Can someone please tell me what Catholics do w/ holy water when they enter church? I'm interested. thanks.

Answer 1

Thank you for your interest and respect.

+ Holy Water +

Holy Water is a sacramental.

Sacramentals are sacred signs that help us live holy lives. Although they do not produce sanctifying grace

Sacramentals include blessings of persons, meals, objects (including water), and places.

The priest blesses the congregation during Mass.

Christians bless their meals. "Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts, ..."

Priests bless water, animals, ships, homes, and even automobiles. "God bless this home and all those who enter here."

Catholic bless themselves with Holy Water when they enter a church. This reminds us of our Baptism.

+ Visitors +

Non-Catholic visitors do not have to genuflect or bless themselves with Holy Water if they do not believe the same as we do.

During Mass you do not have to kneel if you wish not to. Please sit and stand as everyone else does.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The location of blessed water at the entrance serves as a reminder of the centrality of baptism as the primary rite of initiation into the Christian faith. Smaller vessels, called stoups, are usually placed at the entrances of the church. As a reminder of baptism, Catholics dip their fingers in the holy water and make the sign of the cross when entering the church. There are interesting studies regarding the effect of making the sign of the cross, make of it what you will, but the dual use of water sancitifed by a blessing and the sign of the cross in Catholic and Orthodox to the faithful is apparent. Some interesting tidbits below from the Orthodox faith.

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1173

The sign of the cross and Orthodox prayer are capable of killing microbes and change the optical properties of water - a study

Moscow, March 17, Interfax - Scientists have proved experimentally the miracle-working properties of the sign of the cross and prayer.

‘We have ascertained that the old custom to make a sign of the cross over food and drink before a meal has a profound mystical meaning. Standing behind it is the practical use: the food is purified literally in an instant. This is a great miracle, which happens literally every day,’ physicist Angelina Malakhovskaya said as cited by the Zhizn newspaper on Friday.

Malakhovskaya have studied that power of the sign of the cross with the blessing of the Church for nearly ten years now. She has carried out a great number of experiments, which have been repeatedly verified before their results were made public.

She has discovered in particular the unique bactericidal properties of water after being blessed by an Orthodox prayer and a sign of the cross. The study also revealed a new, earlier unknown property of the Word of God to transform the structure of water, increasing considerably its optical density in the short ultra-violet spectral region, the newspaper writes.

Answer 3

Baptism is the center of Christianity.

Water is symbolic of the Holy Ghost who we believe came to us in our Baptism and drove out our demons. Catholics profess only one Baptism is needed (Catholic, Prodestant, Baptist, & other Christain religious Baptisms accepted). When we take our thumb (father), index finger (son), & middle finger (holy spirit) and dip it into holy water (blessed by a Catholic Priest) --- then we'll wash over ourselves and make a "Cross" by starting with the head (Father), stomach (son), and then touch each shoulder (Holy Spirit). The Father, Son, & Holy Spirt is one God, and we honor and worship giving thanks for being Baptised when we do this.

Answer 4

I used to drink the holy water when I was little.:'-(





PS. I went to a catholic boarding school

Answer 5

I bless myself going out and in of the church.I truly have way too a lot recognize for the Church,Christ,and myself.understanding that i'd be a sinner again and again,I in simple terms bypass on ahead to blessing myself on each and every occasion i bypass to church for an journey or the mass.With love in Christ!

Answer 6

they dip their hands in the holy water and make the sign of the cross

Answer 7

you make he sign of the cross with the holy water. its an affirmation or your baptismal vows

Answer 8

Catholics could bathe their entire body in this what they call holy water ,,,,, It won't get them anywhere ,,,,let alone to heaven ,,,,

Answer 9

dab it on their head, chest and each shoulder. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Answer 10

I imagine they put it on every wall in the church to keep bad spirts away. and it is just a religist thing