# What are the ingredients in Holy Water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2000, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822 "2000-04-30T05:07:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/1 "2000-04-30T05:07:28Z")
I went to mass on sunday and I was wondering. What exactly is in holy water? I assume its been blessed, and I suppose it could be just any water. This stuff feels a little colder than water that has been sitting out should feel. I didn’t see any methods of cooling the water, so I assume its something else. Can anyone set me straight? I’d just like an answer. Its just something I was curious about. Thanks!! The Urge. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/2 "2000-04-30T05:13:13Z")
I don’t know about the Catholic Church, but to me, “holy water” has always meant vodka. ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/3 "2000-04-30T05:27:43Z")
I’m sure it was just regular water. Probably it was taken out of the refrigerator just before Mass. It will take a couple hours before it reaches room temperature so it should still be cool when you partook of it. It may be a bottled water or filtered water and then it would have less taste and you would notice the temperature more since you aren’t distracted by the taste. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/4 "2000-04-30T05:32:05Z")
Humility is what makes it so cool, Urge. 🆒 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/5 "2000-04-30T05:32:18Z")
You’re actually supposed to drink holy water? I always thought you were supposed to splash it on demons & boogey men (speaking of which, **Urge** must have recovered very quickly from his holy water burns to be able to post such a topic.) * * * Manual sig line #5 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/6 "2000-04-30T05:33:15Z")
I think it’s potable water + priest + incantation (or blessing); for the Catholics amongst us; frankly I grew up in the same church as **Cabbage**. ---
**Author:** ![Steve-o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Steve-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve-o)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/7 "2000-04-30T05:35:57Z")
As for the temperature of the water, it could have been just tap water. Most Holy Water I’ve seen has been in a shallow, but wide bowl similar to a bird bath (sorry, I don’t know what they call it). This being the case, the water has a much larger surface area to volume ratio than you are used to encountering (such as in a glass of water). With the large proportion of the water being exposed surface area, the water will evaporate more quickly, causing a cooling effect. The water can become noticably cooler than its surroundings. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/8 "2000-04-30T06:17:43Z")
Beatle came up with the best definition I could find: water+blessing. It’ll be contained in a stoup or a font. The priest in my church filled his urn with tap water before the service. Urn? Okay, he also cut the wine with water (which was blessed) during communion. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/9 "2000-04-30T06:29:22Z")
On an aside: You may be interested to know that when they went around swabbing and testing public surfaces for bacteria and microbes. That among things like public toilets and payphones and bus stops, the holy water in the font at the local cathedral was, by far the very worst. I guess faith don’t kill germs. Thought you’d like to know, we now return you to your regular programing… ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/10 "2000-04-30T07:08:13Z")
It has a small amount of salt, as blessed salt is used to help consecrate it. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/11 "2000-04-30T07:12:25Z")
> [@](#): > > **You may be interested to know that when they went around swabbing and testing public surfaces for bacteria and microbes. That among things like public toilets and payphones and bus stops, the holy water in the font at the local cathedral was, by far the very worst. I guess faith don’t kill germs.** Not to sound disbelieving, but it might help if you provided some sort of mention as to who exactly _they_ are. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/12 "2000-04-30T07:14:25Z")
Excellent question, **Urgie**! I like the evaporation info from **Steve-o**. Has holy water been traditionaly kept in wide shallow containers? Maybe this adds to the mystique. Also, is there some taboo against putting unblessed water in the container? As in washing it. ## We need some bright Papists in here. Peace be with you ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/13 "2000-04-30T11:42:25Z")
Ingredients of Holy Water:\* Aqua Pura\*+your credulous belief=Holy Water! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/14 "2000-04-30T12:24:09Z")
I actually still remember some of this stuff. Amazing what nine years of Catlick school does to your brain. Anyway… The holy water that’s sitting out in a church is not for drinking or washing. A Catholic entering a church will dip the fingers of his right hand in the basin and then make the sign of the cross with that hand (head, belly, left shoulder, right shoulder). The physical ingredients are just water and a little bit of salt - salt is added at some point during the blessing process. Since everyone who comes to Mass sticks their fingers in the basin, I have no problem believing a lot of germs collect in there. But it would be good to see some more details about this study if folks are supposed to believe it’s worse than a public toilet. I’ve always seen it in stone or metal basins, which might help to explain why it feels cold. The container isn’t blessed, so I don’t see why there would be a taboo about washing it, although I also have never seen anyone do that. ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/15 "2000-04-30T13:22:47Z")
I was an altar boy for 3 years. Sometimes I filled the basin. First, I filled a stainless steel pitcher with tap water. I would add two teaspoons of vinegar and a teaspoon of salt. Finally, I would add a few drops of perfume. I don’t remember what the perfume was, but it was not the kind that a lady would use. It smelled like incence. I would then bring the pitcher to the priest. He would bless it, then I would fill the basin. The rest would be put away and we would top up as needed. No mystery about it, really. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/16 "2000-04-30T13:32:35Z")
If holy water is just dihydrogen monoxide + blessing, why can’t a priest go out and bless an ocean? Then any demons there would be instantly killed, and whenever you had to fill the font, you could just grab some holy water anywhere along the coast. (Or you could move the Mass to the beach!) Heck, if a priest blessed the ocean in Los Angeles, then it’d be holy water all the way to Japan, right? Or is the blessing limited to “so-many litres”? ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/17 "2000-04-30T13:50:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Johnny LA > why can’t a priest go out and bless an ocean? It would be difficult to collect the fees for this service. picmr ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/18 "2000-04-30T15:45:27Z")
There aren’t any fees associated with blessing holy water, of course. The reason that no one goes out and blesses a lake or an ocean is that there is no belief that holy water will harm demons. Holy water is a _sacramental_. That is any object that is used in ritual to call to mind the blessings of God. (Note the part about ritual.) Holy water is used to demonstrate a blessing (God showers the people with grace) and as a reminder of all the water symbolism of Baptism. It is blessed (thus becoming holy water) simply as a sign that its further uses (in Baptism, in administering blessings, etc.) are acts of God. The water, when blessed, is not thought to have any special properties. It is simply the water that has been set aside for ritual use. If no holy water is available for a Baptism, for example, any water may be used. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/19 "2000-04-30T15:52:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Since everyone who comes to Mass sticks their fingers in the basin, I have no problem believing a lot of germs collect in there. Thus giving rise to the expression, “Ladies and germs.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822/20 "2000-04-30T15:52:29Z")
“why can’t a priest go out and bless an ocean?” They do that here often [pacific ocean]. Down at Lover’s Point, they do baptisms. Bless the water & all that. I surf in it, I wonder if that gives me annual baptisms? The blessing is: Holy Water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of the Church. Following, are some of the petitions the priest makes to God when he blesses water: “O God… grant that this creature of Thine (water) may be endowed with divine grace to drive away devils and to cast out diseases, that whatever in the houses or possessions of the faithful may be sprinkled by this water, so that health which they seek by calling upon Thy Holy Name may be guarded from all assaults.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-ingredients-in-holy-water/17822.md?page=2)