Sir, – About 1953, a station Mass was held in a house in the townland of Dirlaught, Lettermacaward, Co Donegal. My twin brothers, Karl and Pauric Cannon, were serving as clerks at the Mass.
Among the priest’s first duties was to bless a bucket of water for use as holy water. He then heard confessions and celebrated Mass, after which he was served a meal.
It was while the dishes were being washed afterwards that someone discovered, to considerable consternation, that some of the newly blessed holy water had been used for the washing-up. Only half a bucket remained.
The lady of the house was informed and there was much discussion about what could be done. Eventually, someone offered a practical solution: “Sure, we’ll top it up with ordinary water, and nobody will know the difference.”
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“Oh no,” her firm reply came. “We must leave the holy water at its full strength.”
A true story and a fond memory of the Stations tradition. And a lesson on the power of holy water. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CANNON,
Lettermacaward,
Co Donegal.
