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Frosty_Gurl
Guest
I know that the Holy Water has been drained from the Baptismal font because of the Lenten season, but can anyone tell me why?? Thanks so much…and God Bless
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
It would make sense that the Baptismal font or pool is drained because it is filled at the Easter Vigil with new water that is blessed then. The Holy Water at the entrance to the church however should not be drained for Lent. Now sometimes the Baptismal font is the Holy water font. Therefore it should remain full until Holy Saturday morning.
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PKinsale
Guest
Holy water fonts in churches are supposed to be kept filled during Lent. I trust the baptismal pool will be refilled for baptisms during Lent?
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Kielbasi
Guest
Why would the baptismal font be drained for Lent? Babies are still being born during the season.
The drained holy water font is controversial, and not done everywhere. But to postpone baptisms for 6 weeks seems a bit much.
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Eucharisted
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TMarieVeronica
Guest
From what I understand… the holy water isn’t really supposed to be drained BEFORE the Easter Triduum <that is, Holy Thursday… Good Friday… and Holy Saturday>. And refilled, with freshly blessed water for Easter Sunday.
Having said this, however… I’m not sure… but maybe each Pastor is permitted to make this decision, himself.
Our last Pastor always drained the holy water… starting at Ash Wednesday. And it was hard, because we couldn’t get it for home use all throughout Lent. I had to go and fill a plastic jug, before they drained the font. I have heard that some parishes do this… to provide a “desert experience” to the parish. But… it kind of baffled me, to be honest. Because for Sunday Mass… they’d set out little dishes of holy water anyway!
But our NEW Pastor… dispensed with the practice of emptying the fonts for Lent. Praise God. The holy water font is FULL of fresh holy water! But I’m sure it will be emptied for the Triduum.
Having said this, however… I’m not sure… but maybe each Pastor is permitted to make this decision, himself.
Our last Pastor always drained the holy water… starting at Ash Wednesday. And it was hard, because we couldn’t get it for home use all throughout Lent. I had to go and fill a plastic jug, before they drained the font. I have heard that some parishes do this… to provide a “desert experience” to the parish. But… it kind of baffled me, to be honest. Because for Sunday Mass… they’d set out little dishes of holy water anyway!
But our NEW Pastor… dispensed with the practice of emptying the fonts for Lent. Praise God. The holy water font is FULL of fresh holy water! But I’m sure it will be emptied for the Triduum.
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Ace86
Guest
What they are doing is **not **allowed, and is not a tradition of the Church.
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scylla
Guest
It is wrong and an insult to the faith to drain the Holy Water during Lent. It should only be drained right before Easter.
This is like saying we shouldn’t do the sign of the Cross during Lent.
It is indeed wrong and a way of viewing the faith as something ornamental instead of believing in Christ as working through matter, using Sacramentals to express our faith, convey grace and are gifts of our Lord. It is contrary to the faith to remove them as if they are playthings during Lent.
God Bless
Scylla
This is like saying we shouldn’t do the sign of the Cross during Lent.
It is indeed wrong and a way of viewing the faith as something ornamental instead of believing in Christ as working through matter, using Sacramentals to express our faith, convey grace and are gifts of our Lord. It is contrary to the faith to remove them as if they are playthings during Lent.
God Bless
Scylla
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Brendan
Guest
Exactly,
What exactly is their plan when a couple presents their child for Baptism.
The faithful has a right to the Sacraments unless impeded by Law, and there is no Liturgical Law that forbids Baptisms during Lent.
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Matariel
Guest
Well, in my church, not only are the holy water fonts empty, but the baptismal font is also bone-dry. Nearly every single person, I’ve noticed, dips their hand in it and, upon seeing no water in it, a look of puzzlement crosses their faces. Some then try the baptismal font, only to find that dry too.
To me the practice is simply stupid, and a post-council invention. The holy water fonts represent the baptismal waters, and in Lent are we suddenly deprived of remembering our baptisms? I would think in Lent, of all times, we would want to remember our baptism evenmoreso.
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Kielbasi
Guest
Unless your church is in a senior citizens community or a monastery, what is done about baptising infants during the lent season?
It seems awfully inappropriate to make the babies wait until after Easter.
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Matariel
Guest
Well, actually, my church has many parishioners, it’s a pretty big parish, with several services, both Sunday and Saturday evening. I don’t know, the last baptism was the Sunday before Ash Wednesday; a little girl was baptized.
I’m not sure what they’ll do if a baby’s due…
Either way, the Vatican has said that it’s not permissible to empty the fonts (especially the baptismal font) before Holy Thursday.
Everyone in my parish is bewildered when they walk in and dip their fingers into an empty font. Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s dumbfounded as to why this strange, un-Catholic practice is being enacted in our parish.
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goforgoal
Guest
Frosty_Gurl-This might answer your question (scroll down to the bottom)
americancatholic.org/Messenger/Feb2005/Wiseman.asp
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/ZLITUR72.HTM
catholicdoors.com/faq/qu75.htm
I apologize to you (and anyone else) reading this but I can’t really put my thoughts into words…From what I’ve discovered some Parishes remove Holy water because like Jesus we are in the desert…I haven’t noticed any removal of Holy water in our Parish maybe they will do it later on like TMarieVeronica stated. I’ve also noticed a deeper increase of appreciation, love, honor, and respect for Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, angels, and saints when the Holy water is there Easter.
catholicsoncall.org/consider_this/outside_the_box
catholichomeandgarden.com/lent.htm
americancatholic.org/Messenger/Feb2005/Wiseman.asp
ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/ZLITUR72.HTM
catholicdoors.com/faq/qu75.htm
I apologize to you (and anyone else) reading this but I can’t really put my thoughts into words…From what I’ve discovered some Parishes remove Holy water because like Jesus we are in the desert…I haven’t noticed any removal of Holy water in our Parish maybe they will do it later on like TMarieVeronica stated. I’ve also noticed a deeper increase of appreciation, love, honor, and respect for Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, angels, and saints when the Holy water is there Easter.
catholicsoncall.org/consider_this/outside_the_box
catholichomeandgarden.com/lent.htm
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thistle
Guest
There is another thread I forgot to bookmark providing the Church document which shows Holy Water is only drained from fonts after completion of Mass on Holy Thursday and left empty remainder of Holy Thursday, Good Friday Holy Saturday. The fonts are not to be empty any other time. This is not optional.
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HumblePilgrim
Guest
My church does this as well. They cover the font with a big wooden cover with nails ringing the surface (they look like crucifixion nails). This is always done during the Easter season. But, I am new to the faith. Is this another abuse? This church does do many questionable things.
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Charybdis
Guest
My last church (very small rural parish) drained the holy water fonts during Lent as well. I think that it’s some sort of “fasting” type thing that is supposed to help us prepare for Easter, or some such nonsense.
What they are doing is depriving the faithful of this simple yet powerful sacramental…I’m glad to report that my new parish in my new state is keeping the fonts full!!!
What they are doing is depriving the faithful of this simple yet powerful sacramental…I’m glad to report that my new parish in my new state is keeping the fonts full!!!
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centurionguard
Guest
During the Lenten season in many subsequent years in the past depending upon the priest who was the official pastor of my parish there was that ritual of pounding sand inside the baptismal font during lent. Apparently some self-righteous lay person who was put in charge of the ALL liturgical celebrations in the church saw fit to replace the sacramental holy water in the baptismal font with a mountain of sand with New Age symbolism. And lo and behold the parish priest went along with it and so did the archbishop where numerous complains were made and fell on deaf ears. Typical New Age symbolism at its best. THIS PRACTICE IS NOT SANCTIONED BY CANON LAW. On the First Sunday of Lent a few days ago, a big surprise…Holy Water rightfully back inside the fonts. It took a lot of people saying rosaries to repair this terrible practice.
May God Be Always Praised.
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DallasCatholic
Guest
This year before lent I sent our Pastor an email asking him to forgive my pettiness and please humor me by not emptying the Holy Water receptacles or covering the Holy Water Fount this lent. I included a link to the CDW publication on the practice because “I didn’t know it was a forbidden practice and maybe others in the parish don’t know either”. Lo and behold on Ash Wednesday, and so far to this day, we have Holy Water where it should be in our parish. Hooray for the premptive strike.
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Matariel
Guest
Yay! Perhaps I should do the same. (only Lent’s already begun…)This year before lent I sent our Pastor an email asking him to forgive my pettiness and please humor me by not emptying the Holy Water receptacles or covering the Holy Water Fount this lent. I included a link to the CDW publication on the practice because “I didn’t know it was a forbidden practice and maybe others in the parish don’t know either”. Lo and behold on Ash Wednesday, and so far to this day, we have Holy Water where it should be in our parish. Hooray for the premptive strike.
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PJM
Guest
"Br. Rich SFO:
The symbolism is that knowing that Baptism is the “gate to Salvation” we seek it. Thus if “it’s not readily available,” then we must endeaver more, strive harder to “Seek the Lord where he shall be found and while their is still time.”
Keep in mind that the events of Holy Week up to Easter, are memorials, recalling life before Redemption became a reality. We should acknowledge with humility and great gratitude, what God has done and continues to do out of love for us.
It is a preparation for the Joy of Easter!:getholy:
Love and prayers,
Brother Rich is not only faster than me, he’s smarter than me!
The symbolism is that knowing that Baptism is the “gate to Salvation” we seek it. Thus if “it’s not readily available,” then we must endeaver more, strive harder to “Seek the Lord where he shall be found and while their is still time.”
Keep in mind that the events of Holy Week up to Easter, are memorials, recalling life before Redemption became a reality. We should acknowledge with humility and great gratitude, what God has done and continues to do out of love for us.
It is a preparation for the Joy of Easter!:getholy:
Love and prayers,
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