Question: Holy Water?
It turns out that there actually are several different types or categories of holy water.
In Catholicism there are 3 main types:![baptismal-font-319954_150](https://kimberlyharrison1.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/baptismal-font-319954_150.jpg?w=529)
Gregorian Water – composed of water, wine, salt and ashes, it is used specifically for the consecration of a church (I hope they don’t sprinkle it!)
Baptismal Water – sometimes contains the oil of catechumens and/or holy chrism and is typically blessed during Holy Saturday Services
Blessed Water – is water blessed by an ordained priest, bishop or the Pope (don’t know if there is a hierarchy of potency), and is what is used in the fonts at the doors of a church for believers to dip their finger(s) into and anoint themselves as a sign of baptism and acceptance of the Catholic faith.
In the celebrations of Theophony (appearance of god), there are two types of holy water – one for use throughout the year and the other for consumption. I have a friend who went through the arduous process of preparing her house (a big, historic but greatly in need of restoration structure), to be blessed by our parish priest. After the blessing she discovered that the clergyman had used the “wrong” water. She insisted that the blessing be repeated, this time using the proper, (she called it “virgin”) water for the sprinkling throughout the house.
Holy water has been and is used in many religions, from ancient Greeks and Old Testament Jews, Roman Catholics to Sikhs, Christian ceremonies to secular and non-Christian cultist practices. It is used to purify or cleanse, anoint or bless, in baptism, healing and other ceremonies and as a symbol of life, or purity, of strength and even of death and destruction. In each case what is required are the services of some member of clergy to bless the water – imbuing it with symbolic meaning or power. It also requires the belief of those participating in the ceremony or receiving the blessing.
Most sects have special directives concerning where the water can be acquired, how it is stored and how it is disposed of. For instance, in Catholic practice, any blessed water not consumed cannot directly enter the sewer system. Rather, it is collected in special sinks or containers that disperse it directly into the ground. There are also special containers and dispensers for holy water – fonts, basins and even a device that resembles a liquid soap dispenser.
As a Catholic I participate is many ceremonies and celebrations in which water plays a role. It has symbolism for me and help to create a special mood. As an individual I think all water is precious and holy in its own right (to be discussed in a later post), and should be treated with care and reverence at all times, whether it has been formally blessed by human clergy or by Mother Nature herself.
FYI – Bad Company, Big & Rich and The Game all have songs with the title Holy Water. I don’t think they are referring to the afore mentioned liquid.