Can The Use Of Holy Water Remit Venial Sins?

[Guest MC427]

I posted this question before, but had it erased because only the title was posted.

I was asking: Can Holy Water remit venial sins? (or rather, Can the USE of Holy Water remit venial sins? )

I ran into this site that says the use of Holy Water remits venial sins, which is contrary to what I've always thought - that it's either you receive Holy Communion, without mortal sin provided, or go to Confession, and your venial sins are forgiven (also Extreme Unction)

[url="http://fleurdelismedia.com/rosaryshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=356&zenid=b9cf1d67253e54e38fc3398d2225c9b4"]http://fleurdelismedia.com/rosaryshop/inde...fc3398d2225c9b4[/url]

I've seen this mentioned before though, not just here, and recall something with an Imp. on it too, saying this. When I find it, I will post it.

There were a couple replies here in my thread of yesterday. One said no, as it's a sacramental not a sacrament - and the other said that it can remit venial sins and gave a reference to St. Thomas' Summa - [url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4087.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4087.htm[/url]

Alright, so my question is - can the use of Holy Water actually remit venial sins? And if so, wouldn't it be better to say something more like; the use of Holy Water, eg making the Sign of the Cross, with true contrition or attrition (as required in Confession) can remit venial sin ?

That's my first question here.

[TotusTuusMaria]

[center]J.M.J.[/center]

Holy Water does remit venial sin. I believe though as to why it does is because of the prayer attached to it. The prayer is an exorcism prayer and is really powerful. I believe that is why. Can anyone confirm this to be the reason why Holy Water remits venial sin?

There is a book I have on the Sacraments that has a Chapter on Sacramentals. It is by Fr. Laux. Although his works cannot be taken as solid proof, in my mind anything he says is what the Church teaches because I know his books to be in line with what the Church actually does teach always. So, where is proof of this by a document from the Church... I can't say. But I can quote Fr. Laux and maybe what he has to say can explain why Holy Water remits venial sin.

"In themselves these objects have no such power, and it would be superstition to attribute such power to them. But they tend to excite good dispositions in those who use them aright; they excite increased fear and love of God, the hatred of sin, and because of these movements of the heart towards God, they remit venial sin. 'They have a special efficacy, because the Church has blessed them with prayer, and so, when a person takes Holy Water, accompanying the outward act with the desire that God may cleanse his heart, the prayer of the whole Christian people is joined to his own. There is surely no superstition in believing that if the Church prays that the sign or use of blessed objects may excite good desires in her children, God will listen to these prayers and touch in a special way the hearts of those who use them aright.'
The following formula of blessing, which can be used by any priest for all those things that no special blessing in the Roman Ritual, shows very well what the Church aims at in her sacramentals: 'O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth Thy blessing upon this creature and grant that whosoever shall use it with thanksgiving, according to Thy law and will, may receive frm Thee, trhough the invocation of Thy Holy Name health of body and peace of soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen'"

God bless you!

In Jesus and Mary,
Marie

[Chiquitunga]

Thank you so much for the information! Wow, now I'm blessing myself with Holy Water whenever I can!

Here's another discussion I found on this on the Coming Home Network's forum: [url="http://www.chnetwork.org/forums/view_topic.php?id=1160&forum_id=32&jump_to=7183"]http://www.chnetwork.org/forums/view_topic...mp;jump_to=7183[/url] There's something with an Imp. from Cardinal Meyer there.

My other question is, on the first Holy Water site I refer to here, they quote St. John Vianney ..

[quote]Saint John Vianney, in his Catechism on Confession, suggests that the moment a venial sin is perceived, “take some holy water with respect, do one of those good works to which the remission of venial sins is attached: an alms, a genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament, hearing a Mass.”[/quote]

What are these "goods works to which the remission of venial sins is attached" ?

Is there a place we can find an official list of them? Does anyone know, were any rules changed of these, similar to the change for indulgences (making them either plenary, or partial, instead of 300 days, 500 days, etc.) ?

[Lil Red]

in the context of Mass, i've always understood that the use of Holy Water combined with the penitential rite remits venial sins.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='MC427' post='1254665' date='Apr 23 2007, 11:42 PM']There were a couple replies here in my thread of yesterday. One said no, as it's a sacramental not a sacrament - and the other said that it can remit venial sins and gave a reference to St. Thomas' Summa - [url="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4087.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4087.htm[/url]

Alright, so my question is - can the use of Holy Water actually remit venial sins? And if so, wouldn't it be better to say something more like; the use of Holy Water, eg making the Sign of the Cross, with true contrition or attrition (as required in Confession) can remit venial sin ?

That's my first question here.[/quote]

Yeah, I was the one pointing out the sacramental-sacrament difference, but in re-reading your question, the word "can" makes a big difference. Because God is the one who ultimately forgives sins, and God can do anything He wants, if He desires to forgives someone's sins through Holy Water then by all means He can do that. But is that the way sins are normally forgiven? As far as I know, it isn't, at least in the typical crossing-yourself-with-holy-water-when-entering-and-leaving-the-sanctuary manner.

But I haven't read the St. Thomas Aquinas link either... curious to know what he had to say.

[Church Punk]

I always thought this; that Holy Water because it is the same water used at our baptism, always reminds us of our baptism that is we are born again into Christ. At baptism all sin is remitted. However you would need to be contrite and sincere in your actions as is with confession.

It is also to say that simply blessing one self with holy water can remit mortal sin as the relationship with God has been completely severed, thus only the sacrament of confession can remit it.

At least thats how i have been told. Please correct me if im wrong on any part.