Question about holy water

[e-catholic]

I have a son who is making his first Communion this year, tonight was the first session for preparation. In the beginning of the session the DRE extended her hands over a water font, said a blessing, and then invited everyone to “bless themselves with the Holy Water”. This struck me as wrong, am I right about this? I think that at the very least it could confuse the children as to what Holy Water is. My understanding is that a priest must bless Holy Water, or at the very least a Deacon. Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

[bear06]

You are correct. Could it be that the water was already blessed? If so, I would still think she should explain this to the kids so they won’t be confused.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

e-catholic:

I have a son who is making his first Communion this year, tonight was the first session for preparation. In the beginning of the session the DRE extended her hands over a water font, said a blessing, and then invited everyone to “bless themselves with the Holy Water”. This struck me as wrong, am I right about this? I think that at the very least it could confuse the children as to what Holy Water is. My understanding is that a priest must bless Holy Water, or at the very least a Deacon. Can anyone shed some light on this?

You are correct.

 

[e-catholic]

Thank you for your answers. Now, should I just explain this to my children, and let it go? Is there some sort of action that I should take other than making sure that my children understand?

Any opoinions?

 

[e-catholic]

bear06:

You are correct. Could it be that the water was already blessed? If so, I would still think she should explain this to the kids so they won’t be confused.

I think it is unlikely because she explained that we prayed over it, and now it is Holy Water.

 

[Marauder]

First off, explain what happened to your kids and that not everyone can bless water.

You should also talk over your issues with the DRE. It may just be a misunderstanding. If the DRE claims that ANYONE can bless water, then ask where it is written in the Book of Blessings.

If you hit a brick wall with the DRE then bring it up with the pastor.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Here’s the official answer from the Book of Blessings:

1390 But when the blessing of water takes place outside Mass, the rite given here may be used by a priest or deacon. …

Deacon Ed

 

[e-catholic]

Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I have been told that there are many cathechetical exercises that can be used in this way. There are also blessings for in the home, and this blessing although it should be understood that it is not “baptismal holy water” is O.K.

I am going to talk to the DRE and see what she has to say, maybe she needs to clear up this misconception. We certainly want the difference to be known.

Any other opinions?

 

[Marauder]

Another reason to talk to the DRE is to ask her if what she was doing was just using it as an example of what happens for training purposes.

I thought about this in relation to a discussion I had with a priest the other day, where he was talking about intent. He mentioned that during RCIA he will demonstrate the entire Mass to those present including using bread and wine and the words of consecration. The discussion was about the fact that the bread and wine do not become the body and blood of Christ because he didn’t intend it to happen even though proper form and matter existed.

Your DRE COULD have just been showing how it is done and how your are supposed to be blessing yourself, without intending to make people think she was actually blessing the water.

 

[bear06]

Now, should I just explain this to my children, and let it go?

That’s no fun! I’m a bit of a rebel so I’d probably go to the next class and ask Ms. X to clarify that she didn’t actually change the water into Holy Water since only a priest or deacon can do that but that she was just showing the kids how a priest would do it. Of course, this would benefit everyone if done in front of the whole class with parents. Probably safer to ask a priest!

 

[e-catholic]

bear06:

That’s no fun! I’m a bit of a rebel so I’d probably go to the next class and ask Ms. X to clarify that she didn’t actually change the water into Holy Water since only a priest or deacon can do that but that she was just showing the kids how a priest would do it. Of course, this would benefit everyone if done in front of the whole class with parents. Probably safer to ask a priest!

You think way too much like I do. I think I will pass on this one though. I will ask her in private, since I already opened my big mouth to one of the other parents last night. This is a little off topic, but what the heak it was my post to begin with.

One of the other parents was asking if the kids had to take the wine, our DRE being tactful, and not telling her that he has to (because of course he doesn’t) tried to encourage her to let him do this as all of the other children would be. This didn’t work. This woman said that she didn’t want her son to receive the cup because she raises her son that “He doesn’t get a sip of my wine, or of my husbands beer”.:banghead: After the exchange between the two of them I was so frustrated that I said to her “Don’t you want your son to understand the difference between the blood of Christ and getting drunk?” It seemed that she didn’t appreciate my point.

 

[otm]

I am still trying to understand whether this was something you observed, or if it was related to you by your child.

If it was something you observed, then it should be persued. If it was something related to you by your child, you might err on the side of caution, as the situation may have been much more benign?

 

[e-catholic]

otm:

I am still trying to understand whether this was something you observed, or if it was related to you by your child.

If it was something you observed, then it should be persued. If it was something related to you by your child, you might err on the side of caution, as the situation may have been much more benign?

This was in a family session, I observed it.

What about the idea that it was a blessing, but not the same kind of blessing given by a priest? In other words, not for baptism, but still blessed in some way through the prayer of a lay person.

More opinions?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

e-catholic:

Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I have been told that there are many cathechetical exercises that can be used in this way. There are also blessings for in the home, and this blessing although it should be understood that it is not “baptismal holy water” is O.K.

I am going to talk to the DRE and see what she has to say, maybe she needs to clear up this misconception. We certainly want the difference to be known.

Any other opinions?

Tracy,

More correctly, the water isn’t holy water! Yes, there are lots of cases where water is used in helping teach the faith – and sometimes there is a “blessing prayer” that is said, but that still doesn’t make the water holy water. This has nothing to do with “baptismal holy water” which is, in reality, no different from any other type of holy water.

Deacon Ed

 

[e-catholic]

Deacon Ed:

Tracy,

More correctly, the water isn’t holy water! Yes, there are lots of cases where water is used in helping teach the faith – and sometimes there is a “blessing prayer” that is said, but that still doesn’t make the water holy water. This has nothing to do with “baptismal holy water” which is, in reality, no different from any other type of holy water.

Deacon Ed

I see your point. Thank You.

 

[misericordie]

e-catholic:

I have a son who is making his first Communion this year, tonight was the first session for preparation. In the beginning of the session the DRE extended her hands over a water font, said a blessing, and then invited everyone to “bless themselves with the Holy Water”. This struck me as wrong, am I right about this? I think that at the very least it could confuse the children as to what Holy Water is. My understanding is that a priest must bless Holy Water, or at the very least a Deacon. Can anyone shed some light on this?

WOW, that “dre” seems to actually carry out her desires to be a priest. As soon as I read the first sentence, I knew it was a woman dre wanting to be a priest. Of course her action was totally INVALID!!! Nothing was blessed. DID ANYONE??? TELL THE PASTOR??? That is, if he cares, with a dre like that. If he does nothing and this dre continues her priest wanna be tactics, REPORT IT TO THE BISHOP OF YOUR DIOCESE IN A RESPECTFUL AND SIGNED LETTER.

 

[otm]

misericordie:

WOW, that “dre” seems to actually carry out her desires to be a priest. As soon as I read the first sentence, I knew it was a woman dre wanting to be a priest. Of course her action was totally INVALID!!! Nothing was blessed. DID ANYONE??? TELL THE PASTOR??? That is, if he cares, with a dre like that. If he does nothing and this dre continues her priest wanna be tactics, REPORT IT TO THE BISHOP OF YOUR DIOCESE IN A RESPECTFUL AND SIGNED LETTER.

Or maybe we could line her up against the wall, aolng eith all the other liberals we don’t like, and call in the firing squad…

Excuse me, but isn’t this a little bit over the top? Perhaps a tad bit presumptious and slightly judgemental? Perhaps…ballistic?

People of good faith can make errors in good faith. She could be anywhere from a little enthusiastic and not as clear as she could be, to way out of line. But before we judge her totally in free-fall (having stepped off the edge of whatever), perhaps approaching her in kindness and charity might just possibly be the first step?

Totally invalid? Totally? Or possibly misguided but innocent of intended harm? Or maybe (shock of shocks! :bigyikes: ) correct in the essentials but poorly presented?

 

[bear06]

otm:

Or maybe we could line her up against the wall, aolng eith all the other liberals we don’t like, and call in the firing squad…

Excuse me, but isn’t this a little bit over the top? Perhaps a tad bit presumptious and slightly judgemental? Perhaps…ballistic?

People of good faith can make errors in good faith. She could be anywhere from a little enthusiastic and not as clear as she could be, to way out of line. But before we judge her totally in free-fall (having stepped off the edge of whatever), perhaps approaching her in kindness and charity might just possibly be the first step?

Totally invalid? Totally? Or possibly misguided but innocent of intended harm? Or maybe (shock of shocks! :bigyikes: ) correct in the essentials but poorly presented?

Sure, she could have made a mistake. In fact, this is quite plausible in this day and age. However, a DRE should actually know that this was a mistake. It might be time for the pastor to find someone who knows the Faith a little better. This was pretty basic. What else doesn’t she know?

 

[e-catholic]

bear06:

Sure, she could have made a mistake. In fact, this is quite plausible in this day and age. However, a DRE should actually know that this was a mistake. It might be time for the pastor to find someone who knows the Faith a little better. This was pretty basic. What else doesn’t she know?

The thing that really surprised me, is that this woman has never done anything that has caused me to doubt her knowlenge before. I will ask her to clearify what she did when I see her next time. I would be more likely to expect that she was overzealous. Will see what she has to say.