When Leaving Church After Mass

[Claire_Lily]

I have noticed that some people turn around and face the altar when they are blessing themselves with holy water on the way out of the church after mass. Others just bless themselves with the holy water while walking out. Is facing the altar the proper way to do it?

 

[Elizium23]

There is no proper way. We may bless with holy water whether or not we are in the presence of an altar or crucifix. It is merely a pious action to recall Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

 

[livingwordunity]

I have noticed that some people turn around and face the altar when they are blessing themselves with holy water on the way out of the church after mass. Others just bless themselves with the holy water while walking out. Is facing the altar the proper way to do it?

I think that if one has already genuflected while facing the altar when getting out of the pew facing the altar for a second time at the door is extra and beyond what is required. I agree with Elizium23 that it is a pious action. My personal practice is that I do sometimes face the altar when crossing myself with holy water on the way out. But if I forget to do it I don’t worry about it since it isn’t required.

 

[GangGreen]

I was taught by a priest not to take holy water on the way out of Church. You’ve taken it on the way in and you’ve possibly received the Eucharist while there as well. Why take it on the way out?

 

[bilop]

I was taught by a priest not to take holy water on the way out of Church. You’ve taken it on the way in and you’ve possibly received the Eucharist while there as well. Why take it on the way out?

Why not?

God Bless

 

[Chatter163]

I was taught by a priest not to take holy water on the way out of Church. You’ve taken it on the way in and you’ve possibly received the Eucharist while there as well. Why take it on the way out?

Sounds like some new trendy thinking. People have been taking it upon entering and exiting for many centuries.

 

[maryjk]

I was taught by a priest not to take holy water on the way out of Church. You’ve taken it on the way in and you’ve possibly received the Eucharist while there as well. Why take it on the way out?

Does he also take the Holy Water out during Lent?

 

[anthonymarie]

We had a priest, when I was kid, (may he R.I.P.) who told us that when we blessed ourselves with holy water on the way into church we left our sins at the door but if we blessed ourselves on the way out we would pick them back up again.

I think it was one of his pet hates. I still do it though, facing the tabernacle, with a genuflection thrown in for good measure.

 

[TimothyH]

There is no proper way. We may bless with holy water whether or not we are in the presence of an altar or crucifix. It is merely a pious action to recall Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

It is, in some way, a renewal of your baptismal promises to reject satan, etc.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

I think that if one has already genuflected while facing the altar when getting out of the pew facing the altar for a second time at the door is extra and beyond what is required. I agree with Elizium23 that it is a pious action. My personal practice is that I do sometimes face the altar when crossing myself with holy water on the way out. But if I forget to do it I don’t worry about it since it isn’t required.

We bow to the altar. We genuflect to the tabernacle, but only when Jesus is present.

There is no need to genuflect to the altar. If the tabernacle is open and Jesus is not present or if the tabernacle is someplace else then a bow is all that is required.

-Tim-

 

[ProVobis]

My understanding was that there should be more attention to the cross than anything else, including the tabernacle. It is generally more easily locatable than the tabernacle when entering or leaving.

 

[Elizium23]

It is, in some way, a renewal of your baptismal promises to reject satan, etc.

Blessing with holy water, yes. I was referring to facing the altar or crucifix while you do it. My sentence lacked the antecedent, sorry.

 

[Joy2day]

Don’t you want to thank the Person who is responsible for the gift you have just received? He is present in the tabernacle all the time - surely you wont’ ignore Him? Inside the church is a sacred place - it is His father’s house - surely reverence would demand you genuflect at least when you leave the pew to leave the church? Maybe you need more humility to realise what you have received and how necessary it is to you. Church is not about following a bunch of laws - where you can feel you’re okay cause you’ve ticked all the boxes - it is about a relationship that really matters for your life! If your mother had been on that cross, instead of you, and then saved your life therefore - would you be saying its okay to not genuflect cause the rules say you don’t have to?? What will make you care about more than your own reputation and ego?.. Unfortunately I would not wish that lesson on you.

 

[GangGreen]

Why not?

God Bless

I guess because people use it more as a charm rather than its intended purpose. Holy water should be used for cleansing oneself/washing away from venial sin (as well as a reminder of baptism). If someone has confessed all mortal sin, took holy water when entering the church and then received the Lord in the Eucharist, what further cleansing does one need?

Thou wilt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed
Thou wilt wash me, and I shall be washed whiter than snow.
Pity me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

 

[maryjk]

I guess because people use it more as a charm rather than its intended purpose. Holy water should be used for cleansing oneself/washing away from venial sin (as well as a reminder of baptism). If someone has confessed all mortal sin, took holy water when entering the church and then received the Lord in the Eucharist, what further cleansing does one need?

As you said, they do it as a reminder of baptism.

Also, not everyone receives every time they go to Mass. Maybe they need to go to Confession.

 

[GangGreen]

As you said, they do it as a reminder of baptism.

Also, not everyone receives every time they go to Mass. Maybe they need to go to Confession.

I guess it depends on the intentions of the person. Some people just do it out of habit or because they see others doing it, some do it as a reminder of baptism, some probably do it as a protection against evil.

 

[bilop]

I guess because people use it more as a charm rather than its intended purpose. Holy water should be used for cleansing oneself/washing away from venial sin (as well as a reminder of baptism). If someone has confessed all mortal sin, took holy water when entering the church and then received the Lord in the Eucharist, what further cleansing does one need?

Blessing yourself with Holy Water does not absolve your venial sins. It’s a Sacramental, not a Sacrament. Only Sacraments absolve sin.

The Eucharist absolves venial sins, if you are free from Mortal Sin.

God Bless

 

[bilop]

My understanding was that there should be more attention to the cross than anything else, including the tabernacle. It is generally more easily locatable than the tabernacle when entering or leaving.

Why would you pay more attention to a representation of Christ than to His actual Body and Blood?

God Bless

 

[GangGreen]

My understanding was that there should be more attention to the cross than anything else, including the tabernacle. It is generally more easily locatable than the tabernacle when entering or leaving.

Tabernacle should be the prime focus because BBSD of our Lord is kept in it .

Nothing worse for me than to have to look around a church for the tabernacle!

 

[AdvocatusVerbum]

I’ve always “aimed” my genuflection towards the tabernacle.