Really Bad Idea: sand in holy water fonts during Lent

[TheLittleLady]

The other thing I hate, which a neighboring parish does, is cover the devotional statutes with purple cloth (sheets actually) during lent. And this parish has a reputation for being very “conservative”. I think this practice is also a modern innovation. Although I have heard this is allowed.

Passiontide and Veiling of Images

From the archives: This was originally posted for Passiontide 2016. Yesterday when I dropped my son off for classes at the homeschool co-op in the neighboring parish, we noticed the veiled statues around the church and chapel. Our parish doesn’t follow this tradition, so it was a wonderful...

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[Gorgias]

The other thing I hate, which a neighboring parish does, is cover the devotional statutes with purple cloth (sheets actually) during lent.

I think this practice is also a modern innovation.

It’s actually an ancient practice.

 

[tafan2]

Yea, so. Have been told. I never saw it until 15 years ago. But it shouldn’t be done all through lent, should it?

 

[otjm]

I don’t think it is all that difficult to ascertain what has been behind it. There are any number of things people do, and any number who do them, on automatic pilot. Removing holy water and putting sand in its place will jar someone out of automatic pilot, and hopefully (with a lot of stress on the “hope” part) get them to think what they are doing.

To which I would add, that if one was to do a survey, a whole lot of people could not really tell you why we cross ourselves with holy water when entering a church (or home, etc.).

The liturgists who have done this are wrong, as Rome has clarified; but to not understand what was behind it, or to [presume bad motives for doing so is a bit over the top also.

 

[Gorgias]

Yea, so. Have been told. I never saw it until 15 years ago. But it shouldn’t be done all through lent, should it?

No. The cross and statues get covered in the 5th week of Lent. The cross gets uncovered on Good Friday and the statues get uncovered for Easter Vigil.