As a confirmed atheist, I find this one of the church's most bizarre of rituals.
I can almost understand why certain 'god-fearing' (or probably 'devil-fearing') people would take part in mock-cannibalistic, flesh eating and blood drinking, ceremonies. The Protestant religion is inextricably linked to death, human sacrifice, stigmata, etc, and to remove these elements would be fatal to their core beliefs. But having a small container of 'magic water' in one's own home (as so many Catholic families do) I find truly bizarre.
I see it thus. Some bloke, probably wearing a seriously embroidered frock, and quite a lot of jewellery, waves his hands over some tap water, which is then taken home by the credulous and poured into a water-stoup that is festooned with some imaginary likeness of Mary the 'virgin' (rather like the one above). This water is then used in ritualistic facial, or chest, daubing, to ward off evil spirits, help win the lottery, or just as a knee-jerk reaction to people like moi..... and all this IN SOPHISTICATED EUROPE!
One can but wonder if water-stoup adherents ever actually sit back and ask themselves what the hell they think they're doing. One can only presume THEY DON'T.... It's water.... just plain bloody water!
I have a real fascination for these old water stoups, and I find them very beautiful in their simplicity. They turn up regularly at our local boot sales, and I'm seriously thinking of starting a collection. Primitive; or what!
I concur with your words and thoughts Cro. What amazes me that over here when RC's drive past a cemetery. They remove a hand from the steering wheel to bless themselves, seeing no danger to themselves or other road users regardless of bends or speed of the vehicle!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't tell me that they all have a stoup in the car as well! I shall now be looking-out when I pass cemeteries.
DeleteI always imagine that once you've made that leap to believe in "sky-fairies" trusting the efficacy of "magic water" must be quite easy...bizarre!
ReplyDeleteI think water in general is magical....can't live without it right? Frankly it is surprising that more people don't sprinkle it on themselves! Seems more harmless than the flesh eating rituals...
ReplyDeleteMy comment before I finished reading the whole post was, well at least they are pretty. Didn't know a thing about them until you posted it.
ReplyDeleteOh my God! No wonder I was never invited back to dinner again. I thought they were bloody ashtrays...
ReplyDeleteI love to collect Mexican religious art. It is folksy and often gaudy, so much the better. There is something to be said of rituals, but I wonder how many people take them literally?
ReplyDeleteI have a Mexican 'religious artefact' on my studio wall. I've often wanted to post a picture of it, but I'm afraid it might SHOCK!
DeleteThe only religion I follow, if you call it a religion, is Nature, I can see it, watch it, appreciate it and love it, and most of all I'm not afraid of it!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, fear is the factor that keeps people believing in religion.
Great post Cro.
Briony
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Like most rituals Cro, this one just serves to remind.
ReplyDeleteIn no way harmful or offensive when observed personally and privately.
Yes, of course. But when viewed from my angle; very odd.
DeleteAlthough I'm also a confirmed atheist, those are cool looking! I've never seen one, but then, Catholics are rare in this part of the U.S. I would like to have one to hang by the door to hold my keys and pocket change! :)
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, most Protestant branches of Christianity don't believe in transubstantiation (bread and wine at Communion turning into the actual body and blood of Christ); whereas Catholics do (or thus says their dogma).
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a water stoup at somebody's house even though i grew up in a place with quite a few Catholics. I wonder if that's one of those customs that didn't cross the Pond?