What's that in the holy water?

  • Thread starter Thread starter threeangels
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

threeangels

Guest
My mother, who is participating in RCIA, called me Sunday and was aghast at what she saw in the holy water font at church that day. She typically never stops to bless herself there but did so that day for the Rite of Election, and she said there was “sediment” at the bottom and something floating on the surface. She asked me how often the water was changed, which I’d never thought about before. But here’s my main question …

This was a few days after Ash Wednesday, so is it possible the baptismal font (that’s what this was) was used to burn the palm fronds and wasn’t fully cleaned? Or am I crazy? There must’ve been a reason for it to be like that …

I’m hoping someone can clear this up!
 
It could, if it is a metal font, be oxidation. Just ask the priest. Mention that the holy water font is not clean.
 
threeangels said:
My mother, who is participating in RCIA, called me Sunday and was aghast at what she saw in the holy water font at church that day. She typically never stops to bless herself there but did so that day for the Rite of Election, and she said there was “sediment” at the bottom and something floating on the surface. She asked me how often the water was changed, which I’d never thought about before. But here’s my main question …

This was a few days after Ash Wednesday, so is it possible the baptismal font (that’s what this was) was used to burn the palm fronds and wasn’t fully cleaned? Or am I crazy? There must’ve been a reason for it to be like that …

I’m hoping someone can clear this up!
Click to expand...
Holy water used in the fonts should contain salt, which inhibits bacteria and algae. Sometime the salt is not added and “things” grow if they are not routinely cleaned.
 
This thread is like my roommate calling me to the kitchen to examine what the cat threw up.
 
Don’t assume the worst, but I have direct knowledge of an incident where a relative wanting to honor a deceased’s devotion to a highly popular shrine actually dumped his cremains (at least a portion) into the baptismal font. No joke. The sacristans had to rush out and clean it up.
 
Given the timing is it possible that several hundred people recently dipped hands in there that had some level of ash on them (rubbing forehead, pushing hair over, etc)? Seems like too much coincidence that there is sediment right after Ash Wednesday…
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
Don’t assume the worst, but I have direct knowledge of an incident where a relative wanting to honor a deceased’s devotion to a highly popular shrine actually dumped his cremains (at least a portion) into the baptismal font. No joke. The sacristans had to rush out and clean it up.
Click to expand...
How in the world would they clean that? I mean the cremated remains must be treated with respect.

By the way, when organizing my father’s funeral last October, I came across a statement from the USCCB that using the term “cremains” was not considered respectful and should be avoided. However, I cannot find an online source.
 
rpp said:
How in the world would they clean that? I mean the cremated remains must be treated with respect.

By the way, when organizing my father’s funeral last October, I came across a statement from the USCCB that using the term “cremains” was not considered respectful and should be avoided. However, I cannot find an online source.
Click to expand...
Please post it and I will stop using it interchangably with ashes.
 
rpp said:
How in the world would they clean that? I mean the cremated remains must be treated with respect.
Click to expand...
Well, I’m not sure exactly what method they used (I know they drained the font to facilitate the cleaning) but I think the person who dumped the ashes in to begin with severely hampered any further individual’s ability to treat the remains with the respect they deserved, so whatever measures the sacristans tried to take, I figure I’ll give them an A for effort.
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
Well, I’m not sure exactly what method they used (I know they drained the font to facilitate the cleaning) but I think the person who dumped the ashes in to begin with severely hampered any further individual’s ability to treat the remains with the respect they deserved, so whatever measures the sacristans tried to take, I figure I’ll give them an A for effort.
Click to expand...
If I were them, I’d have taken the whole thing out (if it was removeable) and buried it in the garden.
 
jmcrae said:
If I were them, I’d have taken the whole thing out (if it was removeable) and buried it in the garden.
Click to expand...
It was the fixed baptismal font. Marble. Four feet tall. Gallons of holy water. Definitely not an option.
 
I hope it wasn’t one of those inane and completely unauthorized attempts to make the font more “relevant” for Lent. I have seen water removed and the font empty. I have seen the water replaced by sand, gravel, and cactus plants. I have heard of water being replaced with crystals because our Lenten journey is a good time to recognize the value of other traditions. Yada yada yada.

My head hurts.

JSA+
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top