website
Skip to content

Apologetics

Expert Answer Forum

by Catherine Frakas 15 Jun 2002

Holy Water QUESTION from Debbie Kelly February 11, 1999 I just read an answer you gave on 1/9/99 concerning placing drops of holy water in another container with regular water, thus extending your supply when needed. Can you tell me how many drops to what size container? Can you put 2 drops of holy water to a gallon of regular water, or what ratio is correct?
Also, what do you mean by 'when needed'? I get spring water from a nearby spring. I don't believe my priest will bless 20 gallons of this water for me, & even if he would, I don't want to bother him every month or so. I would like to use holy water for coffee, tea, just to drink. I have a quart of holy water that I got from the supply in the back of church. Can I use a few drops to every gallon of water, or can I do this if it's absolutely necessary?
What consttutes 'when needed'?
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius on February 18, 1999 Dear Debbie:
Thanks for your question, and forgive me for the delay in answering.
There is no formula for this that I am aware of. A single drop of water that has been blessed, blesses all that it touches. But I would have to check on this.
The when needed means when Holy Water is needed for a purpose and you are not able to get to the parish to get a supply or properly blessed water, or have a priest available to bless the water for you. In other words, this drop in the bucket is an EXTRAordinary and temporary solution to an immediate need and should never be an ordinary practice.
As to the priest blessing 20 gallons of water, why not? I see no reason why he shouldn’t unless he feels that the Holy Water is being used for improper purposes or for superstitious purposes.
But as to using Holy Water for ordinary purposes such as drinking water I would discourage. Holy Water is blessed and set aside for a special purpose. To ordinary-ize it seems to me to be using it with a misplaced devotion. As with all sacred things, they should not be used for ordinary purposes. If we begin to use the sacramentals for just any ordinary purpose, it seems to me that it loses its sacred nature and risks forming superstitious attitudes about that sacramental.
This is just my opinion. I will double-check on this, however, with a priest advisor.
Back to Index Page

930 x 520px

SPRING SUMMER LOOKBOOK

Sample Block Quote

Praesent vestibulum congue tellus at fringilla. Curabitur vitae semper sem, eu convallis est. Cras felis nunc commodo eu convallis vitae interdum non nisl. Maecenas ac est sit amet augue pharetra convallis.

Sample Paragraph Text

Praesent vestibulum congue tellus at fringilla. Curabitur vitae semper sem, eu convallis est. Cras felis nunc commodo eu convallis vitae interdum non nisl. Maecenas ac est sit amet augue pharetra convallis nec danos dui. Cras suscipit quam et turpis eleifend vitae malesuada magna congue. Damus id ullamcorper neque. Sed vitae mi a mi pretium aliquet ac sed elitos. Pellentesque nulla eros accumsan quis justo at tincidunt lobortis deli denimes, suspendisse vestibulum lectus in lectus volutpate.
Prev Post
Next Post
Someone recently bought a
[time] minutes ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Shopping Cart
0 items