Is holy water only a catholic thing?

Well, Jason, David undoubtedly had a pasted answer. So I'll give him a no vote even though he is correct.

But just so you know, Jesus gives us the water of life that we may thirst no more.

There is no place in the N.T. where the Disciples blessed water and called it holy, or the O.T. where anyone personally blessed the water. However, we are saved by water--whether it is the liquid of the tree of life, saved from a wicked world by the flood, the parted water whereas we enter the promised land, symbolically baptized under the cloud, and, or course, the stream of water emitting from Christ's wounded side. It is God's working in you when you choose to be baptized into Christ--that is the mechanism of your salvation.

Ben Yeshua

Look up Numbers 5:17, where a ritual is being described and the text says, "[A]nd the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water." This shows that holy water not only has a basis in the Bible, but that it has been around since the days of Moses. Holy water was used for numerous Old Testament ceremonies that involved ceremonial sprinklings and washings. Today we are not bound to perform those ceremonies, but the fact holy water was used at all proves that it is not a superstitious or invalid practice. Christ has died Christ has risen Christ will come again Catholic Christian†

The Dogma and Doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church are to proclaim the Gospels of Jesus Christ as the true Words of God. The Words of God include the Ten Commandments and the seven Holy Sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ for our redemption. They are: Baptism, Reconciliation; Holy Eucharist; Confirmation; Matrimony; Holy Orders and Cure of the Sick.

One of the most important Sacrament is the Holy Eucharist. It is the bread and wine made into the Body and Blood of Our Lord. Without this Sacrament we cannot enter into heaven. Why? Because, Jesus Christ said, " Unless you eat and drink my blood you will not have eternal life" Amen.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only place were this Sacrament is offered. All other Christian denominations, which offer the bread and wine are purely symbolic.

AndrewX has it correct. I must add one thing. I believe this holy water question is a thinly disguised attack on water baptism.

David/Chris @ whatever your name. you are spouting off about something of which you have no true knowledge. Yet you have not even explained or told us the beliefs and practices of your own denomination. Actually you have not told us what denomination you worship and minister in. Non denominational is not an acceptable explanation. Your reticence leads me to believe you do not have a church except possibly a kitchen table and are too ashamed to admit it.

You have not told us the views on the issues besetting Christian churches world wide.

So I ask again

What are your views on Islam

What are your views on Abortion

What are your views on gay marriage

Where did you pick up all your hatred for Catholics.

Please answer

Btw You write about something called a true trinity. Is that the same Trinity us Catholics use or are you designing a different one for us.

Holy water is not only a Catholic Christian thing, it is also Jewish

The ritual use of this precious substance is ancient and rooted in the Old Testament. When the Israelites entered the Temple, they had to undergo purifcation by immersion in a mikvah (modern Jews still make use of mikva'ot on Yom Kippur, on wedding days, for purification after menstruation or coming into contact with a dead body or semen, etc.). These ritual purifications by water prefigured Christian Baptism, which we recall when we bless ourselves (cross ourselves) using holy water upon entering our churches. Devoutly blessing one's self with Holy Water remits venial sins.

When you enter a church, you might find a holy water font (or "stoup") attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door, or you might find a free-standing font. Simply dip the tips of the fingers of your right hand into the water and cross yourself while mentally contemplating the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Don't rush through this; make it meaningful, remembering the meaning of your Baptism and mentally expressing your gratitude to God. Many Catholics repeat this process upon leaving the church, too. (Note: you might see one Catholic dip his fingers into the Holy Water and touch fingers with another Catholic to share it if that second Catholic can't reach the font comfortably).

This holy water is also used by the priest to sprinkle the people before the beginning of Mass. He will have a pail-like vessel called an "aspersory" to hold the holy water, and into this he will dip a stick called an "aspergillum" (or an "aspergill"). The aspergillum has holes in it to catch droplets of the water, and the priest's swinging it toward the congregation causes the drops of water to fly out. This blessing of the congregation before Mass is called "Aspérges" and the accompanying, chanted words come from Psalm 50:

http://www.fisheaters.com/water.html

In Anglicanism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and some other churches, holy water is water which has been sanctified by a priest or bishop for the purpose of baptism, the blessing of persons, places, and objects; or as a means of repelling evil.

Can physical objects transfer grace? According to the bible, yes.

Acts 19:11-12: "So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul that when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them."

How does it work? How can a handkerchief that has touched St. Paul heal someone? It is a mystery. Maybe it's their faith. In any case it is the Holy Spirit that blesses an object so that it can bless others. If the Lord can use a face cloth to bless someone he could use any object including water.

At the end of the 2nd century, North African theologian Tertullian mentions the custom of symbolically cleansing one's hands before lifting them in prayer. It had been a Jewish custom that predated the coming of Our Lord, and it may be what St Paul was referring to when he wrote to Timothy: "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands" or "pure hands" (! Tim 2:8). The historian Eusebius, writing around A.D. 320, describes a church in Tyre that had flowing fountains at its entrance, where the faithful could purify their hands.

"King and Lord of all things and maker of the world: you gave salvation freely to all created nature by the descent of your only-begotten Jesus Christ. You redeemed all that you created by the coming of your ineffable Word. See now from heaven, and look upon these waters, and fill them with the Holy Spirit. Let your ineffable Word come to be in them and transform their energy and cause them to be generative, as being filled with your grace ...As your only-begotten Word coming down upon the waters of the Jordan rendered them holy, so now may he descend on these and make them holy and spiritual. [Blessing of Water, from the sacramentary of St. Serapion of Egypt, 4th Century].

***AGAIN LETS PROVE CHRIS/DAVID DOESNT KNOW THE BIBLE SHALL WE?????***

.

.

Numbers 5:17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.

Peace be with you

<<<Devout Catholic>>>

.

.

Pray for Chris/David,

~~~~~ Do not listen to Chris/David/ he's NOT a pastor,

2Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

2Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2Corinthians 11:15 So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

~~~~~Just Believing in Jesus is not enough or demons would be saved.

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Luke 4:41 Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.

James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Using Chris logic, there's no holy water in the Bible, therefore holy water is bad.

Which doesn't explain the other nonbiblical things Chris does, like use a computer. Or things his church does, like altar calls.

In Anglicanism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and some other churches, holy water is water which has been sanctified by a priest or bishop for the purpose of baptism, the blessing of persons, places, and objects; or as a means of repelling evil.[1][2]

The first use of holy water, i.e. for baptism and spiritual cleansing, is common among several religions, from Christianity to Sikhism and Hinduism.

The second use of holy water, i.e. as a sacramental for protection against evil, is almost exclusive to Roman Catholics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water

(that last part is a lie, because I know the Orthodox and other Catholic rites also use holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil)

In the bible, you must read Numbers 17.

we have not just holy water, but tons of sacramentals. google them.

not just that but they have the last rites by priests and most other denominations have no priests, but only a pastor and or minister They have the rosary, something they memorize, and they wear crucifixes, which our ministers and pastors do not. they also dress like women their priest I believe.thy also they make the sign of the cross to ward of evil, as protestants believe in that the Lord, will keep them safe.