Holy water font

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Holy water font in Rome, Italy Colonna - la Maddalena acquasantiera 1050336.JPG
Holy water font in Rome, Italy
Carved stoup at the entrance of the Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck, England Stoup, Kilbeck Church.jpg
Carved stoup at the entrance of the Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck, England
An Indian-style carved stoup at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry, India Stoups pondy cathedral.jpg
An Indian-style carved stoup at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry, India

A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churches, and some Lutheran churches to make the sign of the cross using the holy water upon entrance of the church. [1] Holy water is blessed by a priest or a deacon, and many Christians believe it to be a reminder of the baptismal promises. [2]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifix</span> Image of Jesus on the cross

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sign of the cross</span> Ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy water</span> Water blessed by a religious figure

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aspergillum</span> Liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water

An aspergillum is a Christian liturgical implement used to sprinkle holy water. It comes in three forms: a freshly cut hyssop branch, a brush-like bundle that is dipped in the holy water and shaken, and a perforated, mace-like metal ball with a handle. Some have sponges or internal reservoirs that dispense holy water when shaken, while others must periodically be dipped in an aspersorium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altar cloth</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asperges</span>

Asperges is the rite of sprinkling a congregation with holy water. The name comes from the first word in the 9th verse of Psalm 51 in the Latin translation which is sung during the traditional form of the rite except during Eastertide. The 51st Psalm is also one of the antiphons that may be sung in the rite under the Mass of Paul VI.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy water in Eastern Christianity</span>

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern-Rite Catholic Christians, holy water is blessed in the church and given to the faithful to drink at home when needed and to bless their homes. In the weeks following the Feast of Epiphany, clergy visit the homes of parishioners and conduct a service of blessing by using the holy water that was blessed on the Feast of Theophany. For baptism, the water is sanctified with a special blessing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessed salt</span>

Blessed salt has been used in various forms throughout the history of Christianity. Among early Christians, the savoring of blessed salt often took place along with baptism. In the fourth century, Augustine of Hippo named these practices "visible forms of invisible grace". However, its modern use as a sacramental remains mostly limited to its use with holy water within the Anglican Communion and Roman Catholic Church.

This is a glossary of terms used within the Catholic Church. Some terms used in everyday English have a different meaning in the context of the Catholic faith, including brother, confession, confirmation, exemption, faithful, father, ordinary, religious, sister, venerable, and vow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home stoup</span>

A home stoup is a small stoup with a small bowl and a decorated plaque that Christians in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions, hang inside homes, either at the house's entrance or, more commonly, on a bedroom wall at the head of the bed. Sometime a small blessed branch of boxwood is placed behind the stoup, or they hang a rosary on the stoup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easter water</span> Type of Christian holy water

Easter Water is the name given to water used in rituals during the Easter Vigil in the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, and Anglican Communion. A part of this water is set aside for use as a sacramental in the church and at home, the remainder being ceremonially mixed with consecrated oils and used for baptisms in the church.

References

  1. Bertacchini, E. (1 January 2014). A New Perspective on the Production and Evolution of Cultures. Content Publishers. p. 183. ISBN   9781490272306. A holy water font is a vessel containing holy water generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is used in Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches, as well as some Anglican churches to make the sign of the cross using the holy water upon entrance and exit.
  2. Gould, Meredith (1 September 2009). Why is There a Menorah on the Altar?: Jewish Roots of Christian Worship. Church Publishing, Inc. p. 71. ISBN   9781596272194. Many Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican/Episcopal churches customarily sprinkle the assembly with water each Sunday during Easter. In liturgical churches, funeral services are begun by sprinkling water over the coffin. Getting sprinkled with holy water during liturgy is supposed to remind you of baptism.