Holy water
I have noticed that some Catholic families utilize a "holy water font" (i.e. a hanging vessel on the wall near the front door containing holy water to bless oneself with upon entering the home) in their homes. I am wondering if this is something Martin Luther did, and if the current leadership of the WELS church has any opinions about it. The concept of it seems appealing to me but I also don't want to be taking part in anything that is not biblical. I'd like some direction on this; thank you!
Water can certainly remind Christians of the waters of baptism, but the Roman Catholic Church’s understanding and usage of “holy water” goes far beyond that.
The Roman Catholic Church considers holy water to be a “sacramental.” That church’s Catechism defines sacramentals as “sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy.” Their Catechism goes on to say: “Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it.”
Martin Luther wrote that “The pope invented holy water, extreme unction, and many similar things to which he has ascribed forgiveness of sins.”