Description
The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil is common among Anglicans and Roman Catholics. Catholic saints have written about the power of holy water as a force that repels evil. St. Teresa of Avila, a Church doctor who reported visions of Jesus and Mary, was a strong believer in the power of holy water and wrote that she used it successfully to repel evil and temptations. It has also been believed that holy water protects or acts as a weapon against evil mythical creatures, such as vampires. In Eastern Europe, one who harbors this belief could sprinkle holy water on the corpse of a suspicious vampire to destroy it or make it inert. She wrote, “I know from frequent experience that there is nothing that sets demons to flee like holy water.” In Holy Water and its Significance for Catholics, Henry Theiler states that “in addition to being a strong force to repel evil, holy water has the dual benefit of providing grace for both body and soul.” It has also been believed that holy water protects or acts as a weapon against evil mythical creatures, such as vampires. In Eastern Europe, one who harbors this belief could sprinkle holy water on the corpse of a suspicious vampire to destroy it or make it inert.
(8oz)
