CIN - Ask Father Mateo, Holy Water

yCIN - Ask Father Mateo, Holy Water
Ask Father Mateo


Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 160.  Wed 10-16-91 18:10  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Jeff Pettigrew
 Subject: Holy Water

ł How could one explain to a non-Catholic or a child what Holy Water is
and
ł its purpose?
ł  
 
Dear Jeff,
 
Since human beings are made of body and soul, matter and spirit, the
Church following Christ's example, makes use of material things to
accompany and foster religious actions.  These outward, visible things,
words, and actions enable our bodies to cooperate with our spirits in a
total worship of God.
 
Among the things, etc., that we use are blessed things, words, and
actions called the Sacramentals.  These bear a certain likeness to the
Sacraments which Christ instituted, but the Sacramentals were
established by the Church.  One of the most common of the Sacramentals
is holy water.
 
Holy water is blessed by a priest, and is thus consecrated to God.  It
is used to remind us in a symbolic way of our entry into life through
the baptism of water.  Because water is a cleanser and a refresher, it
reminds us when we use it of the need for clearing our conscience of
sin, and for cleansing our mind of distractions that interfere with
prayer.  Holy water does not produce these effects, but is a visible,
bodily help to activate ourselves to prayer and worship by these and
similar thoughts.
 
I'm not used to talking to little children, but I hope you can translate
the above into children's language.
 
                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                        Father Mateo