Mexican priest shoots holy water with water gun

[GloriaPatri4]

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From article

**Mexican priest shoots holy water
**2006-02-13 14:48:00.0

Mexico City (dpa) - A Mexican priest has come up with a novel way of blessing his congregation - with a water pistol.

Faced with a decline of Sunday visitors to his church in Pachuca, Marcos Monzalvo now blesses his congregation with holy water shot from a water pistol, the Reforma daily reported Monday.

“I promised people they would experience something new every Sunday they come to church. That’s how I came up with the idea to use the water pistol,” the 38-year-old priest told the newspaper. Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

 

[JMJ_Theresa]

I remember this in a vampire movie–one with Kiefer Sutherland?
It seemed to be pretty effective against the vampires.

I imagine fasting would be more effective in revitalizing the parish.

Maybe I should try this with my boys–they could use some blessing and it is hard to keept them in one place.

 

[FrCorey]

Whats next, a blood and body shooter?
on the deacons cue, open your mouth and close your eyes, and you will get a God surprise…
nothing like the lord coming at you at 90 miles a hour.

 

[palmas85]

**From article

Mexican priest shoots holy water
2006-02-13 14:48:00.0

Faced with a decline of Sunday visitors to his church in Pachuca, Marcos Monzalvo now blesses his congregation with holy water shot from a water pistol, the Reforma daily reported Monday.

“I promised people they would experience something new every Sunday they come to church. That’s how I came up with the idea to use the water pistol,” the 38-year-old priest told the newspaper

Mexico City (dpa) - A Mexican priest has come up with a novel way of blessing his congregation - with a water pisto**l.
.

Yes, the endless innovations required to hold the attention of the faithful in Mass. And this in Mexico, sad very sad. Although not many know it, the Church in Mexico faced tremendous oppression from the government early in the 20th century, and was actually only recently recognized by the Mexican Government. Priests and the religious were not allowed to wear clerical garb and a lot of church property was confiscated. A large number of priests were imprisoned, exiled and even executed including one by the name of Father Miguel Augustin PRO, S.J… He was implicated falsely in a bombing plot and was ordered executed by a military firing squad in Mexico City. The Mexican government brought in reporters and photographers to document him pleading for his life and thus somehow justify their opposition to the church by exposing its weakness and lack of a moral center.

Father PRO, in secular clothes, after kneeling in prayer, stood, rejected a blindfold, and stretched his arms out to the sides, holding a rosary in one hand and a crucifix in the other. His last words were Forgive them Father, long live Christ the King. He was then shot . He fell wounded, and one of the soldiers who had shot him walked up and dispatched him with one shot to the head. This was in 1927. should any think it ancient history.

The Mexican government had forbidden mass demonstrations and funerals for those it had killed. In spite of that hundreds of thousands filled the streets for Father PRO’s funeral.

The Church survived this type of oppression in Mexico because of their devoutness and faith in the Church, and the examples of clergy and religious like Father PRO. Men and women who stood fast in the faith in the face of oppression suffering and even death He was one of many who were martyred in Mexico for the faith in that time period…

That a country as staunchly Catholic as Mexico was, has fallen to a level where a Priest uses a water pistol in Mass and has to promise his congregation that he will do something new every week indicates that the Church has fallen even further than I thought.

**COR JESUS SACRATISSIMUM MISERERE NOBIS **

 

[Joan_M]

Why is it that some priests seem to think that we need to be entertained at Mass?

God help us! And straighten them out!!

 

[K-McD]

JMJ Theresa:

I remember this in a vampire movie–one with Kiefer Sutherland?
It seemed to be pretty effective against the vampires.

I imagine fasting would be more effective in revitalizing the parish.

Maybe I should try this with my boys–they could use some blessing and it is hard to keept them in one place.

If I remember correctly, they died. The vamps got them. Good thought though.

 

[m134e5]

“Faced with a decline of Sunday visitors to his church in Pachuca, Marcos Monzalvo now blesses his congregation with holy water shot from a water pistol, the Reforma daily reported Monday.”

Preaching inspiring homilies, and conveying the truth of the Eucharist, by reverence would work MUCH better. shakes head

 

[Namid]

FrCorey:

Whats next, a blood and body shooter?
on the deacons cue, open your mouth and close your eyes, and you will get a God surprise…
nothing like the lord coming at you at 90 miles a hour.

I am sooo glad I was not drinking anything when I read this!!!

 

[Sean_O_L]

From my SSPX Hampton Chapel records:

01/05/94: Don McLean reports

1. Episodes in the “fun” application of Asperges water:

a) Fr. Angele “accidentally” (?) dowses Grant Armstrong with a liberal amount of Asperges water.

b) Next Sunday, Grant appears in the garden for the procession, holding an umbrella.

c) Next episode: with Shower cap (per Marlene Morgan)

d) Next episode: with flippers

e) Sunday 24th April:

Roger Smit called Stephen McLean aside, saying “there would be some fun to see.”

Fr. Angele, vested and in procession, emerged from the Sacristy into the garden.

Grant Armstrong was there, holding a surf-board.

Fr. Angele produced a water-pistol from his vestments and squirted Grant with water. He then gave the water pistol to a cackling Pat Perry.

1. Don rang Fr. Laisney who, apparently, thought Don was going to be apologetic.

Don asked him if he knew of the water pistol matter involving Fr. Angele squirting a parishioner.

Fr. Laisney asked :Who was the parishioner?"

Don told him that it was Grant Armstrong.

Silence from Fr. Laisney.

Don told him he didn’t want to talk with him now, and hung up.

1. A little later, Fr Angele rang him.

a) asked Don if he was going to hold the book stall for the Marian pilgrimage. Don said, "No. Not until I get some responses from Fr. Laisney.

b) Fr Angele got angry & said: “I’m not out to get Don & Andrina McLean.” He, apparently, wanted to find out who “ratted” on him.

C’est la vie, non?

 

[melbourne_guy]

his saving the best till last. Holy water bombs.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Joan M:

Why is it that some priests seem to think that we need to be entertained at Mass?

God help us! And straighten them out!!

This is a good question, so I’ll ask the opposite question.

Why is it that we think God expects us to remain solemn and slow and that we should not smile or enjoy the Mass in any discernable way?

Christ, as I recall, spent a lot of time with partiers and various other types of sinners, and He IS the Church. Doesn’t God ever smile, and if so why wouldn’t He want to do it during Mass while we’re all together?

Alan

 

[davy39]

AlanFromWichita:

This is a good question, so I’ll ask the opposite question.

Why is it that we think God expects us to remain solemn and slow and that we should not smile or enjoy the Mass in any discernable way?

Christ, as I recall, spent a lot of time with partiers and various other types of sinners, and He IS the Church. Doesn’t God ever smile, and if so why wouldn’t He want to do it during Mass while we’re all together?

Alan

Oh Alan, come on! Holy Water pistols? If I want entertainment, I’ll watch football.

 

[LatinCat]

AlanFromWichita:

This is a good question, so I’ll ask the opposite question.

Why is it that we think God expects us to remain solemn and slow and that we should not smile or enjoy the Mass in any discernable way?

Christ, as I recall, spent a lot of time with partiers and various other types of sinners, and He IS the Church. Doesn’t God ever smile, and if so why wouldn’t He want to do it during Mass while we’re all together?

Alan

That is not the point. Do you know what the mass is? It is the holy sacrifice of calvary made present on the altar. Whould you be squriting people with water pistols while watching the Passion of the Christ? Because the very thing that you watch in the passion of the Christ, is made present at mass.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’m sorry. I once heard the epithet “celebrate Mass.”

I thought we were remembering the actions of the last supper where Christ gave us his body, more than the passion of the Cross. At the Mass, do we not celebrate all aspects of CHristianity – called the GOOD News btw – over the liturgical year?

I play joyful music for Mass on Easter Sunday. Should I play it slow and draggy so that it sounds gloomy? When I play Lenten Friday nights for station of the cross and benediction it is very solemn, but why the gloom for regular Sunday Mass?

As far as the water pistol, I have no idea about the culture where this took place – their values and sense of dignity may be totally different than mine. Plus, we don’t know whether this is when people are gathered before Mass or during Mass, from the story. Yes, it does sound rather unorthodox, but why should this upset us? Can’t we just write it off as an eccentric priest or do we have to believe he is contemptuous of things sacred?

Alan

 

[fix]

AlanFromWichita:

I’m sorry. I once heard the epithet “celebrate Mass.”

Alan,

I thought celebration in that context meant a coming together, not happy clappy like a concert?

 

[LatinCat]

AlanFromWichita:

I’m sorry. I once heard the epithet “celebrate Mass.”

I thought we were remembering the actions of the last supper where Christ gave us his body, more than the passion of the Cross. At the Mass, do we not celebrate all aspects of CHristianity – called the GOOD News btw – over the liturgical year?

I play joyful music for Mass on Easter Sunday. Should I play it slow and draggy so that it sounds gloomy? When I play Lenten Friday nights for station of the cross and benediction it is very solemn, but why the gloom for regular Sunday Mass?

As far as the water pistol, I have no idea about the culture where this took place – their values and sense of dignity may be totally different than mine. Plus, we don’t know whether this is when people are gathered before Mass or during Mass, from the story. Yes, it does sound rather unorthodox, but why should this upset us? Can’t we just write it off as an eccentric priest or do we have to believe he is contemptuous of things sacred?

Alan

That is not what the word celebrate means in this context.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

fix:

Alan,

I thought celebration in that context meant a coming together, not happy clappy like a concert?

Evidently. I guess it’s like a Thanksgiving “celebration” where all your relatives are there and you wish you weren’t… just sorta keep real quiet and don’t make eye contact…

Yes, I hate clapping along with music. You can shoot holy water with a squirt gun and get by me, but when you start clapping to the music then I declare sacrilege!

Alan

 

[fix]

AlanFromWichita:

Evidently. I guess it’s like a Thanksgiving “celebration” where all your relatives are there and you wish you weren’t… just sorta keep real quiet and don’t make eye contact…

You must have been to my house…

Yes, I hate clapping along with music. You can shoot holy water with a squirt gun and get by me, but when you start clapping to the music then I declare sacrilege!

Alan

Perhaps a nice skit, some beer and a sing along?

 

[LatinCat]

AlanFromWichita:

Evidently. I guess it’s like a Thanksgiving “celebration” where all your relatives are there and you wish you weren’t… just sorta keep real quiet and don’t make eye contact…

Yes, I hate clapping along with music. You can shoot holy water with a squirt gun and get by me, but when you start clapping to the music then I declare sacrilege!

Alan

So you would be squirting people with a water gun at Christ’s crucifixion?

 

[EtienneGilson]

davy39:

Oh Alan, come on! Holy Water pistols? If I want entertainment, I’ll watch football.

I thought you said you wanted entertainment? Football? REALLY?

I’m with Alan on this one, and with Ecclesiastes…a time to laugh and a time to cry. Chesterton said Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.

A waterpistol might be over the top but having recently returned from Rome where there is an amazing collection of glow-in-the-dark rosaires with beads the size of walnuts…I am starting to think that the proper waterpistol might not be that bad. No super-soakers though. I also seem to remember a field full of plastic religious cr*p around the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico city…perhaps it is a cultural thing.