Water of Baptism

Water Of Baptism.

The scholastics adopted the mystical interpretation of the water, but carried their discussions and inquiries concerning the fluids to be used at the performance of the rite of baptism to a ridiculous extreme. Various opinions obtained as to the question whether beer, broth, fish-sauce, mead or honey-water, lye or rose-water, might be used instead of pure water. They carried their absurdities so far as to start the question "Quid faciendum, si puer urinaret (stercorizaret) in fontem?" A distinction was also made between "aqua artificialis, naturalis, and usualis." See Hagenbach, Hist. of Doctrines, 2, 84. SEE BAPTISM; SEE HOLY WATER.