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Psalm89
Guest
Can anyone get some Holy Water from a priest or do you have to be member of the RCC?
What is appropriate to carry it in?
What is appropriate to carry it in?
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tom.wineman
Guest
Most churches around here have a container handy that you can draw your own. You can purchase special containers but any sealable one that you properly mark will do.
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Timidity
Guest
I can’t think of why a non-Catholic would want any.
J
johnq
Guest
Holy Water
*Numbers 5:17 “And he shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and he shall cast a little earth of the pavement of the tabernacle into it.” *
When the Israelites entered the Temple, they had to undergo purifcation by immersion in a mikvah (modern Jews still make use of mikva’ot on Yom Kippur, on wedding days, for purification after menstruation or coming into contact with a dead body or semen, etc.). These ritual purifications by water prefigured Christian Baptism, which we recall when we bless ourselves (cross ourselves) using holy water upon entering our churches. Devoutly blessing one’s self with Holy Water remits venial sins.
When you enter a church, you might find a holy water font (“stoup”) attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door, or you might find a free-standing font. Simply dip the tips of the fingers of your right hand into the water and cross yourself while mentally contemplating the words, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Don’t rush through this; make it meaningful, remembering the meaning of your Baptism and mentally expressing your gratitude to God. Many Catholics repeat this process upon leaving the church, too. (Note: you might see one Catholic dip his fingers into the Holy Water and touch fingers with another Catholic to share it if that second Catholic can’t reach the font comfortably)
This holy water is also used by the priest to sprinkle the people before the beginning of Mass. This is called “Asperges” and the accompanying words (which should be chanted) are rooted in the Psalms, “Thou shalt sprinke me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than show. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.” (“Aspérges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbador. Miserére mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.”). Holy water is blessed on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6).
**Holy Water for Personal Use **
***Where to get it ***
To get holy water to use in your home, bring a clean flask to your parish church and look for a faucet that will probably be labelled “Holy Water.” If there is no faucet, it might be kept in an urn of some sort. If you can’t find it, don’t be shy; just ask! Unlike votive candles, there is no real cost to the church in making holy water, so there is no offering expected.
***How to use it ***
You can keep it in a nice flask, put it into little bottles made for this purpose to carry with you, or, as is most common, put it into holy water fonts. http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/pietafont.jpgHoly water fonts for the home come in all sizes and shapes, some tacky and plastic, others quite lovely and made of alabaster, marble, porcelain, sandstone, or metals – as inexpensive or as expensive as you like – some resting on tables, most hanging on walls. One example is shown at left. You can buy one from most Catholic gift shops or make your own (consider using bivalve seashells as basins or the shell motif in design. The shells of large molluscs – weighing up to 500 pounds – have been used in churches as basins for holy water).
Catholics often keep a font near their front door, in their bedrooms’ doorways, and near the family altar. Use the water in the same way you do at church, dipping your fingers into it and making the Sign of the Cross. Bless your children with it as you tuck them in at night, using your thumb to sign them with a cross of holy water on their foreheads.
Most Catholics pray “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” when blessing themselves with Holy Water, but this is another beautiful prayer: By Thy Precious Blood and by this Holy Water, cleanse me (him/her) from my (his/her) sins, O Lord. How to dispose of
Holy water is usually made with a touch of salt which is a preservative, but if your holy water were to go a little, um, green, the proper way to dispose of it is the same as for any sacramental: you want to return it to the earthly elements. You should dig a hole and pour it into the earth.
kensmen.com/catholic/water.html
*Numbers 5:17 “And he shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and he shall cast a little earth of the pavement of the tabernacle into it.” *
When the Israelites entered the Temple, they had to undergo purifcation by immersion in a mikvah (modern Jews still make use of mikva’ot on Yom Kippur, on wedding days, for purification after menstruation or coming into contact with a dead body or semen, etc.). These ritual purifications by water prefigured Christian Baptism, which we recall when we bless ourselves (cross ourselves) using holy water upon entering our churches. Devoutly blessing one’s self with Holy Water remits venial sins.
When you enter a church, you might find a holy water font (“stoup”) attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door, or you might find a free-standing font. Simply dip the tips of the fingers of your right hand into the water and cross yourself while mentally contemplating the words, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Don’t rush through this; make it meaningful, remembering the meaning of your Baptism and mentally expressing your gratitude to God. Many Catholics repeat this process upon leaving the church, too. (Note: you might see one Catholic dip his fingers into the Holy Water and touch fingers with another Catholic to share it if that second Catholic can’t reach the font comfortably)
This holy water is also used by the priest to sprinkle the people before the beginning of Mass. This is called “Asperges” and the accompanying words (which should be chanted) are rooted in the Psalms, “Thou shalt sprinke me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than show. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.” (“Aspérges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbador. Miserére mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.”). Holy water is blessed on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6).
**Holy Water for Personal Use **
***Where to get it ***
To get holy water to use in your home, bring a clean flask to your parish church and look for a faucet that will probably be labelled “Holy Water.” If there is no faucet, it might be kept in an urn of some sort. If you can’t find it, don’t be shy; just ask! Unlike votive candles, there is no real cost to the church in making holy water, so there is no offering expected.
***How to use it ***
You can keep it in a nice flask, put it into little bottles made for this purpose to carry with you, or, as is most common, put it into holy water fonts. http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/pietafont.jpgHoly water fonts for the home come in all sizes and shapes, some tacky and plastic, others quite lovely and made of alabaster, marble, porcelain, sandstone, or metals – as inexpensive or as expensive as you like – some resting on tables, most hanging on walls. One example is shown at left. You can buy one from most Catholic gift shops or make your own (consider using bivalve seashells as basins or the shell motif in design. The shells of large molluscs – weighing up to 500 pounds – have been used in churches as basins for holy water).
Catholics often keep a font near their front door, in their bedrooms’ doorways, and near the family altar. Use the water in the same way you do at church, dipping your fingers into it and making the Sign of the Cross. Bless your children with it as you tuck them in at night, using your thumb to sign them with a cross of holy water on their foreheads.
Most Catholics pray “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” when blessing themselves with Holy Water, but this is another beautiful prayer: By Thy Precious Blood and by this Holy Water, cleanse me (him/her) from my (his/her) sins, O Lord. How to dispose of
Holy water is usually made with a touch of salt which is a preservative, but if your holy water were to go a little, um, green, the proper way to dispose of it is the same as for any sacramental: you want to return it to the earthly elements. You should dig a hole and pour it into the earth.
kensmen.com/catholic/water.html
M
MaryJohnZ
Guest
Did you write this beautiful statement about Holy Water? I would love to use it in a newsletter for our Carmelite group if you would give me permission. I think that people failt to realize the reverance we give to sacramentals and our faith in them helps us so that our faith in the larger things, like the Eucharist, is more strong and real. That is why many think it unimportant when Holy Water or sacramentals are taken away because they are not 'proinciple" in nature, only secondary and hence, we are led into a kind of malnurished state. I truly appreciated your explanation.
Mary
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marineson243
Guest
The are many reasons a non-catholic may want holy water. Too many to list. Catholic priests go into non-catholic homes to perform blessings and exorcisms. It is a belief in god that is how holy water works. I am not trying to rag on Catholics your choice of religion is your choice of religion. All i am asking is think before you post.
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puzzleannie
Guest
most Catholic churches have a dispenser of holy water which is replenished and blessed periodically, which you can access anytime the Church is open, any clean unbreakable bottle is fine. A pinch of salt will keep it fresh longer.
Don’t know why a non-Catholic would want it, since presumably one would not believe in the efficacy of the blessing the priest made over the water, but yes anyone can take it. If it helps you in any way your are very welcome.
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