Holy Water Rejected At France Airport Security

[cappie]

The real miracle would have been getting it past airport security.

Inspectors at Tarbes-Lourdes airport in France refused to give their blessing to holy water that passengers tried to bring on board the Vatican's new pilgrim flights this week, saying it was a security threat just like any other liquid.

The water, which is said to have miraculous healing powers, came from a sacred grotto where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858.

Passenger Paola Saluzzi told Corriere della Sera newspaper she was carrying the water in eight small plastic bottles "in the shape of the little Madonna". But it was not allowed on board.

"If they gave preference to the water from Lourdes it would be an (irregularity) that would not guarantee the proper procedure," she acknowledged.

But the Vatican had foreseen such an eventuality and placed a small complimentary bottle of holy water on the seat of each pilgrim to drink on board, Saluzzi said.

The Vatican's chartered Boeing 737 aims to serve 150,000 pilgrims a year. Beyond Lourdes, destinations will range from the shrine of Fatima in Portugal to Mount Sinai in Egypt, where Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments from God.

[CoffeeCatholic]

why would you drink the holy water?

[kateri05]

yea i thought it was to take home for blessings.


and ps. LAME

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I wanna ride on this airline...

[kateri05]

me too! i saw a segment on bbc about it, super sweet!

[Old_Joe]

[quote name='cappie' post='1373673' date='Aug 29 2007, 04:37 PM']But the Vatican had foreseen such an eventuality and placed a small complimentary bottle of holy water on the seat of each pilgrim to drink on board, Saluzzi said.[/quote]


That's awesome.

[Aloysius]

you can drink holy water as a way to bless yourself... the same way you can use blessed salts in actual food preparation to bless yourself through your food.

[knightec]

I know it sounds sorry that airport security wouldn't allow holy water through the checkpoint, but they did the right thing. Liquid explosives are a real threat to security now and no exceptions should be made. The policies that are in place now are there to protect all of us.

[MissScripture]

They were really nice about it when I forgot to put my Holy Water in my plastic bag with the rest of my liquids. (I was just lucky that I grabbed the small bottle)

[Dreamweaver]

Couldn't you just put your Lourdes water in checked luggage?

[knightec]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1373853' date='Aug 29 2007, 09:38 PM']They were really nice about it when I forgot to put my Holy Water in my plastic bag with the rest of my liquids. (I was just lucky that I grabbed the small bottle)[/quote]


I'm glad they were nice. My guys have a tendency to forget the nice part alot.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Dreamweaver' post='1373856' date='Aug 29 2007, 09:41 PM']Couldn't you just put your Lourdes water in checked luggage?[/quote]
That's sort of what I was wondering...

[quote name='knightec' post='1373865' date='Aug 29 2007, 09:50 PM']I'm glad they were nice. My guys have a tendency to forget the nice part alot.[/quote]
Well, it helped that we were at a really small airport. As in, the 15 people on our plane were the only ones there, aside from the workers.

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote name='CoffeeCatholic' post='1373682' date='Aug 29 2007, 10:50 PM']why would you drink the holy water?[/quote]


[quote name='Aloysius' post='1373781' date='Aug 30 2007, 01:56 AM']you can drink holy water as a way to bless yourself... the same way you can use blessed salts in actual food preparation to bless yourself through your food.[/quote]

I give holy water to very sick friends who are in need of healing. I have some from Lourdes, Walsingham, and Mary's well at Nazareth now. At this rate I will be able to make a holy water soup.

[CatholicCid]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1373874' date='Aug 29 2007, 08:58 PM']That's sort of what I was wondering...[/quote]

They probably forgot and thought they could carry it on. By the time they reach security, their luggage would already be getting lost... er... loaded

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='knightec' post='1373846' date='Aug 29 2007, 07:31 PM']I know it sounds sorry that airport security wouldn't allow holy water through the checkpoint, but they did the right thing. Liquid explosives are a real threat to security now and no exceptions should be made. The policies that are in place now are there to protect all of us.[/quote]

Liquid explosives are not that much of a threat. Regulations like this are only in place to make the public feel safe.