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Wedgewood
Guest
Today, our church’s holy water fonts were empty. Does anyone know the reason behind this?
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patientone
Guest
For Lent
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Brendan
Guest
Because your pastor is ignorant of the Vatican regulations on the subject ( and of the true purpose of Lent)
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lizaanne
Guest
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Wedgewood
Guest
Thanks so much. We have a new priest (but he’s elderly) and I never ran across this before.
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Brendan
Guest
Cardinal Arinze mentioned the emptying of the fonts during Lent when he was at a conference here in Detroit a few years ago.
He mentioned that it was inappropriate to fast from Sacramentals during Lent, in fact, that is the time we are to make the greatest use of them.
Holy Water is a sign of the Grace of Baptism we receive, as well as a Sacramental imparting the blessing of the Church. We do not fast from Grace during Lent, nor do we fast from the divine Goodwill of a blessing.
Rather, we are to specifically be reminded of our Baptism, especially before Mass, as it is by our Baptism that we may give active pariticpation in Mass, as members of the Common priesthood.
In addition, the pious use of Holy Water before Mass is a partial indulgence, which fits in well for a penitential season.
He mentioned that it was inappropriate to fast from Sacramentals during Lent, in fact, that is the time we are to make the greatest use of them.
Holy Water is a sign of the Grace of Baptism we receive, as well as a Sacramental imparting the blessing of the Church. We do not fast from Grace during Lent, nor do we fast from the divine Goodwill of a blessing.
Rather, we are to specifically be reminded of our Baptism, especially before Mass, as it is by our Baptism that we may give active pariticpation in Mass, as members of the Common priesthood.
In addition, the pious use of Holy Water before Mass is a partial indulgence, which fits in well for a penitential season.
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Brendan
Guest
Did you now that Cardinal Maida forbade this practice in the ArchdioceseJust makes ya crazy, doesn’t it?
~Liza
He sent out a letter last year to every parish that included the letter from the CDWDS.
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lizaanne
Guest
Is that so? Interesting - I know of a parish that still does it anyway. Though I’m not surprised actually…Did you now that Cardinal Maida forbade this practice in the Archdiocese
He sent out a letter last year to every parish that included the letter from the CDWDS.
~Liza
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Because somebody thinks it’s a cute thing to do. The Church discourages and maybe even forbids emptying the fonts during Lent.
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Claire_from_DE
Guest
Last year I commented to a friend that I hoped they didn’t put gravel in the holy water fonts again. She said she was on the liturgy team that month and that was one of the suggestions in the book. It was a book that had suggestions for the church environment for different seasons. So I told her it shouldn’t be done until after the Holy Thursday mass. And she checked on that and found out what I told her was correct so we had holy water! Sometimes something like that is done in simple ignorance and it is worth asking about it in a non-confrontational way.
Sometimes something like that is done in simple ignorance and it is worth asking about it in a non-confrontational way.
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scylla
Guest
Don’t worry too much about it but use water anyways. You can bring your own to save the parish money and squirt some into the font for others to use.
It is charitable to others so they do not have to go without and it is a way to give to the parish.
They take water out at my parish but since the font is so darn big it always has a little bit of water at the very bottom in a tiny puddle. I just reach over put one hand on the inside, so I dont fall inside and then use the puddle. If the puddle goes away during Lent I will bring my own.
You don’t need to get mad or make a ruckus, just do what you can to help others use the Holy Water to remember their baptism and bless themselves.
Lent is about refocusing on Holiness and renewing our faith, not about denying it. Affirm it and use Sacramentals to bring us closer to Christ.
What we need to give up are things that impede our closeness to Christ.
God Bless
Scylla
It is charitable to others so they do not have to go without and it is a way to give to the parish.
They take water out at my parish but since the font is so darn big it always has a little bit of water at the very bottom in a tiny puddle. I just reach over put one hand on the inside, so I dont fall inside and then use the puddle. If the puddle goes away during Lent I will bring my own.
You don’t need to get mad or make a ruckus, just do what you can to help others use the Holy Water to remember their baptism and bless themselves.
Lent is about refocusing on Holiness and renewing our faith, not about denying it. Affirm it and use Sacramentals to bring us closer to Christ.
What we need to give up are things that impede our closeness to Christ.
God Bless
Scylla
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Seatuck
Guest
They think it’s cute to put sand and rocks in there too.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
If you bring your own bottle to refill the fonts as someone suggested. I wonder if you should remove the sand and rocks first or just leave them in there?They think it’s cute to put sand and rocks in there too.
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ElizabethPH
Guest
They do this at my parish as well. I asked about this I was told it was about Jesus’ fasting in the desert and that it is a tradition of the church and that some parish’s put sand or gravel in them…we just leave them empty. But this year we have a new priest and I am curious to see if he keeps this ‘tradition’ going. I printed out that letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Showing it to someone probably will not make any difference…I’ve already mentioned it and they told me if I wanted to have Holy Water to bring my own.
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ElizabethPH
Guest
In case anybody is interested; we have Holy Water!!
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
They think it’s cute to put sand and rocks in there too.
If the rocks and sand are left in them, they might think it’s a place to put out their cigarette before entering the church proper.If you bring your own bottle to refill the fonts as someone suggested. I wonder if you should remove the sand and rocks first or just leave them in there?
I was coming up dry this morning at New Parish, thinking the worst. However, I used an entrance not commonly used, and whoever did saxton duty did not fill over there. All the other fonts were wet and in use.
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MarieVeronica
Guest
Yep, our parish did it too. I remembered them doing it last year, though… and THIS year… hehe… I took two large bottles and filled them for use at home during Lent!:dancing:
I asked the same question a couple weeks ago… and someone told me that they’re trying to provide a “desert experience”. But everyone here is right. They’re not supposed to empty the fonts until the Easter Triduum (starting on Holy Thursday).
I asked the same question a couple weeks ago… and someone told me that they’re trying to provide a “desert experience”. But everyone here is right. They’re not supposed to empty the fonts until the Easter Triduum (starting on Holy Thursday).
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