Use of holy water, during Lent

[MarieVeronica]

Hello dear forum. During the season of Lent… our churches empty the fonts of holy water. Does anyone know why this is done?

Also… are we still encouraged to use holy water in our homes… during Lent? Or… should we follow “suit” and empty our home fonts (to be refilled, after Easter). Thank you, in advance and God bless.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

This should not be done. It’s an unapproved “innovation” by some who think Lent should be a “desert” experience. The link below includes a letter from the Vatican (Congregation for Divine Worship) responding to a priest’s query on this very issue. In it, the Vatican responds that holy water should not be removed until the Triduum.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/holy_water_fonts_and_lent.htm

 

[MarieVeronica]

Philothea… thank you so much for the EWTN link! I had no idea. Our parish does empty the fonts, at the start of Lent. So, I better get TWO jars of holy water, to last us through the 40 days of Lent. God bless.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Philothea… thank you so much for the EWTN link! I had no idea. Our parish does empty the fonts, at the start of Lent. So, I better get TWO jars of holy water, to last us through the 40 days of Lent. God bless.

You’re welcome.

Our parish empties the fonts during Lent, too (at least for the past four years that I have lived here). Just yesterday I asked the chairman of our newly-formed liturgy committee if he would bring it up at the meeting scheduled for tonight. I provided him with that same letter (that’s why I had it quickly available to send you). We’ll see what happens.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello dear forum. During the season of Lent… our churches empty the fonts of holy water. Does anyone know why this is done?

Also… are we still encouraged to use holy water in our homes… during Lent? Or… should we follow “suit” and empty our home fonts (to be refilled, after Easter). Thank you, in advance and God bless.

there is no liturgical reason to do this, nothing in any rubric that prescribes it, so there is no way to explain why your parish adopted this innovation. use holy water to your hearts content during Lent or any other time, as a reminder of your baptism. the only time the fonts are emptied is before the Triduum, to accommodate the new water which will be blessed during the Easter Vigil.