Proper use of holy water and sprinkling the ground for the souls in purgatory

[Searching1]

I have read that St. John Macias would often sprinkle holy water on the ground for the spiritual benefit of the souls in purgatory. But when I asked a priest, he said the Manual on Indulgences didn’t mention any indulgence gained by those in purgatory through the sprinkling of holy water on the ground.

If there is no indulgence gained, then is this sprinkling actually sacrilege, as holy water is a sacramental that must be used with respect and if disposed of must be disposed of properly?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s not sacrilege because it’s going on the ground in an area where people don’t walk. This is the normal way that someone would dispose of blessed holy water. In addition, your intention of using it to benefit the poor souls is fine, even though there is currently no indulgence attached to sprinkling the holy water.

If you visit a cemetery and pray, even mentally, for the dead when you sprinkle holy water on the graves, then you get a partial indulgence for the prayer (not the holy water but your prayer) all days of the year, except for Nov 1 through Nov 8 when you would get a plenary under the usual conditions (confession within 20 days, communion within a few days, pray for the Holy Father’s Intentions, be in a state of grace when you do the cemetery prayer, and have no attachment to sin). The holy water in either case is optional and does not affect the indulgence, but you could use it as a blessed sacramental to help your prayer.

I think way back before the Manual of Indulgences came out in 1968, there was an indulgence of a certain number of days (like 100) for using holy water. The new Manual doesn’t have that indulgence.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

It’s not improper use just because there’s no indulgence attached, and furthermore, sacrilege is intentional (or willful neglect). Intention always factors into the situation.

 

[Calliope]

also isn’t burying sacramentals the proper way to dispose of them, so wouldn’t pouring holy water directly into the ground be considered appropriate?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Yes, if the ground was “holy ground” or ground reserved for some special/ reverent purpose. One would typically pour out holy water on church grounds. Pouring it out on land where people didn’t normally walk around would be okay too, like under a tree in the forest.
You wouldn’t want to pour it out on a busy roadway where people were walking and biking all day and would be running over it.

Pouring it out in a cemetery would be fine.

 

[Searching1]

Original Poster here… I only ever sprinkle holy water after having blessed myself with it upon entering a church, and only underneath and around the font. Thank you for all the answers.