Catholic Answers Live #12613 Should We Remove Holy Water and Cover Statues in Lent? - Tom Nash
Mar 3, 2026
Tom Nash, Catholic apologist and liturgy expert who explains Mass practice and history. He tackles Lenten customs like holy water and veiling statues. He discusses whether the Mass is a continued sacrifice and how to explain the Eucharist to Protestants. He also covers why the Mass changed from Latin and what to expect at a traditional Latin Mass.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Keep Holy Water Available During Lent
- Do not empty holy water fonts for Lent because the Church prohibits replacing holy water with sand and wants sacramentals available during penitential seasons.
- Tom Nash cites a 2000 response from the Congregation for Divine Worship and emphasizes holy water supplies spiritual help during the Lenten 'desert.'
When To Cover Statues And Crosses In Lent
- Follow the Roman Missal rubrics: begin covering crosses and images on the fifth Sunday of Lent and keep crosses covered until Good Friday, images until the Easter Vigil.
- Tom Nash explains the rubric timing (fifth Sunday → Passion Sunday week) is meant to heighten focus on the Paschal Mystery.
Rubrics Reflect Divinely Granted Ecclesial Authority
- Liturgical rules come from ecclesial authority rooted in Scripture, not arbitrary preference, because Christ gave the apostles power to bind and loose.
- Nash links rubric adherence to unity and holiness, citing Matthew 16 and chapter 18 authority passages.
