ROME: Pilgrims on the Vatican’s fledgling airline were stunned to discover that holy water from Lourdes, in southwest France, cannot be taken on board for security reasons, media reports said on Wednesday.
French security officers seized the liquid — reputed to have miracle-giving qualities — under a Europe-wide anti-terrorism rule that forbids more than 100 millilitres in each passenger’s carry-on baggage.
One pilgrim was so distraught that he drank the holy water on the spot, rather than surrender it to the authorities, Italy’s Il Corriere della Sera newspaper reported.
Well I think they will reject this policy just as soon as they have a demonically possessed hijacker.
I did forget to cover the subject of sacramental security in my Vatican Air parody post. They obviously need a chemical sniffer to be able to differentiate between Holy Water and a liquid explosive. Though I think it might be easier to detect the explosive than the influence of prayerful petition that makes a sacramental efficacious.
There is also a consideration for those new airport security scanners that are much more detailed. Some people might succumb to pride in wearing a hair shirt if it can be detected by the scanner. On Vatican Air people might be screened because they could not detect a scapular or Rosary or other Catholic sacramentals. Screens could though detect non-Catholics and possible threats by saying "The Lord be with you." and if the person doesn’t immediately reply with "And also with you" or "Et cum spiritu tuo", then the person would be more thoroughly screened.
9 comments
You know, when I was last flying, I was worried because my tiny bottle of Lourdes’ water is not labeled as a certain amount. Hubby said that it was obvious that it was less than 3 ounces, since the bottle was so much smaller than the other carry-on liquids. But I was worried anyway because I didn’t want anyone to take it from me. And yet I didn’t want to travel without it, either.
I recently traveled and inadvertantly left my holy water in my purse (less then 3 oz) as it went through security. The scanner didn’t make a peep.
BTW I haven’t really traveled by air since 9/11. It’s still a shock as to how much security you need to go through now. Everyone walking around shoeless …
Keep it small and put it in a ziploc baggy
Drank it on the spot? Priceless!
🙂
You’ve been watching too much “Supernatural” haven’t you?
On Vatican Air, they should have a buzzer or a little light that goes off whenever you pass over a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, so the men can doff their hats and the ladies bow their heads, and everyone reverently makes the sign of the cross.
I would appreciate some help please:
http://onthesideoftheangels.blogspot.com/2007/08/to-allany-help-will-be-gratefully.html
Tear me to shreds if necessary; my intentions are sincere but I’m only emphasising the detrimental aspects of the issue. I desperately need the voices and intellects of others to assist and clarify the root causes and the remedies.
I have a feeling that most post VII folks would not know the response, in either English or Latin, to “The Lord be with you.”
I’m pretty sure most post-Vatican II folks, like myself, know “And also with you.”
Comments are closed.