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Maximilian75
Guest
I know that holy water can be increased by adding more, unblessed water. However, I heard that a certain ratio must be followed in this dilution. Is this true, and if so, what ratio must be followed?
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AngelusDomini
Guest
I believe it should only be a third of the amount of holy water if absolutely necessary (if at all?). Certainly the amount of ordinary water added should not be greater than than amount of holy water.
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KevinK
Guest
Isn’t this the worst sort of pseudo-science?
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FrDavid96
Guest
It certainly could result in that; but not necessarily so.
Your point is well taken, we must approach a topic like this with caution not to allow it to become something bordering on the superstitious.
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Spyridon
Guest
Less than half.
So no less than a 2:1 ratio of holy water - ordinary water.
So no less than a 2:1 ratio of holy water - ordinary water.
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Hereiam
Guest
Excuse my ignorance, but isn’t Holy Water more than water being blessed. Isn’t there a “recipe” of sort (including salt?). Or, does just the font need to be blessed?
Not looking for a fight, just looking for an education.
Not looking for a fight, just looking for an education.
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Maximilian75
Guest
No. The water is simply blessed. No salt added.
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Hereiam
Guest
Thanks!xxxxxxxxxxx
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KevinK
Guest
If you are talking about ratios then it is scientific.
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runningdude
Guest
But what if you add the unblessed water first, and mix it so that the it is all blessed, and then mix some more unblessed water in?
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robertmidwest
Guest
I was told by a deacon that it is 50 percent. For example, it a baptismal font in a church need to be drained for cleaning or maintenance it should be kept at least half full or it will have to be replaced.
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ratio1
Guest
Talking about ratios… no one is more qualified than I am. 
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TheOldColonel
Guest
Ideally, only holy water should be added to holy water. But if the water has been blessed at least once, then it may be diluted with 49% unholy water and then blessed again if one desires. Our last priest just blessed the water faucet each Sunday to save time and then filled up the bucket all week long. I remember one priest who never used water. He just swung a dry aspergillum in the air as the people crossed themselves. As far as I know, no one ever complained about the imaginary water. I did ask him about it once. He said he was afraid real water might spot his chasuble. 
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KevinK
Guest
Now this is superstitious thinking.
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KevinK
Guest
“Not necessarily” is a response with no content.
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Brendan_64
Guest
Does that actually count? How can the water be holy if it hasn’t actually been blessed, but is simply passing through a blessed faucet? Would that not be a bit like getting a priest to bless a jug and then any water that is poured into and out of the jug in future would be Holy Water? I don’t get how water can be Holy Water if it hasn’t (or at least 50% of it hasn’t) been blessed.
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QwertyGirl
Guest
This thread and the recent one on whether sperm have souls are so entertaining! 
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ordinarydude
Guest
Wow
My apologies but I honestly find the idea funny hahaha
I didn’t know that holy water dilution must follow a certain ratio
If I diluted 50mL Holy water to 100mL using unblessed water, wouldn’t that make it only 50% holy?
(for quick context, I’m a pharmacy student and we do dilutions all the time with chemicals)
Kidding aside, I am more of the idea that the amount or dilution ratio doesn’t matter. Rather, the idea that it was blessed matters, or that there was a blessing. It is the faith of the one being blessed with the Holy water is what matters. Also, it is God who blesses the water, not the priest. The priest is only instrumental, who calls upon God to bless the water.
I think that putting much emphasis on the preparation of the water and being scrupulous with ratios distracts us from the more important thing which is our trust and faith in God who is blessing us through this water, and who is reminding us that He is present through this water (water is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit).
In a Gospel scene, St John the Baptist tells the pharisees “do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham”. They believed that they were automatically spared because Abraham etc. etc. But St. John Makes it clear: God doesn’t care too much for the technicalities because He can make the impossible happen. If God can raise up children from rocks, its definitely not a stretch of the imagination that He can most certainly bless the people without regard to the presumed concentration of the holiness of the water being used
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Where I’m from, people dip their hands into DRY holy water fonts all the time. Does that mean that they don’t get the blessing? I honestly think that they are blessed even more because they believe even if the holy water isn’t physically there.
My apologies but I honestly find the idea funny hahaha
I didn’t know that holy water dilution must follow a certain ratio
If I diluted 50mL Holy water to 100mL using unblessed water, wouldn’t that make it only 50% holy?
(for quick context, I’m a pharmacy student and we do dilutions all the time with chemicals)
Kidding aside, I am more of the idea that the amount or dilution ratio doesn’t matter. Rather, the idea that it was blessed matters, or that there was a blessing. It is the faith of the one being blessed with the Holy water is what matters. Also, it is God who blesses the water, not the priest. The priest is only instrumental, who calls upon God to bless the water.
I think that putting much emphasis on the preparation of the water and being scrupulous with ratios distracts us from the more important thing which is our trust and faith in God who is blessing us through this water, and who is reminding us that He is present through this water (water is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit).
In a Gospel scene, St John the Baptist tells the pharisees “do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham”. They believed that they were automatically spared because Abraham etc. etc. But St. John Makes it clear: God doesn’t care too much for the technicalities because He can make the impossible happen. If God can raise up children from rocks, its definitely not a stretch of the imagination that He can most certainly bless the people without regard to the presumed concentration of the holiness of the water being used
.Where I’m from, people dip their hands into DRY holy water fonts all the time. Does that mean that they don’t get the blessing? I honestly think that they are blessed even more because they believe even if the holy water isn’t physically there.
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ratio1
Guest
I think we can resolve all these issues by having priests blessing all the reservoirs in one go. Then any water coming out of a tap is Holy Water. 
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ordinarydude
Guest
IF and ONLY IF the dilution ratio of the Holy water comes with a solid theological and symbolic meaning, then maybe this question is more suited for a theologian to answer.
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