2006-12-02 01:08:18 · 15 answers · asked by Carat 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
What a pity that some people can not respect anothers beliefs, I'm not R C but have just looked at some beautiful web sites explaining aspects of R. C. architecture and practises .. the small basin is called a 'stoup' and it is used to make the sign of the cross, which I believe is itself called to 'genuflect'. Live and let live.
PS ( added later ) for those who still doubt that this is the correct word look up 'stoup' in a good New Oxford Dictionary which says "stoup - a basin for holy water, esp. on the wall near the door of a Roman Catholic church for worshippers to dip their fingers in before crossing themselves" origin: Middle English ( in the sense 'pail, small cask' from the Old Norse staup, of Germanic origin.
2006-12-02 01:43:40 · answer #1 · answered by on thin ice 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
its a font and it is not for washing your hands. it contains holy water. water that has been blessed by a priest. you dip you fingers in it and bless your self then by saying
in the name of the father
and of the son
and of the holy spirit amen
as you do this you first touch your forehead then your left shoulder then your right shoulder.
this represents god in the center
the son Jesus on the left
and the holy spirit on the right.
it is also common practice for a very small font to be hung on the wall at the front and back door of your home and bless yourself every time you leave home.
sometimes the house owner will dip their fingers in it and splash it on their guests as the are about to leave and which point the guests bless themselves.
a joke in an Irish house is when the host splashes the holy water on a guest that is a bit of a character the will make a hissing noise as to suggest that the person is a devil and the water is boiling on their skin. this is a common enough joke and no one gets offended by it. my mate done it to a priest as he left his house and the room started to laugh as did the priest.
2006-12-02 01:21:51 · answer #2 · answered by armaghmadman 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its called a font..its holds holy water meant to be used to cross yourself...small basin lol that was funny...
2006-12-02 03:23:51 · answer #3 · answered by geordie.lady 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The answer is it is a font from the Latin word, spelt the same, meaning spring or fountain.
Traditionally the water is blessed at the Easter Vigil Ceremony for use throughout the year. Water from the same ceremony is used for Baptism.
2006-12-02 01:26:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its called a font and you DIP you finger in the holy water to sign the cross
2006-12-02 01:20:01 · answer #5 · answered by Tink 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's not for washing your hands, you TWERP!! Please tell me you didn't!
It's Holy Water for making the sign of the cross on yourself as you enter and leave. The basin is called a font.
2006-12-02 01:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by sallybowles 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
it is a holy water font
it is not to wash your hands
it is to dip your finger into to make the sign og the cross
2006-12-02 03:08:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's Holy Water for crossing yourself
2006-12-02 01:18:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is NOT for washing hands.. it is for holdling the HOLY WATER... I hope people did not see you washing your hands in it...... that basin is called a STOUP
2006-12-02 01:24:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's called a "Font". You dip your center finger in and bless yourself with that finger doing the sign of the cross. Forehead, chest, and shoulder to shoulder.
2006-12-02 01:19:32 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋