Holy Water

[Laudate_Dominum]

I've just been thinking about how phat holy water is. Let's post cool facts about holy water to help keep us from forgetting how remarkable it really is.

I'll start by recalling how it provides protection from the evil one. This is a part of the blessing of holy water from the [i]forma extraordinaria[/i] ritual.

"O God, creator of unconquered power, King of invincible empire and victor ever-great: who put down the powers of hostile dominion and conquer the fury of the roaring enemy, who fight powerfully against our wicked foes: trembling we beseech you, O Lord, we implore you and beg you: that you might graciously look upon this creature of water and salt, kindly illumine it, sanctify it with the dew of your loving kindness, so that wherever it is sprinkled, through the invocation of your holy Name, every infestation of the unclean spirit be cast out, and the terror of the poisonous serpent be driven far away. And may the presence of the Holy Spirit deign to be with us always, we who implore your mercy."

[Paladin D]

Holy Water is awesome. Though the water itself isn't "magical" so to speak, it's our faith, prayer and disposition that makes it work. The water itself is a vessel that transmits the blessing through a physical form, thus, it burns demons.

If I'm theologically incorrect about this, someone point it out. I don't want to be mistaken.

Edited July 29, 2007 by Paladin D

[Cow of Shame]

It can remove difficult grass stains

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='Paladin D' post='1343469' date='Jul 29 2007, 09:30 AM']Holy Water is awesome. Though the water itself isn't "magical" so to speak, it's our faith, prayer and disposition that makes it work. The water itself is a vessel that transmits the blessing through a physical form, thus, it burns demons.

If I'm theologically incorrect about this, someone point it out. I don't want to be mistaken.[/quote]

I think in Dracula (the book), the point was made that it's not the cross or the water that repels the vampire, but the faith of the person wielding it.

[Resurrexi]

I've not read Dracula. Is it good?

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='StThomasMore' post='1343695' date='Jul 29 2007, 04:49 PM']I've not read Dracula. Is it good?[/quote]

Yeah. It's better than any of the movies.

[Ash Wednesday]

Anybody remember that old nintendo game, Castlevania? I loved how you could throw vials of holy water at the nasty evil beasts.

Here's something:

[quote]Varieties of Holy Water

Roman Catholic rituals distinguish four different kinds of holy water. There are:

Holy water per se, of the kind found in the stoup, which has been blessed with a small amount of salt as a preservative. This is the holy water used in aspersions and blessings;

Baptismal holy water, to which a slight amount of chrism (anointing oil) and the oil of catechumens has been added, used in church baptisms;

Gregorian water, also called "water of consecration"; small amounts of wine, salt, and ashes are added to it, and it is used by bishops at the consecration of a church; and

Easter water, which is distributed to the faithful on Easter Sunday for use at home.[/quote]

I remember the priest gave us a little cup with holy water to take home when I was little, and for some reason something happened -- I think I left the lid off or it got spilled and I was one worried kid...I thought I would get in trouble.

Edited July 30, 2007 by Ash Wednesday

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1343866' date='Jul 29 2007, 06:24 PM']Here's something:
I remember the priest gave us a little cup with holy water to take home when I was little, and for some reason something happened -- I think I left the lid off or it got spilled and I was one worried kid...I thought I would get in trouble. [/quote]

When I was little, my dentist gave me some mercury to take home and play with. It got spilled--I was kinda in trouble.

[bonoducchi]

Double post

Edited July 30, 2007 by VaticanIILiturgist

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1343866' date='Jul 29 2007, 08:24 PM']QUOTE
Varieties of Holy Water

Roman Catholic rituals distinguish four different kinds of holy water. There are:

Holy water per se, of the kind found in the stoup, which has been blessed with a small amount of salt as a preservative. This is the holy water used in aspersions and blessings;

Baptismal holy water, to which a slight amount of chrism (anointing oil) and the oil of catechumens has been added, used in church baptisms;

Gregorian water, also called "water of consecration"; small amounts of wine, salt, and ashes are added to it, and it is used by bishops at the consecration of a church; and

Easter water, which is distributed to the faithful on Easter Sunday for use at home.[/quote]
Just to clarify, these distinctions are not made in the current ordinary form. Gregorian water (a rather interesting and slightly icky sounding mix....) is found in the Rite of Deidication of a Church in the various Tridentine forms. The baptismal water (water with olea sancta mixed in) sounds Tridnetine, but I don't have a copy of that particular rite to reference. Easter water, well I guess that makes sense. My holy water font with water blessed at the Vigil is the source for all holy water in the parish for the year, although I do cut it with distilled water throughout the year. In theory, everyone gets some molecules that were blessed at the Vigil.

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1344034' date='Jul 29 2007, 07:55 PM']Just to clarify, these distinctions are not made in the current ordinary form. Gregorian water (a rather interesting and slightly icky sounding mix....) is found in the Rite of Deidication of a Church in the various Tridentine forms. The baptismal water (water with olea sancta mixed in) sounds Tridnetine, but I don't have a copy of that particular rite to reference. Easter water, well I guess that makes sense. My holy water font with water blessed at the Vigil is the source for all holy water in the parish for the year, although I do cut it with distilled water throughout the year. In theory, everyone gets some molecules that were blessed at the Vigil.[/quote]

How much can you dilute Holy Water before it ceases to be Holy?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='T-Bone _' post='1344098' date='Jul 29 2007, 09:21 PM']How much can you dilute Holy Water before it ceases to be Holy?[/quote]

51%

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='StThomasMore' post='1344105' date='Jul 29 2007, 10:29 PM']51%[/quote]

Do you mean 49%? That way, 51% remaining is still blessed....but I majored in music, not math

It's roughly analogous to ritual purification of the chalice after the Communion Rite/Mass. By mixing in more water, it is no longer the wine that was consecrated; therefore, the presence of Christ in the elements is discontinued.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1344346' date='Jul 30 2007, 09:10 AM']Do you mean 49%? That way, 51% remaining is still blessed....but I majored in music, not math

It's roughly analogous to ritual purification of the chalice after the Communion Rite/Mass. By mixing in more water, it is no longer the wine that was consecrated; therefore, the presence of Christ in the elements is discontinued.[/quote]

Yep you're right. Less than half and it's still blessed. More than half and it's no longer blessed.

Another thing to add, the candles used for Mass must be 51% beeswax to be licit because by being more than half beeswax, they are considered beeswax.

[kateri05]

[quote]although I do cut it with distilled water throughout the year.[/quote]

i've been told by multiple priests that this is illicit (cuz, this used to be my theory ). but you actually have to have more water blessed for it actually to BE holy water.

Edited July 30, 2007 by kateri05