What is the significance of holy water in baptism

Both the monogram and the cross represent Jesus, in whose name disciples are baptized. A single fish represents a baptized person, a group of fish represents the community of believers, and a net represents the Church, which keeps the members together and protects them see Jn A fish also represents the new life of grace that a person receives in baptism. Three fish arranged in a triangle or a circle represent the Trinity. Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata.

Read more of his writing at CatholicHotdish. Tags: Baptism , Scripture , Symbols. Category : Faith Fundamentals. Gratitude — in the growing, giving and goodbye. Digital Edition — November 11, Visit your dead friends. Saints point the way. Rejection letters and the spiritual life. Cemetery visits prompt prayer, reflections on the past. Subscribe If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.

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It is right to celebrate them! Gratitude — in the growing, giving and goodbye. Digital Edition — November 11, Visit your dead friends. Saints point the way. Rejection letters and the spiritual life. Cemetery visits prompt prayer, reflections on the past.

Subscribe If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. Sign Me Up. Sign up for our free e-newsletter Sign Me Up. Social Networks. Only Jesus Gratitude — in the growing, giving and goodbye. Predominantly a Roman Catholic sacramental little sacrament and the blessing is done by a priest or bishop.

This sacrament can be found in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity but has also spread to other denominations as well. Christians do not believe the water is in any way magical, the power comes from the blessing, not the water itself. Holy water can also kept in a Baptistery, or smaller font, called a stoup which is placed near the entrance to the church.

Traditionally people dip their fingertips into the water and make the Sign of the Cross to bless themselves and serve as a reminder of their baptism at birth. Holy water is also sometimes sprinkled upon the congregation during the Mass; this is called aspersion. It can also be sprinkled on people or items when they are blessed, as part of the prayers of blessing. Since Jesus had no sin, but was God himself, his baptism had the effect of Jesus blessing the water, making it holy, that is used fully for its original created purpose to be an instrument of life.

And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.