Holy Water?

[keri6789]

I have been having horrible nightmares. I’m talking about the kind where I wake up in a cold sweat and crying and pretty much freaking out! I have them nightly…except for Saturdays and Sundays. All I can think of that I do different on those 2 days is go to Mass and make the sign of the cross with holy water when I leave. I know that the holy water is powerful, is it possible that its “keeps me safe” during the night? I told a friend that I think its the water and she said its all in my head…

Is there any way I could take a small jar or something to the church and have the priest give me some holy water to take home? Is there something special you are suppost to put holy water in??

 

[Dirk_Skene]

I will suggest you 1 even better Get youself a cheap holywater font & put it by your door in your bed room & keep a full bottle on your dresser. I do

 

[kell0618]

I always have holy water in our home. We have a font by each entrance and I keep a bottle for refilling in our kitchen cupboard. Ask your priest where you may fill a container. I think any clean container would do, though special little bottles for holy water are very inexpensive and can be found in any Catholic store or on-line.

God bless you!

Kelly

 

[jack_hawkins]

It is important to keep the water fresh, just like any water - I posted elsewhere about a man in intensive care who developed pneumonia from contaminated holy water

 

[kell0618]

It is important to keep the water fresh, just like any water - I posted elsewhere about a man in intensive care who developed pneumonia from contaminated holy water

Excellent point. We go through so much at our home between keeping both fonts filled, we are always running out. And as with any sacramental, if the water has been around for a while and you are unsure if it is going ‘green’, return it to its earthly elements: water your plants with it. Don’t dump it down the drain.

 

[Spirithound]

I think any clean container would do, though special little bottles for holy water are very inexpensive and can be found in any Catholic store or on-line.

yep!! I got my little bottle for $1.50, cheaper than any “dollar store” thing (just in case you were wondering, the water was free
)

 

[lizaanne]

I have been having horrible nightmares. I’m talking about the kind where I wake up in a cold sweat and crying and pretty much freaking out! I have them nightly…except for Saturdays and Sundays. All I can think of that I do different on those 2 days is go to Mass and make the sign of the cross with holy water when I leave.

Do you work during the week? This sounds like week day stress and some sleep disturbances to me. I’m not discounting the use of holy water, though I would suggest looking at if your sleeping and rising routine is different on the weekend, and try adjusting that in some way. I doubt you are being spiritually attacked, you are just having some nasty dreams. Pray before bedtime, or meditate, and try controlling your breathing to help you relax. Don’t eat near bedtime, unless it is a small mug of warm milk (sounds cliché, but it really does work), flavor it with some flavored syrup (like they use in coffee drinks) if you like, I use almond and it’s delicious.

I’m sure this will take care of itself. In the mean time, having some holy water fonts in the house is always a nice idea regardless of bad dreams.

~Liza

 

[athenaluvsdoves]

I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question but do you just dip your bottle into the water at the church and fill it up?I don’t want to do anything disrespectful.

Also,how would I use Holy Water in my home?I’m not sure exactly the right way in which to use it.Thanks for your help.

 

[Muzhik]

I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question but do you just dip your bottle into the water at the church and fill it up?I don’t want to do anything disrespectful.

Also,how would I use Holy Water in my home?I’m not sure exactly the right way in which to use it.Thanks for your help.

That’s how I usually fill up my bottle at my church, but then we have a very large font where it’s easy to dip the bottle in. At another church in town, they have a dispenser near the entrance where you can “twist a knob” and have the holy water come out.

As for using Holy Water at home, you can get a small font to put next to your door so you can bless yourself as you enter or leave your house or apartment. (I had to be careful about where I put my font, because my cats liked to climb on the bookshelf and drink the water!) (Of course, that’s OK because they are…

… CAT-olic … )

There are blessings you can use to bless your house or apartment by sprinkling the doors and windows with holy water. It’s also good to drink about a shot glass worth of holy water when you’re coming down with something.

 

[bpbasilphx]

One thing to remember–your dreams (no matter how unpleasant) cannot hurt you.

 

[vee8]

If you have no unconfessed mortal sins, and so have been receiving the Holy Eucharist on Saturday night or Sunday I think that would be far more powerful than just blessing yourself with holy water.

I agree with the other poster that suspects your nightmares may be work related, or stress related and you should take that into account.