For any Catholic people, serious question.?

Question

Is it a normal thing to keep holy water in your home?

Any info would be appreciated, thanks! =0)

I'm not Catholic, but I just moved into a new house, and found a little plastic bottle of holy water, and was wondering if it was a normal thing to have.

You guys are awesome! Thanks!

Answer 1

Of course it is normal and even encouraged.

Answer 2

I think keeping Holy Water is not as common now as it once was but I think it would be normal for a religious Catholic to have some holy water.

I'm not that religious so I don't have any, but I do have the bottles for it. I think my aunt used to keep some in her house years ago and I seem to remember holy water fonts to keep in your home when I was a kid.

I think churches have holy water containers or fonts with spigots just so you can fill your bottles.

Go here for the Catholic Encyclopedia history of Holy Water http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07432a.htm

Go here for the personal use of holy water
http://www.fisheaters.com/water.html
This site says Catholics should always have some on hand.

Answer 3

Yes, holy water is a common sacramental, and many Catholics keep it in their homes. The most common use for holy water is using it to make the Sign of the Cross, i.e. we Catholics don't use it to perform bizarre rituals at strange hours of the night.

I noted that you're not Catholic. The best thing you could do with the holy water, if you're looking to get rid of it, is to give it to a Catholic family who will use it. Otherwise, just keep it in the bottle. Don't dump it down the drain.

Answer 4

For some Catholics, yes. My grandparents had a small decanter of water blessed by their priest, that sat on a special shelf near the the door. Her crucifix also hung near there. Supposedly to bless all those who entered their home. The holy water was mostly used for special occasions to bless a meal, an anniversary, the birth of a child, sickness, etc. She would sometimes take the decanter to church to have the priest replenish it.

And one of my best friends while growing up had a container of holy water in her house too. Her parents used it for the same reasons as my grandparents.

It seems it was more common years ago than it is today.

Answer 5

Holy water at home for a Catholic is a tradition, it supposed to keep away the evil and the family feels more secure, to wet the finger and make the sign of the cross on their foreheads before going to bed.

Answer 6

Pre Vatican Two , people kept holy water, candles and a prayer book as a kind of "emergency" kit in case someone was in danger of death and needed "Extreem Unction" Now that is called the Sacrament of the Sick, the person is expected to survive. Some people still keep holy water, but no longer for that reason.

Answer 7

Yes it is normal to keep holy water in the home. I keep some myslef. It is useful to bless people and the home.

Answer 8

In Mexico my mom had a small bottle that she got from our priest. It was Holy water and we used it for special occasions, such as when someone was leaving home and my mom would draw a cross in their front so Jesus would take care of them.

:) So I guess there is no problem, the priest would give people.

Answer 9

My mom had some,(a small bottle)

Places with a lot of Vampires have more holy water in the home.

Answer 10

BEEFSHIELD has a good point. To me, keeping around "holy water" as a font of power seems kinda like idolatry to me. We should trust only in the power of the ONE GOD to have any kind of power in this world, not water that had words said over it by a priest.

Answer 11

I like to use Holy Water to sprinkle around the house to ward off negative spirits (yes-we do use it for that because we do believe in negative spirits and demons) and to re affirm my baptismal promise (We dip our fingers in Holy Water and cross ourselves to accomplish this). There ae even more ways to use it, but I cannot thik of it right now!