Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Baptismal Font Near the Altar
ROME, APRIL 27, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Related to the questions on the baptismal fonts (see April 13), a Minnesota reader had asked: "In my parish we have a large baptismal font (sufficient to perform immersion baptisms) in a baptistry which is at the main entrance to the sanctuary. We also have a different set of doors where about half of the congregation exits the sanctuary. My question is: Can you have separate holy water fonts at the exit doors of the church or does that conflict with the theology of having only one font because there is only one baptism and we can only have one baptismal font?"
The question implies that in this parish the baptismal font doubles as a holy water stoup. This procedure is not ideal, since they are normally two distinct elements in church architecture.
In fact, except for Eastertide, the rite of baptism foresees the blessing of the baptismal holy water. It follows that, if the baptismal font habitually contains water, as occasionally occurs in new fonts, it is not necessarily blessed holy water as usually understood.
The tradition of placing holy water stoups at the entrance of the church probably originated with the custom of early Christians of washing their hands before entering the basilica in a fountain opportunely located in the atrium and called a cantharus or phiala. The custom was not just for practical purposes, as can be seen in St. John Chrysostom's admonition to those who "enter church washing their hands but not their hearts" (Homily LXXI on St. John).
When in time the atrium of most churches was reduced to a porch or narthex, the cantharus gave way to smaller stoups placed just inside the entrance of the church.
This change also led to the disappearance of any practical usage of water, leaving only the religious meaning as a symbol of baptism and purification. Although the practice already existed in some places, it was Pope Leo IV (847-855) who ordered priests to bless and sprinkle the people with holy water every Sunday before Mass. In some places this was done by the priest as the people entered the church. The present custom of crossing oneself is apparently of later origin.
There are relatively few extant examples of stoups from before the 11th century, although there are some probable examples going back several centuries earlier. There are no universally established rules regarding the size, shape and design of stoups, and many forms are found.
The diocesan norms issued for Milan by St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) greatly influenced subsequent usages. He wrote: "The vessel intended for holy water shall be of marble or of solid stone, neither porous nor with cracks. It shall rest upon a handsomely wrought column and shall not be placed outside of the church but within it and, insofar as possible, to the right of those who enter. There shall be one at the door by which the men enter and one at the women's door. They shall not be fastened to the wall but removed from it as far as convenient. A column or a base will support them and it must represent nothing profane."
In conclusion, the baptismal font is distinct from the holy water stoup, and there can be additional stoups at secondary church entrances so that the faithful can make use of this venerable sacramental.
Related to the questions on the baptismal fonts (see April 13), a Minnesota reader had asked: "In my parish we have a large baptismal font (sufficient to perform immersion baptisms) in a baptistry which is at the main entrance to the sanctuary. We also have a different set of doors where about half of the congregation exits the sanctuary. My question is: Can you have separate holy water fonts at the exit doors of the church or does that conflict with the theology of having only one font because there is only one baptism and we can only have one baptismal font?"
The question implies that in this parish the baptismal font doubles as a holy water stoup. This procedure is not ideal, since they are normally two distinct elements in church architecture.
In fact, except for Eastertide, the rite of baptism foresees the blessing of the baptismal holy water. It follows that, if the baptismal font habitually contains water, as occasionally occurs in new fonts, it is not necessarily blessed holy water as usually understood.
The tradition of placing holy water stoups at the entrance of the church probably originated with the custom of early Christians of washing their hands before entering the basilica in a fountain opportunely located in the atrium and called a cantharus or phiala. The custom was not just for practical purposes, as can be seen in St. John Chrysostom's admonition to those who "enter church washing their hands but not their hearts" (Homily LXXI on St. John).
When in time the atrium of most churches was reduced to a porch or narthex, the cantharus gave way to smaller stoups placed just inside the entrance of the church.
This change also led to the disappearance of any practical usage of water, leaving only the religious meaning as a symbol of baptism and purification. Although the practice already existed in some places, it was Pope Leo IV (847-855) who ordered priests to bless and sprinkle the people with holy water every Sunday before Mass. In some places this was done by the priest as the people entered the church. The present custom of crossing oneself is apparently of later origin.
There are relatively few extant examples of stoups from before the 11th century, although there are some probable examples going back several centuries earlier. There are no universally established rules regarding the size, shape and design of stoups, and many forms are found.
The diocesan norms issued for Milan by St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) greatly influenced subsequent usages. He wrote: "The vessel intended for holy water shall be of marble or of solid stone, neither porous nor with cracks. It shall rest upon a handsomely wrought column and shall not be placed outside of the church but within it and, insofar as possible, to the right of those who enter. There shall be one at the door by which the men enter and one at the women's door. They shall not be fastened to the wall but removed from it as far as convenient. A column or a base will support them and it must represent nothing profane."
In conclusion, the baptismal font is distinct from the holy water stoup, and there can be additional stoups at secondary church entrances so that the faithful can make use of this venerable sacramental.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
1:15 PM
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