from becoming Holy Water as well?
But not the Atlantic Ocean, once the Holy Water of LAke Michigan has reached it?

So many questions…

But it is interesting, as till today i thought you need a priest and an Easter Candle to create Holy Water…

Werner
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Is it documented somewhere? I don’t know. I’m sure it is. It is just what I was taught and have always done as well as many others I know. I’ll ask someone if they know where to find this. If you are unsure it might be best to just obtain fresh Holy Water from the Church. Is there a reference someplace where it says that adding 4oz of Holy water to a gallon of plain water makes a gallon of Holy Water?
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I’ll wait to see if you can back-up your stated position with a document from the Church.

(it’s one oz/gallon BTW)
 
Pariah Pirana:
I personally fill a gallon bottle with Holy Water before Lent begins. I put a shot glass (1 oz.) of holy water per one gallon of regular water to create a new gallon of Holy Water.
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Are you allowed to do that? I suppose I’m not that surprised if you are.

Eamon
 
Pariah Pirana:
I’ll wait to see if you can back-up your stated position with a document from the Church.

(it’s one oz/gallon BTW)
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I’m also interested where do you find this one oz per gallon?
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I’m also interested where do you find this one oz per gallon?

“To replenish Holy Water you must add slightly less fresh water to what remains of Holy Water. In other words if you have a gallon container of Holy Water that is slightly more than half full you can add slightly less than a half gallon of fresh to it.”
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Simply from the pius tradition of extending holy water by continuing to add to it. Many people “extend” their container of holy water from the holy lands or perhaps from lourdes or other special places through this method.* I never said it had to be an ounce – I said that what I used. *

You on the other hand provided a specification which you have yet to substantiate with a document from the Church. Rather than attempt spin, why not produce the document(s) that are so “sure” exist?

Next time you might want to relate what you personally do, and not what you believe is some sort of “requirement” from the Church.
 
Pariah Pirana:
Simply from the pius tradition of extending holy water by continuing to add to it. Many people “extend” their container of holy water from the holy lands or perhaps from lourdes or other special places through this method.* I never said it had to be an ounce – I said that what I used. *

You on the other hand provided a specification which you have yet to substantiate with a document from the Church. Rather than attempt spin, why not produce the document(s) that are so “sure” exist?

Next time you might want to relate what you personally do, and not what you believe is some sort of “requirement” from the Church.
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I spoke with two other people yesterday and they agree that there should be more Holy Water in the container than the new water being added. One thought that they had seen this in the “Book of Blessings” that Fr. had. We are looking. So for now this is “simply from the pius tradition of extending holy water by continuing to add to it.” as I have understood it.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I spoke with two other people yesterday and they agree that there should be more Holy Water in the container than the new water being added. One thought that they had seen this in the “Book of Blessings” that Fr. had. We are looking. So for now this is “simply from the pius tradition of extending holy water by continuing to add to it.” as I have understood it.
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It will be nice to see said document. I will change my process if indeed said document is located. I have the Book of Blessings and I could not find it there…
 
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