I don't use the holy water

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flopfoot
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
At the risk of broadening this topic from the potential health risks of holy water fonts I am curious about the practice of filling personal bottles or other carriers.
I would expect that the blessing would transfer to the bottle so were I to adopt the practice I would buy an unused and respectful receptacle. I was a little stunned to see a lady planning to fill a partially squashed plastic Lucozade bottle after Mass on Sunday.
I was only received just over a year ago so I’m still learning the smaller stuff but…a Lucozade bottle?! (Other inappropriate receptacles are also available of course lol!)
 
Most churches you go to have small bottles you can have if you ask for them. Some don’t. If you see someone using something other than that you can always go grab them one.
 
Cecilia2017 said:
I was a little stunned to see a lady planning to fill a partially squashed plastic Lucozade bottle after Mass on Sunday.
Click to expand...
That’s pretty strange, her intent is probably in the right place, but the little bottles are like what, $.99? In our church (Maronite), we receive holy water in the little plastic bottles with a cross on it, on the Feast of the Glorious Epiphany. I’ve got so many of those little bottles.
 
I’ve never seen bottles available in our Cathedral but since apparently they are not unusual I shall ask…thanks.
 
I use an old drinks bottle (clean) and fill that up with Holy Water. I also have a paint brush (children’s type, no paint on it) in the bottle so I can sprinkle it around my house.
 
Many people put hands in that water. They then touch their faces, so, it is not the most health conscious thing to do! If you have a compromised immune system, it is wise to stay out of the font (just yesterday watched a 5/6 year old playing in the font during Mass, putting it on her hands then licking her hands, then putting water over her whole face letting it run back in the font, she was entertained and stayed quiet so the parents ignored it.)

Another thing people don’t think about - rosaries. CLEAN your rosary. I cannot tell you the number of times I am asked to repair a rosary and when I take it apart the beads are encased in gross build up.
 
Last edited:
Your skin - unless you dump it into an open cut - is a protective barrier.

Like anything else, don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth (although your mouth is likely fine).

If you’re neutropenic, I doubt you’d take the risk under advice of your medical team. But average healthy Joe and Jane aren’t going to become ill from holy water - any more than you could from touching anything else.

Public Health on military bases stops the distribution of Precious Blood during flu season (May-October). They don’t nix the holy water fonts, and on a base, they have the power to do so. That’s pretty telling.
 
Last edited:
Very sadly, i was told by a non-believer friend that she and her friends used to spit in the font in disguise when they were teenagers back in the day.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34)
 
Last edited:
Every font I have used showes signs of salt 🙂 It’s such a part of entering and leaving a church for me and at home using holy water.
@flopfoot you might be interested in using blessed salt .
 
ShowersofRoses said:
Really? Sometimes the holy water is in a tiny font attached to the wall, rather easy to miss, but I had never heard of any churches not offering it at all.
Click to expand...
Eastern Catholic churches aren’t supposed to have it, but a disturbing number do.

hawk
 
Flopfoot said:
I worry that if I dip my hand in it I’m going to make someone else sick
Click to expand...
It is always a good idea to wash one’s hands before Mass, as well as a number of other times during the day. I agree that the door handles, bathroom fixtures and pews are a much greater risk than the holy water font.
 
To get people’s feedback on whether my fears were irrational and whether it mattered or not to use it
 
We may have super oily, dirty people here in the south 🙂

I stopped when I saw the dirt that was in the fonts when they were changed/cleaned each week. It was seriously disgusting. Just like dirty bathwater including the grey, waxy ring around the edges. Maybe it is because we have very small fonts at each door. They each hold maybe 10 oz of water.

Places that have those ginormous fonts would not have such concentration of body oils/dirt I’m guessing.

When visiting the Missions in San Antonio, one font had little critters swimming in the water. They looked like water fleas.

Nope, no thanks. No communal font dipping for this gal!
 
So the solution there is to tell someone that the font is not being cleaned as it should. That’s poor hygiene, not a reflection of every holy water font even in the South.
 
Holy Water is good for you. A drop here and a drop there will do anyone some good.
There are so many things to worry about in this world, why worry about the use of Holy Water?
 
I would say if that’s the issue you’re having it’s not often enough. Those flies are attracted to, well, dirt. Nothing personal, but it’s looking as though it needs more frequent cleaning.

I lived in San Antonio for four and a half years, so I know what the weather is like down there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top