We have begun a new Church Year with the start of this Advent Season, so perhaps now might be a good time to look around our church with "new eyes." Ever wonder about some of the things in our church or why we do what we do? Let's begin a little tour of the church.
As we enter the vestibule, it might be a good idea to check out the news items, prayer requests, photos, etc. to our right and remind ourselves to bring items to add to the box for the Crisis Center on our left. We might also use these few moments to quiet our hearts and minds of earthly distractions as we prepare to enter the nave (the church proper where the pews are) and to remind ourselves that we are entering a holy place where our God resides in a special way in the tabernacle.
Opening the big wooden doors, we then approach the holy water font. Ever wonder why we bless ourselves with holy water as we enter and leave the church?
Historically, before Jews entered the temple to assist at sacrifices, they were required to perform a ceremony of purification, a ritual cleansing.
Our Baptism was more than a symbolic cleansing. It truly did cleanse us of all sin and made us children of God and members of Christ's Mystical Body, the Church. It also gave us sanctifying grace to enable us to follow Christ more closely and to receive the other Sacraments more effectively. Because the Sacrament of Baptism does all of this (and more), it is sometimes called the "door to the Church." When we bless ourselves with holy water, we remind ourselves of our Baptism and of our need to cleanse ourselves of sin before we approach the altar.
We also bless ourselves with holy water when we leave Church to remind us of Jesus' great commission in Matthew 29:19--"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." These words teach us that we, too, are to teach our families, our friends our neighbors...about Jesus, our loving Savior.
