Why walk by the Holy Water?

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jmm08

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I’m a Baptist waiting on RCIA classes to begin.

I notice that a lot of people come to Mass and don’t bless themselves with the Holy Water.

And a lot of people just leave at the end without blessing themselves with the Holy Water.

I try not to forget either – and maybe I’ve almost got it down on how to do it the “right” way.
The first time, I might have looked almost like I came in from swimming. 👍
 
I like to really douse myself and my children with Holy Water when leaving mass. I sprinkle it all over their hair and splash it all over them. Sometimes we need that little extra blessing and protection in our day.

hmmm- now it has finally sunk in why people part like the Red Sea and give my family plenty of room when we leave the church. It makes complete sense. They are all sick of getting soaked by my spalshing and dousing!

I also have a Holy Water holder at my front door of my house. It’s nice to pass by it a few times a day and splash some on.

God Bless
jrabs
 
I bless myself on the way into a church, but not on the way out.

The blessing on the way in calls to mind my entrance into the Church at baptism. On the way out the same symbolism does not hold. Also, on the way out (unless I have been making a private visit) I have just received the blessing from the priest (at Mass, pennance, benediction, et cetera) – What could my self-blessing add to that?

(NB: Not that I think it is ever *wrong * to bless yourself, as long as you are pious and reverent – It is just not my habit. My wife and children do bless themselves on exit, and that’s fine with me)

tee
 
The blessing on the way in calls to mind my entrance into the Church at baptism. On the way out the same symbolism does not hold. Also, on the way out (unless I have been making a private visit) I have just received the blessing from the priest (at Mass, pennance, benediction, et cetera) – What could my self-blessing add to that?
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The symbolism that I recall when blessing myself on the way out of Mass is Christ’s Great Commission: Go forth to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It’s a reminder that we have received new life through Christ – we are now called to take that out into the world.
 
Dr. Colossus:
The symbolism that I recall when blessing myself on the way out of Mass is Christ’s Great Commission: Go forth to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It’s a reminder that we have received new life through Christ – we are now called to take that out into the world.
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I like what you say. Great to remind yourself.

Isn’t the Holy Water also more than symbolism?
 
My understanding is that liturgucally the “rite” of blessing yourself with the holy water is upon entry to the church, not exit, and that is what I do. But I love the Great Commission idea and may have to take this up!
 
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jmm08:
Isn’t the Holy Water also more than symbolism?
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Yes and no. Holy Water is a sacramental, which means that it has been blessed by a priest, and carries with it certain graces. However, those graces work through the symbolism of the water, which recalls our baptism.
My understanding is that liturgucally the “rite” of blessing yourself with the holy water is upon entry to the church, not exit, and that is what I do. But I love the Great Commission idea and may have to take this up!
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It is not required to bless yourself upon exiting the Church, but it is not forbidden, either.
 
I looked up sacramentals.

CCC #1671 Among sacramentals, blessings come first.
So blessings are very important.

It’s great if Holy Water causes you to bless your children.
Because you should often bless your children.

I like CCC #1677 “… They prepare men to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify different circumstances of life.”

I remember reading it before. And that’s one reason why I like Holy Water – it helps prepare me to receive the sacraments. And perhaps it helps to prepare my heart for RCIA classes and eventually Confession, Penance and Holy Communion.
 
Dr. Colossus:
The symbolism that I recall when blessing myself on the way out of Mass is Christ’s Great Commission: Go forth to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It’s a reminder that we have received new life through Christ – we are now called to take that out into the world.
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Do you know in all of my 41 years of being a Catholic this is the first time I’ve heard a good explanation for this? Thank you! I always thought of it as being sort of redundant since we already received all the blessings and graces from the Mass as a previous poster stated.
God Bless, Annunciata:)
 
On the way in, I pray, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean,” like the leper.

On the way out, I take a line from the Te Deum, “Vouchsafe O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.”

Betsy
 
Yes, I love to stop and bless myself with holy water both upon entering and exiting the church. One day, while waiting to enter the confessional there were a couple of young children playing around the water font and the elder of the two seemed rather perplexed and was making some comment. It was my impression the children were unfamiliar with the tradition so I walked over and offered this explanation. “In the name of the Father” we remember our Father in heaven who loves us as we touch our foreheads. With the prayer “in the name of the Son” we lower our hand as Jesus lowered Himself to come down from heaven to suffer and die for us. Finally with the words “of the Holy Spirit” we reach out and touch both shoulders just like the wings of a dove as we leave the church uplifted with this prayer which reminds us how much we our loved that Jesus suffered so much on the Cross for us. Before I leave I also have acquired another little practice a little, old lady taught me who had been raised in England and taught by the nuns. They turned around once more- just before exiting the church- to look directly at the tabernacle and wave good-bye to Jesus. Just like we wave to our grandparents as the car is pulling out of the driveway. One last look at our Beloved.
 
Rosalinda said:
“In the name of the Father” we remember our Father in heaven who loves us as we touch our foreheads. With the prayer “in the name of the Son” we lower our hand as Jesus lowered Himself to come down from heaven to suffer and die for us. Finally with the words “of the Holy Spirit” we reach out and touch both shoulders just like the wings of a dove as we leave the church uplifted with this prayer which reminds us how much we our loved that Jesus suffered so much on the Cross for us.
…
just before exiting the church- to look directly at the tabernacle and wave good-bye to Jesus. Just like we wave to our grandparents as the car is pulling out of the driveway. One last look at our Beloved.
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Wow! Thank you for sharing. I didn’t know any of this.
 
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jmm08:
I’m a Baptist waiting on RCIA classes to begin.

I notice that a lot of people come to Mass and don’t bless themselves with the Holy Water.

And a lot of people just leave at the end without blessing themselves with the Holy Water.

I try not to forget either – and maybe I’ve almost got it down on how to do it the “right” way.
The first time, I might have looked almost like I came in from swimming. 👍
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First, congratulations! Soon you will officially a catholic, once you finish RCIA classes. AMEN!!.
Well, the answer to your question here is well sad to say because many people have lost the faith, and others are not taught by their priests the importance of Holy Water. According to father Gabriel Amorth, who is the Most prominent Exorcist presently in the Church, the disuse of Holy water by many, has been one of the reasons those poor souls fall victim to demonic influence. Holy Water is a Sacramental, and it washes away venial sin, and secondly, it is a reminder of our Baptism. Saint Theresa of Avila offten said that one drop of Holy water was enough to scare away an army of demons. Mind you, she is one of the Greatest Doctors of the Church, and who together with st. John of the Cross, renewed the Carmelite Order, and were the founders of what is called: The Discalced Carmelites. So it was not said by any little old lady without any theological knowlege.
When one ENTERS and LEAVES a Catholic Church, one is to Bless oneself with Holy Water.
 
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jmm08:
And a lot of people just leave at the end without blessing themselves with the Holy Water.
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I was wrong. They don’t walk by without blessing themselves. There are little finger bowls of Holy Water mounted on the walls by the exit doors. I had not noticed them before today. :o Y’all just didn’t tell me.

Today’s homily was so good. It took some restraint not to shout “Amen” in several places (like I’m used to in my church).

Obviously the finger bowls are a lot easier to work with than trying to get just a little bit of water from the big container (meant to refill your home containers).

:blessyou:
 
jmm08 said:
I was wrong. They don’t walk by without blessing themselves. There are little finger bowls of Holy Water mounted on the walls by the exit doors. I had not noticed them before today. :o Y’all just didn’t tell me.
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Well, now I can understand your confusion! Every Catholic Church you visit should have holy water fonts by the door, either in small bowls as at your parish, or in a large basin of some sort in the middle.
 
I always bless myself when I enter a Church. When I go into a strange Church sometimes I have to surch for the Holy Water Font. You can’t just watch the people blessing themselves because I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t. I also have a hard time finding the Holy Lamp when visiting a new Church. Again you can’t tell by watching the people of the parish. Because a lot of people don’t genuflect if the is a Tabernacle or bow if there isn’t one in the Sanctuary. You used to be able to tell a Catholic from a non-catholic the reverance they showed in Church. Times have changed.:confused:
 
I am devout and reverent. But I do not believe in sharing germs. We have a tiny dish on either side at the back of the pews. Every tom dick and harry dips, even those that have coughing fits and such.:eek: No thank you.
 
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jmm08:
I’m a Baptist waiting on RCIA classes to begin.

I notice that a lot of people come to Mass and don’t bless themselves with the Holy Water.

And a lot of people just leave at the end without blessing themselves with the Holy Water.

I try not to forget either – and maybe I’ve almost got it down on how to do it the “right” way.
The first time, I might have looked almost like I came in from swimming. 👍
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Dear jmm08,

Thank you for asking. Like a few other posters, I never really knew all this and I’ve learned a lot. I usually dip every time I go by a font, but I couldn’t really say why. Just a habit I formed when I was young. Now I even have prayers to go with it, thanks to you!

Alan
 
i lol’d when you said ‘Y’all just didn’t tell me.’ both at the admonition and the use of the word ‘y’all’. thanks for correctly spelling it. 🙂

so - the teaching of the church, officially, is that it takes away venial sin? by itself, or only in preparation to receive the eucharist?
 
jmm08 said:
Obviously the finger bowls are a lot easier to work with than trying to get just a little bit of water from the big container (meant to refill your home containers).
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So I wondered how/when people obtained Holy water, is it right to take some holy water for yourself to have at home? Is it okay to take it before or after church? Is there any specific recommend as to a container/bottle?
 
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