Is sipping holy water really dangerous? And does anyone even do that?

[Michie]

#1
9-18-13

Several people have asked me if members of ancient, liturgical churches really do drink holy water. The short answer is “yes,” but it is not very common. A better word would be “sip,” linked to prayers for divine healing. However, I have never, ever seen anyone drink water from a baptismal font! In Orthodoxy...

Is sipping holy water really dangerous? And does anyone even do that?

 

[Anhelyna]

Answering the second question first

But of course

I take some home from Church every year after Theophany , and yes , I do take a little from time to time.

As far as I know I'm fit and healthy

 

[Michie]

So do you get some that has just been blessed? How does that work?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You shouldn't be drinking the water from the fonts at the entrance of church. It's not meant to be drank, especially in light of the fact that so many hands have been into the water.

However, water that is kept in the Sacristy, was blessed at the Easter Vigil, or clean tap water that a priests has just blessed is ok.

Jim

 

[Anhelyna]

So do you get some that has just been blessed? How does that work?

After the blessing of the Water at Theophany before we go to Kiss our Priest's Hand Cross [ and his hand ] and receive antidoron we also take a a small drink [ adults and kids alike ] from the newly blessed supply of water.

Afterwards we all fill the bottles we have brought with us from this newly blessed supply.

I'm sure Gurney and his parish do something very similar

 

[Chrystal-J]

There was a priest on EWTN who said to use Holy Water to cook with, so it must be ok to drink. (Although, I'm assuming it's not from the communal font.)

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Holy water is a touch different in Holy Orthodoxy than in Catholicism. We don't have fonts that you dip your finger into as you enter the Church building. Our priest gives holy water 'on demand.' We just ask him to bless it and he does and there you go.

Like Anhelyna, we walk up to receive a blessing from Father before we depart the liturgy. We kiss the blessed Cross, receive Holy antidiron (blessed bread), and we kiss the hand of the priest. We also venerate the icons again often times.

We started our annual church Sunday school cycle last week. Father blesses the children involved and the teachers. They walk up one by one and get doused with holy water as they receive a blessing and kiss the cross.

Holy water is used more on special occasions. When Father visits our homes (he goes to each of our houses and blesses our homes), he asks us to fill up a bowl with water. He then blesses it. After that, he dips a dried little wreath of basil into the water and that is how he flicks the holy water through each room. His wife accompanies him and sings the blessing with him. It's awesome....An icon of Christ must be present, too.

In Catholicism holy water is always present, Orthodoxy it is always available, but not upon entry. And yes, Orthodox Christians drink holy water. Do I personally? Not really, but I'm 100% ok with the practice. It's blessed, so don't stress....

 

[ebia]

You shouldn't be drinking the water from the fonts at the entrance of church. It's not meant to be drank, especially in light of the fact that so many hands have been into the water.

However, water that is kept in the Sacristy, was blessed at the Easter Vigil, or clean tap water that a priests has just blessed is ok.

Jim

Especially when there are things visibly swimming in it.

 

[universalsoldier]

Drink the Koolaid.

 

[Michie]

Drink the Koolaid.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Tallguy88]

What is that supposed to mean?

You know, Jim Jones...

 

[Michie]

You know, Jim Jones...

Yes I know. But how does that apply in the context of this thread?

 

[Tallguy88]

Yes I know. But how does that apply in the context of this thread?

Maybe the poster thinks Catholics are like those cultists.

 

[Michie]

Maybe the poster thinks Catholics are like those cultists.

The poster carries a Catholic icon but I guess that does not mean much.

 

[Tallguy88]

The poster carries a Catholic icon but I guess that does not mean much.

I can't see icons on my phone.

 

[Michie]

I can't see icons on my phone.

Well now you know.

 

[WarriorAngel]

One Catholic parish we go to sometimes has a nice [guessing a small drum of sorts] where you can take Holy Water home. [word evades me - im exhausted]
Its available at all times.

Some folks simply drink it. [from the untouched sources]

I have sipped the stuff i have brought home.

 

[Michie]

Drinking the water even out of the Holy Water dispenser scares me. It could be old, have mold in the container, anything.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

But it would be holy mold!

Drinking the water even out of the Holy Water dispenser scares me. It could be old, have mold in the container, anything.

 

[Chrystal-J]

Drinking the water even out of the Holy Water dispenser scares me. It could be old, have mold in the container, anything.

When I was little, my cousin drank out of the communal font. I told my aunt about it (his mother), she said "He's holy on the inside now." (And he was fine.) I've seen people who seem a little "out of it" drink from the communal font and they were ok. Not that I'm saying people should do that, but if Jesus is watching over them, they'll be all right.