How does one benefit by dipping their hands in water?

[Michael_Francis]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Please remain on the topic of the efficacy of holy water and avoid comments that are off topic.

 

[Goya]

FWIW–excerpt, and more at link.

The use of holy water in the earliest days of the Christian Era is attested by documents of only comparatively late date. The “Apostolic Constitutions”, the redaction of which goes back to about the year 400, attribute to the Apostle St. Matthew the precept of using holy water. The letter written under the name of Pope Alexander I , who lived in the second century, is apocryphal and of more recent times; hence the first historical testimony does not go back beyond the fifth century. However, it is permissible to suppose for the sake of argument that, in the earliest Christian times, water was used for expiatory and purificatory purposes, to a way analogous to its employment under the Jewish Law. As, in many cases, the water used for the Sacrament of Baptism was flowing water, sea or river water, it could not receive the same blessing as that contained in the baptisteries. On this particular point the early liturgy is obscure, but*** two recent discoveries are of very decided interest. The Pontifical of Scrapion of Thumis, a fourth-century bishop, and likewise the “testamentum Domini”, a Syriac composition dating from the fifth to the sixth century, contain a blessing of oil and water during Mass. The formula in Scrapion’s Pontifical is as follows: “We bless these creatures in the Name of Jesus Christ , Thy only Son; we invoke upon this water and this oil the Name of Him Who suffered, Who was crucified, Who arose from the dead, and Who sits at the right of the Uncreated***. Grant unto these creatures the power to heal; may all fevers, every evil spirit, and all maladies be put to flight by him who either drinks these beverages or is anointed with them, and may they be a remedy in the Name of Jesus Christ, Thy only Son.” As early as the fourth century various writings, the authenticity of which is free from suspicion, mention the use of water sanctified either by the liturgical blessing just referred to, or by the individual blessing of some holy person. St. Epiphanius (Contra haeres., lib. I, haer. xxx) records that at Tiberias a man named Joseph poured water on a madman, having first made the sign of the cross and pronounced these words over the water: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified, depart from this unhappy one, thou infernal spirit, and let him be healed!” Joseph was converted an subsequently used the same proceeding to overcome witchcraft ; yet, he was neither a bishop nor a cleric. Theodoret (Hist. eccl., V, xxi) relates that Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea, sanctified water by the sign of the cross and that Aphraates cured one of the emperor’s horses by making it drink water blessed by the sign of the cross (“Hist. relig.”, c. viii, in P.G., LXXXII, col. 1244, 1375). In the West similar attestations are made. Gregory of Tours (De gloria confess., c. 82) tells of a recluse named Eusitius who lived in the sixth century and possessed the power of curing quartan fever by giving its victims to drink of water that he had blessed ; we might mention many other instances treasured up by this same Gregory (“De Miraculis S. Martini”, II, xxxix; “Mirac. S. Juliani”, II, iii, xxv, xxvi; “Liber de Passione S. Juliani”; “Vitae Patrum”, c. iv, n. 3). It is known that some of the faithful believed that holy water possessed curative properties for certain diseases, and that this was true in a special manner of baptismal water. In some places it was carefully preserved throughout the year and, by reason of its having been used in baptism, was considered free from all corruption. This belief spread from East to West; and scarcely had baptism been administered, when the people would crown around with all sorts of vessels and take away the water, some keeping it carefully in their homes whilst others watered their fields, vineyards, and gardens with it (“Ordo rom. I”, 42, in “Mus. ital.”, II, 26).
…

catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5858

 

[adf417]

I see this as the “both/and” concept. I can cross myself and say a prayer most anytime. I can ask the priest for a bessing the next time I can get his attention. But in this situation, I can dip my fingers in the Holy water blessed by the priest and say a prayer having a “where two or more are gathered” moment.

Peace!!!

 

[dronald]

Because our faith employs the five senses. Through sacramentals such as holy water, abstract concepts of grace and redemption are brought to reality and human experience. I don’t see how this could possibly be wrong or a bad thing.

I’m not saying it’s wrong or bad, just questioning if it’s truly beneficial. It serves no purpose dipping our fingers in water.

Remember how Jesus healed the man born blind:

“[6] When he had said these things, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and spread the clay on his eyes, [7] And said to him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloe, which is interpreted, Sent. He went therefore, and washed, and he came seeing.”

~~ John 9:1-15

Would you say then, with this verse it is absolutely necessary for us to dip our fingers in water because God may have made that specific water to be healing water?

Christ did not complain about the ritual washing - especially those parts that were encoded in the Mosaic law. What He condemned the Pharisees for was that their hearts remained full of corruption, even after the ceremonial washing. As well, please remember that Christ condemned only the man-made Pharisaic “traditions of men” which ran counter to the Mosaic law - traditions which made the word of God void.

Paul admonishes us to hold fast to the traditions. In fact, “bible alone” is a tradition, and we can easily find the names of those men who introduced this tradition. Do not fear the Apostolic tradition! You have a bible because of it!

Again I say that the Pharisees were experts in the Law and their “tradition” said that they do such ceremonial washing that the Disciples did not take part in. My issue is with these traditions that are somehow beneficial and others can be looked down upon for not taking part, just as the Pharisees did the Disciples.

The baptismal water is blessed before baptisms take place. That cannot be a waste of time, can it? As has been said, we recall our baptism, and our sinful nature when we bless ourselves - for it is through water and the Spirit that we are reborn. It is via that rebirth in water and the Spirit that we entered the Church, and so we do this upon entering the Sanctuary each time. As well, we are coming into the presence of Greatness - Jesus Christ in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. There is nothing greater on this earth than that. Finally, this gesture is a public sign of our faith.

And again, I have no issue with remembering things if this really does help serve such a great reminder. Although, anyone can Baptize anyone if they are willing, so the “blessing” doesn’t really do anything. Or does it? And what does it do?

When Christ went one time without washing his hands, I think it was so that he could call attention to other matters. I don’t think he was making a statement, “Let’s do away with the water, hand washing, and ALL other religious traditions”.

So Christ would refrain from doing what is right to make a point?

First of all, holy water has the power to forgive venial sins. When we turn to God and remember our baptism, in which we vowed to reject sin and satan, our sins are forgiven!

How and why?

Holy water is a sacramental as are many things in our faith. You don’t really have to understand it and as another poster suggested, you might be over thinking a bit.

I don’t understand why something so widely practised doesn’t need to be understood.

I beg to differ, since he never condemned their rituals, just that the men themselves had not been converted and lived their faith. You can’t supply a single passage that supports your thinking on that, while mine is self evident from reading the context.

Matthew 15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

I feel as a non-Catholic I would be asked the exact same thing as I leave your Church. So the Disciples were being disobedient?
Church Militant;11535818:

stop reading the Bible through the lenses of your evangelicalism and fundamentalism.

You mean, “Don’t ask questions”?

 

[Modern_Revert]

The sign of the cross benefits me as a Catholic Christian.
Deconstructing it serves no purpose.

 

[Lukelion]

We are a physical body . We use water as a physical reminder of a blessing. Kinda like Paul and the use of handkerchiefs in healing (acts 19 11-12)

 

[dronald]

We are a physical body . We use water as a physical reminder of a blessing. Kinda like Paul and the use of handkerchiefs in healing (acts 19 11-12)

So it’s a reminder but not the blessing its self? And if it is a blessing, what exactly does that blessing do that otherwise not touching it wouldn’t do?

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Evangelicals do not understand the nature of Sacraments or Sacramentals. The Sacraments of course are ordained by God as outward signs signifying the inward grace that it manifests physically. Sacramentals are the same. Holy water is a sacramental which is ordained by the Church which again is an outward sign signifying an inward grace.

Evangelicals like to object that this appears to make God a slave to the whims of people using sacramentals. But that is absurd. Just like it would be absurd to think that parents would not joyfully respond to any act of love from their children.

Lastly of course Evangelicals will tap their foot in disapproval because these things are not explicitly discussed in the Bible. Oh well.

 

[Lukelion]

The water is the physical accompaniment to the spiritual blessing. My physical body feels what my soul receive when the water touches my skin. A physical reminder of an abstract idea.

 

[Modern_Revert]

Some people just cannot grasp the mystical.

 

[po18guy]

So it’s a reminder but not the blessing its self? And if it is a blessing, what exactly does that blessing do that otherwise not touching it wouldn’t do?

What do two prayers do that one would not?

 

[po18guy]

Again I say that the Pharisees were experts in the Law and their “tradition” said that they do such ceremonial washing that the Disciples did not take part in. My issue is with these traditions that are somehow beneficial and others can be looked down upon for not taking part, just as the Pharisees did the Disciples.

The traditions of men were made up by the Pharisees for their own benefit. They were not a part of the Mosaic law. Obedience to the Mosaic covenant provided benefits, correct? What would obedience to man-made tradtions supply? Nothing. And, those are the man-made traditions that Christ condemned. Example: the “corban” in which a man’s money to be used for the support of elderly parents was instead given to the temple. But, the Pharisees allowed the man to borrow from that money and use it for gain, serving himself, neglecting his parents and violating the 4th commandment Mark 7:9-13. That was a tradition of men and that is what Jesus condened.

And again, I have no issue with remembering things if this really does help serve such a great reminder. Although, anyone can Baptize anyone if they are willing, so the “blessing” doesn’t really do anything. Or does it? And what does it do?

Humility is great in the sight of the Lord. By habitually calling one’s sinfulness to mind, recalling that we were justified by God’s grace through our faith, and placing ourselves at God’s mercy, is a demonstration of humility, if nothing else. If we ask God in faith and humility to bless us, will He refuse such blessing?

Catholics and Orthodox are sacramental Christians. We use holy things - sacramentals. They do not confer the level of grace that the sacraments do, but they dispose us to receive God’s grace. You see the physical, whereas we see the spiritual.

You do not hold to TULIP, do you? That might explain part of this apparent conundrum. Cath/Orth believe that we can resist God’s grace, and as such, we need to dispose our sinful selves to receive His grace - via all manifestations of humility.

 

[Church_Militant]

Some people just cannot grasp the mystical.

:sad_yes:
To their own loss…

 

[LightandHeat]

This doesn’t seem to be going anyway but I’ll attempt to help anyway.

The water is blessed and therefore in a sense is, well I guess a secular person what say it is “magical”. It can help you cleanse sin or prevent you from sinning in the future. I have heard of miracles associated with drinking holy water. Others have made salient points pointing out it’s significance re:Baptism and pointed out some Scripture that supports Jesus’ recommendation of washing in certain circumstances.

Food for thought: Is not Baptism itself not just a “ritual washing”. Yet we believe that it has a critical, tangible effect on our souls. Or as Peter says “Baptism, now saves you”

As for the sign of the cross, there is literally tons of literature on its benefits. It is a common, plainly acknowledged historical fact that early Christians were extremely zealous on making the sign of the Cross, being likened to putting on the Lord’s armor against Sin and Evil. It is a sad reflection on modern Christianity that most Protestants have eschewed this ancient and venerable practice

 

[MJCamp]

Sacramental blessed by a priest, invoking God’s blessing on all who use it. Blessed water is a symbol of spiritual cleansing, and its use is advised in moments of physical danger and against temptations from spiritual enemies. It is common practice to dip one’s fingers in holy water and reverently make the Sign of the Cross as one enters a Catholic church, and it is recommended for use in the home. Holy water is used in all blessings. There are, besides ordinary holy water, baptismal holy water, used with chrism in the conferring of public baptism, and Easter water specially blessed for use during the paschal time.

 

[MJCamp]

Sacramental blessed by a priest, invoking God’s blessing on all who use it. Blessed water is a symbol of spiritual cleansing, and its use is advised in moments of physical danger and against temptations from spiritual enemies. It is common practice to dip one’s fingers in holy water and reverently make the Sign of the Cross as one enters a Catholic church, and it is recommended for use in the home. Holy water is used in all blessings. There are, besides ordinary holy water, baptismal holy water, used with chrism in the conferring of public baptism, and Easter water specially blessed for use during the paschal time.

 

[Falco]

the blessing is not about dipping hands in water.

The water is blessed, and as can be scientifically shown, molecularly changed, so I take it the water retains the blessing conveyed to it by a consecrated priest.

The dipped fingers transfer the blessed water to be used in making the sign of the cross. The blessing is in the using of the blessed water in making the sign of the cross, not in the dipping of hands.

 

[Mintaka]

So far in this thread, we’ve talked about the definition of a sacramental and of blessing, the definition of holy water as a sacramental, its Biblical basis, the ancient Christian customs associated with it, and the miracles and personal experiences associated with it. We’ve also had a fair amount of poetic and godly talk about the beauties of the concept. I’m not sure if there’s much more to explain.

Ironically, many of the same people who don’t like holy water go to churches that go around making their own “oil of joy,” “oil of anointing,” “oil of healing,” etc. They send around sourdough starters with blessing prayers. They do all sorts of things that imitate sacramentals, without even knowing that’s what they’re doing. It’s a natural, God-given instinct for Christians to believe that, as humans made in God’s likeness, they have dominion over the Earth’s creatures, and as priestly people, they have the responsibility to protect the creatures, and to ask God to make the other creatures a blessing to us.

All Creation is groaning for redemption now, and all Creation is going to be saved and glorified in the new heavens and the new earth. Sacramentals like holy water and holy oil are not just reminders of Baptism; they are little channels of grace, and little foretastes of the life to come when water and oil will be made glorified parts of the new earth. They indeed carry God’s blessing in their own little way; just as in a greater way, we Christians go into the world to bless it and make it more holy with our lives and prayers.

If you aren’t Catholic and/or aren’t minded to treat a sacramental like holy water with appropriate respect to God’s blessings and graces, then obviously it’s better not to use it. If you’re open to doing what Christians in all ages have done, then it’s a sacramental open to the use of pretty much everybody. Using a sacramental with a good disposition to receiving God’s graces is bound to provide you with more graces, but of course God often provides graces to even the most skeptical and atheist people. If you ask Him for a fish, He won’t give you a snake.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Holy Water has immense power over the evil one and his minions and when you sprinkle it on yourself, it is not just a reminder of your Baptism, you take on spiritual protection against the powers of the devil.
Here is the blessing
Rituale Romanum

The priest, vested in surplice and purple stole, says:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

1. The exorcism of salt follows: God’s creature, salt, I cast out the demon from you by the living + God, by the true + God, by the holy + God, by God who ordered you to be thrown into the water- spring by Eliseus to heal it of its barrenness. May you be a purified salt, a means of health for those who believe, a medicine for body and soul for all who make use of you. May all evil fancies of the foul fiend, his malice and cunning, be driven afar from the place where you are sprinkled. And let every unclean spirit be repulsed by Him who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
   All: Amen.
   Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, we humbly appeal to your mercy and goodness to graciously bless + this creature, salt, which you have given for mankind’s use. May all who use it find in it a remedy for body and mind.** And may everything that it touches or sprinkles be freed from uncleanness and any influence of the evil spirit;** through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Exorcism of the water:

God’s creature, water, I cast out the demon from you in the name of God + the Father almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit. May you be a purified water, **empowered to drive afar all power of the enemy, in fact, to root out and banish the enemy himself, along with his fallen angels. **We ask this through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.
Let us pray.

O God, who for man’s welfare established the most wonderful mysteries in the substance of water, hearken to our prayer, and pour forth your blessing + on this element now being prepared with various purifying rites.** May this creature of yours, when used in your mysteries and endowed with your grace, serve to cast out demons and to banish disease. May everything that this water sprinkles in the homes and gatherings of the faithful be delivered from all that is unclean and hurtful; let no breath of contagion hover there, no taint of corruption; let all the wiles of the lurking enemy come to nothing. By the sprinkling of this water may everything opposed to the safety and peace of the occupants of these homes be banished, so that in calling on your holy name they may know the well-being they desire, and be protected from every peril; through Christ our Lord.**
All: Amen.

1. Now the priest pours the salt into the water in the form of a cross, saying:

May this salt and water be mixed together; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.

God, source of irresistible might and king of an invincible realm, the ever-glorious conqueror; who restrain the force of the adversary, silencing the uproar of his rage, and valiantly subduing his wickedness; in awe and humility we beg you, Lord, to regard with favor this creature thing of salt and water, to let the light of your kindness shine upon it, and to hallow it with the dew of your mercy;** so that wherever it is sprinkled and your holy name is invoked, every assault of the unclean spirit may be baffled, and all dread of the serpent’s venom be cast out. **To us who entreat your mercy grant that the Holy Spirit may be with us wherever we may be; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

1. On Sundays after the water is blessed and before Mass begins the celebrant sprinkles the altar, himself, the ministers, and the people as prescribed in the Missal and in the ceremony of the Ritual given below.

1. Christ’s faithful are permitted to take holy water home with them to sprinkle the sick, their homes, fields, vineyards, and the like. It is recommended too that they put it in fonts in the various rooms, so that they may use it to bless themselves daily and frequently.

(bolding mine)

 

[Vico]

My fiancé and I visited a Catholic Church recently to attend their Mass. While walking out everyone dipped their fingers in water and made the sign of the cross. My fiancé and I naturally felt awkward and refrained from following suit because it made no sense to us.

So how does one benefit from putting their fingers in water and what difference does it make if one does not?

Sanctification is the benefit of the proper use of the holy water (which is a sign itself and recalls baptism - see CCC 1668), and using it we praise God, and ask for his gifts.“The call to holiness is rooted in Baptism and proposed anew in the other Sacraments, principally in the Eucharist. Since Christians are reclothed in Christ Jesus and refreshed by his Spirit, they are “holy”. They therefore have the ability to manifest this holiness and the responsibility to bear witness to it in all that they do”. (Christifideles laici, 16).
Sacramentals:“Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father “with every spiritual blessing.” [177] This is why the Church imparts blessings by invoking the name of Jesus, usually while making the holy sign of the cross of Christ.” – CCC 1671

“By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.” – CCC 1667

“They always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, or the sprinkling of holy water (which recalls Baptism).” – CCC 1668