Should non-Catholics bless themselves with holy water?

[jhigh]

As many of you are aware, I am preparing to be accepted into the Catholic church at Easter this year (went to my first class last night). My family and I have been attending Mass regularly and learning as much as we can about the liturgy and rituals. We try to make sure that we are doing everything “right” without crossing any lines or being inappropriate (like accepting the Eucharist).

A couple of weeks go we noticed everyone blessing themselves with holy water upon entering and exiting the church. Naturally, we started doing this as well. I learned last night, however, that Catholics do this to remind themselves of their baptism. Considering that we have not been sacrimentally baptized (we were all baptized previously in a Protestant church and my priest has already determined that we must be conditionally baptized), should we bless ourselves with the holy water or is this crossing a line?

I plan to ask my priest when I see him, but I’m interesting in hearing everyone’s thoughts on this.

 

[puzzleannie]

As
A couple of weeks go we noticed everyone blessing themselves with holy water upon entering and exiting the church. Naturally, we started doing this as well. I learned last night, however, that Catholics do this to remind themselves of their baptism. Considering that we have not been sacrimentally baptized (we were all baptized previously in a Protestant church and my priest has already determined that we must be conditionally baptized), should we bless ourselves with the holy water or is this crossing a line?
.

certainly you can do this as a reminder of your baptism. If you are in RCIA you should have already reviewed the facts of your Protestant baptism to find out if it was valid. Most are, and all valid baptisms, no matter who performs them, are sacramental. That is the question you should be discussing with your priest, how the baptism was done and if it used water and the proper words. Even if it turns out you were not baptized, the RCIA provides occasions where the catechumens receive special blessings, and it is not inappropriate for them to use holy water in anticipation of baptism.

Welcome Home!

 

[skeyes]

In my opinion, it is quite alright for you to bless yourself wioth the water at the entrance to church. In addition to it being a reminder of our Baptism, it is also a reminder of the blood placed on the doorpost in Egypt on the night of the first Passover.

In His service,
Stan

 

[Todd_Easton]

Though it might be premature to view blessing yourself with holy water as a reminder of your baptism, you could view touching your head, heart, and shoulders with the holy water as a prayer to God to help you to better know, love and serve Him, respectively. Get it? The head goes with to know; the heart goes with to love; and the shoulders go with to serve.

 

[achmafooma]

You may continue to bless yourselves with the holy water. While it is a reminder of Baptism for those who are Baptized, it can also be a kind of prefiguring of Baptism for those who are not yet Baptized (especially as they move toward their Baptism).

You can participate in pretty much anything except, as you indicate, reception of the Eucharist…and even there, you can (and should) still engage in a spiritual communion, so you’re still participating just not fully so.

As a fellow convert (as of Easter 2009), I wish you all the best as you move toward full communion with the Church. God bless you!