THERE is no such thing as a “holy face mask” or a “holy alcohol” that protect the wearer from the new coronavirus disease.
This was the warning issued by the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Pampanga as it condemns the “marketing strategy” of some face sellers.
“There are no such things as holy face mask, holy face shield, holy sanitizer, holy personal protective equipment, holy goggles,” said the commission in a statement.
“This is an irreverent marketing strategy or gimmick,” it added.
The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission also dismissed as “fake news” those saying that the Church has replaced the holy water with “holy alcohol.”
“It is fake news that during this time of pandemic … the church has replaced holy water with ‘holy alcohol,'” it said.
The commission admitted that the use of holy water when entering chapels and churches has been temporarily set aside “to prevent contamination.”
“There is no sacramental holy alcohol, that we should make the sign of the cross when we rub it to ourselves,” it added.
“Moreover, it should not be sprinkled on the faithful,” said the commission, adding that “there is no substitute to holy water.”
“Blessed water is the matter of baptism, using another material element or liquid makes such baptism invalid,” it said.
Churches across the country have been implementing health safety protocols to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease by encouraging the wearing of face mask and the use of hand sanitizers, among others.
