# Need help identifying something found with my Catholic MIL's things! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296 "2019-02-10T19:38:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296/21 "2019-02-16T03:20:24Z")
fun fountain pen trivia: many pen manufacturers used to make a priest pen which looked just like one of their normal pens when closed but was really a holy water vial. They usually had a discreet cross on them somewhere. They’re collectors’ items now. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296/22 "2019-02-16T04:45:58Z")
> [@Nayna](#): > > My husband is guessing that it’s Ash Wednesday ashes inside (it does seem like ashes), but I’m not sure why my MIL would have them. Maybe a priest left the container at the house during a visit. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > Probably some Ash Wednesday ashes. Anyone who is trained to bring the Host to the homebound could also be one of the lay administrators of ashes on Ash Wednesday, so she probably brought some home for her parents. A pyx would be the right size for it. The ashes are made from the burned palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, moistened with holy water. I think it’s very unlikely it’s Ash Wednesday ashes. Unlike the Eucharist or Extreme Unction, administration of the ashes isn’t a sacrifice and isn’t really important enough to warrant a special visit or a carrier. In any case, it happens only once a year. While I suppose it might happen occasionally, I’ve never heard of a priest (or lay administrator) bringing ashes on a home visit. In any case, the contents don’t really look like Ash Wednesday ashes, which are normally a very pale gray and very fine. That would also be an enormous amount of ashes, enough for an entire congregation. All that’s normally administered is a tiny smudge. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296/23 "2019-02-17T18:04:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think it’s very unlikely it’s Ash Wednesday ashes. Unlike the Eucharist or Extreme Unction, administration of the ashes isn’t a sacrifice \ …or a sacrament. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296/24 "2019-02-17T19:21:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > …or a sacrament. That’s what I meant, of course. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296/25 "2019-02-18T17:25:46Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > You know what’s really cool? The [sick call crucifix](https://www.catholiccompany.com/sick-call-set-crucifix-walnut-resin-13-inch-i2337/). It hung on your wall like any normal crucifix, but secretly held candles, oil and/or holy water. Just slide off the cover and it instantly transformed into a sickbed shrine. Was Batman Catholic? That sounds like something he’d have over _his_ bed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-something-found-with-my-catholic-mils-things/829296.md?page=1)