The water that is used in batism, blessings, in that little bowl when your go into a Catholic church etc. . . . how is that water made holy or blessed for the purpose of ceremonies ?
That water had to come from a regular source as all water comes from rain from the sky originally. That water is gathered and is drank for thirst, used to wash face, used for cooking . . . used in a church for blessings.
The water that is used in a church for ceremonies...what is the literal process that is performed / conducted that that same water that could be used cooking, drinking etc. is now DEEMED suitable for holy or blessed ceremonies. ?
I'm spiritual...not so much religious while still very respectful of all faiths and religions, live in authentic Truth and Love of God, Jesus Christ and Spirit and am asking this question honestly and respectfully as truly curious to know. Thanks.
2007-02-25 02:43:42 · 12 answers · asked by onelight 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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Have been reading these answers. Thanks . . . Why can only a priest make water holy ? Isn't my heart being of openess and Truth with God of the same ' strength ' as a priest ? Would a person have to go to a church or priest to get blessings through them...Could'nt they also speak directly with God and receive same blessings ? No disrespect intended to those of religion...really wondeing this.
2007-02-25 03:05:12 · update #1
I don't think any of the people that were cured by St. Peter or any of the Apostles or disciples through the ages would contest the idea that God could not act through men to achieve a miracle. Faith is the belief in the unseen. Holy water is real. It is a Sacramental. It reminds us of our baptism. Evil hates it because it reminds him of his undoing. Think what you may it does not change the real attributes of it.
2007-02-25 03:00:13 · answer #1 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy water molecules are just H2O.
"In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, and some other Churches, holy water is water which has been blessed by a priest, bishop, or deacon for the purpose of baptism." I also heard that all water in the Vatican City is holy because the pope has blessed the water main.
So you can ask a priest to bless your kitchen tap and be drinking holy water everyday.
2007-02-25 03:00:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a recovering Catholic...haven't been a practicing one in a few years, but I know there's no special font that 'Holy Water" spews from. I believe it originates from standard issue tap water....the kind you used to shower with this monring...the same one you'll cook your pasta in tonight.
There is a blessing process by which water becomes holy, but I've never seen a priest perform one. I can tell you this much; I once gave a St. Christopher's metal to a boyfriend and asked a priest to bless it. That required him saying a prayer, then making the sign of the cross above it and that was that. Maybe took 40 seconds max.
I would venture a guess that turning tap water into holy water wouldn't require much more than that.
2007-02-25 02:53:26 · answer #3 · answered by I am Laurie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the Lord has made you clean then you are indeed clean. Holy water is symbolic. Any true Christian with the Holy Spirit can bless anyone or anything (including water, homes) in the name of Jesus Christ. The blessing comes from God through Christ. This is not relegated to priests as they are human and carry the same faults as you and me. As such priests are no more or less special to God then you are.
So a true Christian can bless or rebuke for that matter anything/one in the name of Jesus Christ.
Yes, you can speak directly with God.
2007-02-25 03:19:30 · answer #4 · answered by JohnC 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its just regular water which has been prayed over, same as a meal becomes blessed when the people pray over it.
Probably the Catholic Church has a specific process for blessing holy water, but I don't know about it. For Protestants, the water used in a Baptismal ceremony is just regular water, and they bless the whole ceremony, not just the water.
2007-02-25 02:53:06 · answer #5 · answered by Smiley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The priest blesses it. That's it. Just as bread and wine are supposed to become Body and Blood, so the magical words of the benediction are supposed to work the "miracle" of transforming tap water into something you can dab on your forehead.
The reason only a priest can make this magical transformation is because the Rite of the Catholic Church confers upon him this power. It's kind of like the rules in a child's game - you're "it" because we say so.
2007-02-25 02:54:14 · answer #6 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe that a man can make anything holy. Then a man can bless the water and you get holy water.
A man can not make anything Holy.
No man.
Therefore no holy water.
It is umbilical and based on catholic tradition.
2007-02-25 02:51:15 · answer #7 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No man can make water holy or blessed...Honestly. This is a ritual only. Only Jesus can make anything holy
2007-02-25 02:48:03 · answer #8 · answered by Kye H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say their magic words over the water and then call it holy water. Which magic words they use depends on the specific sect of Christianity.
Of course, magic words aren't really magic. It's still just plain water.
2007-02-25 02:46:30 · answer #9 · answered by nondescript 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They bless it and it will have some blessing of God to it
2007-02-25 02:48:33 · answer #10 · answered by thenewhorzta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋