Misuse of Holy Water

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Antonius_Lupus

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I find myself in a bit of a sticky situation on conscience. I was hoping I get some other perspectives about it here.

Basically, I talked with an old friend who asked me if I could get him some holy water. He is not Catholic but rather a non-practicing Southern Baptist. He explained to me that he was making, as he put it, a “demon-hunting kit” for his cousin. He left me a bottle and asked me if I could have a priest bless some water for him. For reasons which I am not entirely certain, I agreed to this request.

So today I went to Mass and asked my parochial vicar to bless bottle of water. He asked what I was going to do with it. I didn’t have the courage to tell him exactly what the holy water was being used for and basically explained that I was giving it to a friend. He obliged and blessed the water for me. My friend came along later today and picked up the holy water. I explained to him that the holy water should be treated with respect and also how to sprinkle it and even the proper way to dispose of it. My friend then told me that it is not likely that the water will leave the bottle, much less the box for the kit that my friend was making. It dawned on me then that the holy water had kind of a “novelty” appeal for my friend.

Anyway, I feel deeply troubled by my actions in procuring this holy water for my friend. I feel as though I have trivialized something sacred and, in so doing, I have sinned against the Lord and His Church. I am seriously considering going to confession tomorrow (with the priest who blessed the water to boot!) and just confessing what I feel was a mistake on my part.

So, I was wondering what some of my Catholic brethren and sistren thought about this whole situation. It’s not something I proud of obviously, but I’m wondering whether my history of scrupulosity is blowing this out of proportion (hence my desire for outside perspectives).

Thanks in advance.
 
I’m not sure that you should be too troubled by this. You provided holy water in good faith because (as I understand what you said) it would be helpful for your friend. In any case, it is holy water, so it may be helpful in whatever situation your friend is dealing with. I wonder, though, if you got caught up with a chance to (maybe?) teach a bit about Catholicism in the hopes of a future convert?
 
I agree with another poster…Ask for it back since you don’t know the intention of how it will be used.

If you can’t get it back just explain it to your priest in confession and count it as a lesson learned. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
I am seriously considering going to confession tomorrow
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I think that is an excellent idea, and the only appropriate action to take.

You knew it was not going to a Catholic.
You knew it was going in some bizarre “demon kit”.
You knew you lied when you were asked a direct question regarding what you were doing with it.

Yes - you very much need to go to confession for this. And in the future, treat the sacramentals of the Church with more respect.

~Liza
 
MTKM said:
I agree with another poster…Ask for it back since you don’t know the intention of how it will be used.
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Well, I mean I feel like I kinda knew what it was going to be used for…in the sense that he wasn’t going to be used as holy water would normally be used for.

I’m mean for example, I didn’t really suspect he was dealing with an actual demonic threat, he simply wanted the holy water to make a kit in case of the threat. I do know he does believe in evil and good, angels and demons.

I don’t know…
 
lizaanne said:
I think that is an excellent idea, and the only appropriate action to take.

You knew it was not going to a Catholic.
You knew it was going in some bizarre “demon kit”.
You knew you lied when you were asked a direct question regarding what you were doing with it.

Yes - you very much need to go to confession for this. And in the future, treat the sacramental of the Church with more respect.

~Liza
Click to expand...
Just as I thought too.
 
Once, back in the 1990s,
I gave several bottles of LOURDES WATER to my friends at work.
On of my friends’s husband (unbeknownst to me in advance)
had a giant fish tank with pirhana fish that were sick.
When she brought the Lourdes Water home (they are both practicing Catholics),
he was so glad to see it,
that he put a few drops of it in the fish tank, hoping to heal his pirhanas.

I didn’t follow up with her to find out if her hubby’s pirhanas ended up healed.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
I find myself in a bit of a sticky situation on conscience. I was hoping I get some other perspectives about it here.

Basically, I talked with an old friend who asked me if I could get him some holy water. He is not Catholic but rather a non-practicing Southern Baptist. He explained to me that he was making, as he put it, a “demon-hunting kit” for his cousin. He left me a bottle and asked me if I could have a priest bless some water for him. For reasons which I am not entirely certain, I agreed to this request.

So today I went to Mass and asked my parochial vicar to bless bottle of water. He asked what I was going to do with it. I didn’t have the courage to tell him exactly what the holy water was being used for and basically explained that I was giving it to a friend. He obliged and blessed the water for me. My friend came along later today and picked up the holy water. I explained to him that the holy water should be treated with respect and also how to sprinkle it and even the proper way to dispose of it. My friend then told me that it is not likely that the water will leave the bottle, much less the box for the kit that my friend was making. It dawned on me then that the holy water had kind of a “novelty” appeal for my friend.

Anyway, I feel deeply troubled by my actions in procuring this holy water for my friend. I feel as though I have trivialized something sacred and, in so doing, I have sinned against the Lord and His Church. I am seriously considering going to confession tomorrow (with the priest who blessed the water to boot!) and just confessing what I feel was a mistake on my part.

So, I was wondering what some of my Catholic brethren and sistren thought about this whole situation. It’s not something I proud of obviously, but I’m wondering whether my history of scrupulosity is blowing this out of proportion (hence my desire for outside perspectives).

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I think the “demon-hunting kit” reference should have raised a red flag. I wonder why you agreed then. You were also fooled by this friend. I think his real reason is more innocent, as a “novelty item?” But, now you don’t really know the purpose of him asking for the Holy Water. I would ask him to return it to you and tell him you are no longer comfortable with what you did. If he is a friend, he should return it intact.

You lied to the priest so you have to confess that, and what happened to the holy water.

And no, you are not blowing this out of proportion. If your conscience is bothering you, you can’t blow this out of proportion because it’s your conscience – not someone else’s.

When you hear the word “demon-hunting” it never means something good, as innocent as it may sound at the moment, because it borders on superstition and messing with things we (and your friend) should not be messing with. Sort of like Ouija boards and fortune tellers – all to be avoided. Just a little bit of advice here.

Good luck and God Bless. You will be able to resolve your error in judgment in confession. Hopefully, the friend returns the Holy Water and you can feel better about it’s use.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
I suppose it’s possible but it would difficult to explain why.
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Be honest and tell him that upon reflection you have done something that you should not have done with something that is holy and blessed, contrary to your beliefs. Tell him, you are not comfortable with what you did.

If he is your friend, he will respect that. If he refuses, you have your answer on how much he values that friendship and respect for you too. If not, you can still be reconciled in confession. But it should not hurt to ask for the Holy Water back. The priest may even ask. At least you can say you asked for it back.
 
Well, it looks like I’ve really screwed up then…I can’t believe I didn’t see it until now.
 
Whoa. Slow down. You made an error in judgment; it happens. You will confess and you will make it right. Please do not take this as a condemnation but as cautionary. Our articles of faith are not games or novelties, and are to be used in an appropriate manner.

Now you know what to look for so as not be deceived in the future.

I’m going out on a limb here – maybe in lying to the priest, no blessing took place because it was initiated by a lie. Though the priest did not know that, God knew that it was not honest. So, the water may just be water because God knew that you were not completely honest with the priest. I’m not trying to rationalize what you did. However, the Holy Water may just be water if deception was used to obtain it.

Look at it this way. I lie to a priest about my intentions as to marriage and other matters. I am not in full communion with the Church… He performs a sacramental marriage, based upon a lie that he had no knowlege of it. In my heart, should I believe I have a consecrated marriage even though the priest was deceived?

But lying to the priest should be confessed. It’s not as bad as you think, but that it bothers you must be addressed.

God Bless and it will be all right.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
Well, it looks like I’ve really screwed up then…I can’t believe I didn’t see it until now.
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remember though, with recognizing you sinned, and confessing that sin, comes the Mercy of God, no sin is greater then His Mercy, you should confess, then ask for the grace not to sin again.

my icon for this post is a lightbulb because, with recognizing sin, also should come the realization of the Infinite Mercy of God, and that should be a light for you.

God Bless.
Jesus, I trust in you!
 
Well, there are lots of positives in this. Your friend is recognizing that demons are a problem that require spiritual help to defeat. Even though he may not intend to take out the bottle, it is there if he feels threatened by the demonic.
Your friend, by his request, has also recognized that the Catholic Church has something that his Church does not and that the Catholic priest has power to confer spiritual power on water, that is effective against the demonic. He has recognized that holy water is different and special and this may lead him closer to the fullness of truth. He has also recognized that a Catholic priest has powers that a Protestant minister does not.
If he does open and use the holy water, this will be of great spiritual benefit.
I would think that even if someone were trying to disrespect holy water that it would work agaist them for their good, because one of its principal effects is to drive off evil.
Holy Water is not a sacrament, but a sacramental so anyone can use it and derive benefit from it, although only Catholic (and Orthodox) priests are capable of conferring these blessings.
There are little booklets you can buy which explain the benefits of holy water. Giving one of these to your friend (or other similar information gathered from the internet) could be a great occasion of grace for him. Look on this request as a good opportunity to give him information about the faith, starting with his interest in the holy water and fear of the demonic.
Just as I would give a friend a blessed medal, I would not be fearful of giving them holy water. It is a good thing that he has something holy in his home.
But continue to pray for him.
 
Natural_Family said:
Well, there are lots of positives in this. Your friend is recognizing that demons are a problem that require spiritual help to defeat. Even though he may not intend to take out the bottle, it is there if he feels threatened by the demonic.
Your friend, by his request, has also recognized that the Catholic Church has something that his Church does not and that the Catholic priest has power to confer spiritual power on water, that is effective against the demonic. He has recognized that holy water is different and special and this may lead him closer to the fullness of truth. He has also recognized that a Catholic priest has powers that a Protestant minister does not.
If he does open and use the holy water, this will be of great spiritual benefit.
I would think that even if someone were trying to disrespect holy water that it would work agaist them for their good, because one of its principal effects is to drive off evil.
Holy Water is not a sacrament, but a sacramental so anyone can use it and derive benefit from it, although only Catholic (and Orthodox) priests are capable of conferring these blessings.
There are little booklets you can buy which explain the benefits of holy water. Giving one of these to your friend (or other similar information gathered from the internet) could be a great occasion of grace for him. Look on this request as a good opportunity to give him information about the faith, starting with his interest in the holy water and fear of the demonic.
Just as I would give a friend a blessed medal, I would not be fearful of giving them holy water. It is a good thing that he has something holy in his home.
But continue to pray for him.
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Very sound advise 👍
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
He explained to me that he was making, as he put it, a “demon-hunting kit” for his cousin. He left me a bottle and asked me if I could have a priest bless some water for him. For reasons which I am not entirely certain, I agreed to this request.
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Antonius, I feel you have done the right thing and I would do the same if I was asked. It appears that your friend is deeply concerned about what his cousin is doing. So the best way he can help protect his cousin is by giving a spiritual protection kit.

I can not see that you have done wrong, consider yourself as providing assistance with Spiritual Warfare. Holy water is powerful and will provide the spiritual protection when your friend’s cousin is in need.
 
Here is the thing. in the front of just about evry Cathoilic church I have ever been in there is large urn of Holy Water with a spicket on it and people can fill up bottles of holy water for there personal use. I do not know if your parish has such a thing it would normaly say Holy Water on it. Anyway if your friend had been in any of the parish around me and had asked me that I would have told him just come and get it himself. It does not sound as if he has any plans to use it in a way that would be be inappropriate I would ask him come easter if he still has it if so ask him to dsipose of it by pouring out in a flower bed or over a grave, Somewhere that is not likely to be walked over. then he is free to aquire more after Easter. Do not worry about it. you have not done anything wrong.
 
Jaypeeto4 said:
Once, back in the 1990s,
I gave several bottles of LOURDES WATER to my friends at work.
On of my friends’s husband (unbeknownst to me in advance)
had a giant fish tank with pirhana fish that were sick.
When she brought the Lourdes Water home (they are both practicing Catholics),
he was so glad to see it,
that he put a few drops of it in the fish tank, hoping to heal his pirhanas.

I didn’t follow up with her to find out if her hubby’s pirhanas ended up healed.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
Click to expand...
Kindnesses like this (especally if the pirhahas ended up well) are (name removed by moderator)ortant for non-catholics. Growing up I had a friend who was 4 years younger and protestant. She didn’t “believe” in making the sign of the cross, but she’d put holy water on her forehead and cheek like perfume and said it stopped her nightmares. Being only 13 or 14 myself I saw no problem in providing her with it. Even now, I think I’d do the same thing.

I wouldn’t even say confess it. I’d talk to the priest and let him know that you mislead him. While I do not believe that demons are waiting in milton bradly games to get us I do think that if we seek them out in full out, sincere attempts they will make trouble in our lives.
 
Confess it to the Priest and seek his advice as to what to do now…
 
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