Holy water

[shorin69]

Hi

I always thought that the holy water used in the church was tap water; however I think one church I visited used distlled water? The smell is that one you find in hospital; am I right? I live in the UK

 

[Dempsey1919]

I’m in the UK too. As far as I know, they use tap water. We use tap water at Mass so I’d imagine water in the fonts is the same.

 

[paperwight]

What are the holy water stoups made of? Could it be that they have been given a good clean with disinfectant and that’s what you can smell?

I have never known them filled with anything other than blessed tap water. And I have never noticed a smell from distilled water. The smell I associate with hospitals is surgical spirit.

 

[shorin69]

Hello

Thank you I have just checked it is indeed distilled water in both the water holders. I do not speak about my location because it is not appropriate in open forums. I guess an explanation can be to avoid bad odour and infections ; many people touch the water daily…

 

[paperwight]

That’s a bit of an expensive solution to the problem of infection. It would be better just to change the water every day. I’ve also read the suggestion of putting salt in it, but I don’t know if that’s effective.

 

[shorin69]

Yep ; this was my same thought ; i found a forum american when they say they use distilled water

 

[Dempsey1919]

I do not speak about my location because it is not appropriate in open forums.

This is wise. I never reveal personal details online. Regarding the water, it makes sense to use some form of distilled version. I’ve had Holy Water turn green in the past, probably because it’s tap water. I’m going to ask my priest about this next time I see him.

 

[JRS_88]

That’s a bit of an expensive solution to the problem of infection. It would be better just to change the water every day. I’ve also read the suggestion of putting salt in it, but I don’t know if that’s effective.

Agree. Distilled water is an unnecessary expense.

 

[dallas_r]

I’ve wondered this too lol. I agree with the people who say tap water because distilled is another expense and a water of donations that could go towards something else instead.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Regarding the water, it makes sense to use some form of distilled version. I’ve had Holy Water turn green in the past, probably because it’s tap water.

I would think that properly chlorinated tap water would be less likely to grow bacteria than distilled water.

 

[Crusaderbear]

They could always have added a few drops of chlorine, even hand sanitizer…when you think how many people stick their hand in the bowls at mass, some form of sanitizing would be prudent. Not sure if there is a rule concerning purity…

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Its quite possible that what you are smelling is what the sacristan might have cleaned the water font with. I never cleaned them with anything chemical when I was a sacristan, but its possible that someone somewhere in charge of cleaning might have.

As far as sanitation goes… I do believe Holy Water has blessed salt in it. This keeps it fresh. Salt is a natural antiseptic, in fact it was knowledge given to the Jews by God in the Old Testament. (For example, new born babies were to be washed in salt water, probably to kill off any bacteria)

 

[paperwight]

As far as sanitation goes… I do believe Holy Water has blessed salt in it. This keeps it fresh.

I don’t know that’s common nowadays. I know our parish doesn’t put salt in. Besides, it would need a lot of salt to make it saline i.e. antiseptic. Just a pinch wouldn’t suffice.

 

[dconklin]

Sort of off topic…

This reminds me of a time when my wife asked our pastor for some holy water. I’m pretty sure we had a HW font in the narthex (we do now). He brought us into the priest’s sacristy, opened the cabinet below the sink and took out a plastic jug. He then said the holy water was from Rome. Rome, NY. It was funny at the time.

Now that we have a new church and moved our holy water font over to it, we needed a new font for our old church - which is now our day chapel. A nice font was ordered and a ledge was crafted and secured to the wall. I guess the spigot on the font went bad and had to be replaced. While it is on order, a coffee percolator is being used. Looks sort of odd.