Is there a canonical requirement to have holy water in the hand fonts?

[Gorgias]

I always bring at least one solution to the table when I ask if something can be done.

Hmm… unless I misunderstood what you wrote earlier (i.e., “I have asked if we can have stoups installed, but so far no clear answer has been forthcoming”), it sounded less like a ‘solution’ that you were providing and more like a request that he go do something.

The situation in this particular parish is much more complicated than what I have stated. … It’s hard to get our pastor to focus on the installation of stoups when he’s neck deep in an effort to keep the church roof from falling in.

Ouch…! Yeah, now it sounds a little like straining gnats and swallowing camels, to be asking for attention to stoups when there are more pressing maintenance needs at hand…

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Why not buy a dozen and donate them to the Church?

Bring three or four pictures to the pastor and ask him if he would like ten or twelve of them. Tell him that you are willing to buy them and make a donation. You could ask a few friends to chip in if they are expensive. I’ll bet the pastor will be overjoyed. They love this kind of thing.

I did exactly this with ablution cups and the church gave me a receipt for the value so that I could deduct from my taxes.

-Tim-

This is one of the solutions I proposed (except the tax-deduction thing—doesn’t quite work that way here). Having done this with other items in the past, I know first-hand that that our pastor digs this sort of gesture. But he doesn’t always take me up on the offer, for reasons known only to him.

Hmm… unless I misunderstood what you wrote earlier (i.e., “I have asked if we can have stoups installed, but so far no clear answer has been forthcoming”), it sounded less like a ‘solution’ that you were providing and more like a request that he go do something.

Nah, that was me being deliberately vague “No clear answer has been forthcoming” means my ideas are under consideration by all the relevant people but no decision has yet been made and I don’t see any signs of it leaning one way or the other. I’m totally in the dark.

I can say that only a handful of people seem the slightest bit concerned about the absence of stoups so there may not be enough will on the ground to make this happen.

Ouch…! Yeah, now it sounds a little like straining gnats and swallowing camels, to be asking for attention to stoups when there are more pressing maintenance needs at hand…

You don’t know the half of it :nope: Out of consideration for everyone involved, I prefer to refrain from elaborating further.

 

[Gorgias]

This is one of the solutions I proposed (except the tax-deduction thing—doesn’t quite work that way here). Having done this with other items in the past, I know first-hand that that our pastor digs this sort of gesture.

You don’t know the half of it :nope: Out of consideration for everyone involved, I prefer to refrain from elaborating further.

Fair enough. I’ll say a prayer for the health of your parish!

 

[Sacred_Heart_1]

There seems to be an issue in my parish, with a reluctance to provide holy water in the fonts in our church (either in the hand fonts or in the baptismal font). I was wondering is there a canonical requirement that there is holy water in the hand fonts (or in the baptismal font) of a Catholic church?

There is scriptural requirements for the Church to minister to the Faithful. It is the duty of the Priest to prepare the offerings for the Faithful to receive. Who offers the fountain of life and leaves it dry? That’s like a man asks for bread and you hand him a stone. There is also the way to prepare the Lord’s coming–to make all paths straight for the Lord. The Priest is also the steward of his Church. He must make sure everything is at hand for the Faithful to receive. Maybe there is another explanation of why there is no water. Maybe the fountain is leaky and needs to be repaired.

 

[Phemie]

There is scriptural requirements for the Church to minister to the Faithful. It is the duty of the Priest to prepare the offerings for the Faithful to receive. Who offers the fountain of life and leaves it dry? That’s like a man asks for bread and you hand him a stone. There is also the way to prepare the Lord’s coming–to make all paths straight for the Lord. The Priest is also the steward of his Church. He must make sure everything is at hand for the Faithful to receive. Maybe there is another explanation of why there is no water. Maybe the fountain is leaky and needs to be repaired.

Our church was about 25 years old when I first got here. There were no holy water stoups and the font was not located anywhere near the entrance so even if there had been water in it - there wasn’t - it wouldn’t have helped. Holy water was always available in the sacristy for anyone who wanted some, it just wasn’t provided at the door.

At some point, a few older parishioners complained, one bought nice wood and made very plain holders for crystal bowls. All it took was a board, a drill with a hole saw or self-feed drill bit, wood glue and a few screws. Add bowls and, presto, holy water stoups. He attached one to each side of the door on the nave side.

 

[dans0622]

There seems to be an issue in my parish, with a reluctance to provide holy water in the fonts in our church (either in the hand fonts or in the baptismal font). I was wondering is there a canonical requirement that there is holy water in the hand fonts (or in the baptismal font) of a Catholic church?

Hello,

The practice of having holy water fonts at the entrance of a church is an immemorial custom. No written law is needed. As far as I know, the most direct reference in any official document is the one mentioned earlier: the Ceremonial of Bishops, n. 110. What is said there supports the idea that this is customary.

In your case, you have the fonts. That’s good. But, they’re empty. That’s extraordinarily odd. As far as I’m concerned, the day we need a spelled-out requirement that the holy water fonts are to contain holy water will be a sad, sad day… It’s common sense.

Dan

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Fair enough. I’ll say a prayer for the health of your parish!

Thank you so much :thankyou: Let’s say a prayer for Brendan’s parish as well. Unless I’ve misunderstood, they have what’s necessary to make Holy Water available in the church. I’d be far more frustrated to see empty stoups than no stoups at all because at that point it would be so simple to just fill them with water…and yet.

 

[Brendan_64]

Thank you so much :thankyou: Let’s say a prayer for Brendan’s parish as well.

Please do, that would be much appreciated.

 

[Brendan]

Thank you so much :thankyou: Let’s say a prayer for Brendan’s parish as well. (

As long as you are thinking of the right ‘Brendan’. My parish has a 5 gallon bronze vessel in the narthex that is kept well stocked.

If the Lord decides to give our parish more Holy Water, we might end up having to mop it up off the floors

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I was thinking of the fellow who posted just before you, but surely your parish would also appreciate prayers for something or another