Italy Combats Swine Flu With . . .Holy Water

Welcome to Italian Class! I’m a private language tutor operating in the Chicago area.

• Read about my qualifications here.
• Check out services and prices for private and group tutoring.
• Browse the collection of links to learn more about Italian language and culture.
• Write to me at SpringfieldItalian@gmail.com with any questions or feedback!
• Call me at (217) 971 – 4546 to speak personally about setting up your perfect lesson.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Italy’s New Swine-Flu Defense:

High-Tech Holy Water Dispenser

Posted in Discover Magazine earlier this week comes this little gem of a story – the Italians seem to be taking the sanitary approach to the highest level – heavenly. Water blessed by God (or his anointed mortals) is apparently something more than just holy – it’s a big bowl of germs.

Many Italians are apparently afraid of dipping their hands into the communal bowl of water – holy or not – for fear of picking up the rapidly spreading and deadly H1-N1 virus.  Near 75 Italians have died as a result of the flu and it seems the Vatican is doing it’s part to combat its spread.

Holy water dispensers, like this push-button model seen here, are flying off the shelves as churches around the world look for ways to keep their patrons germ-free.

Discover Magazine reports that “Catholic churches around Italy are scrapping their traditional water fonts in favor of new automatic, motion-activated holy water dispensers invented by Luciano Marabese.”

“The design of the dispenser is similar to a traditional water font, but with an infra-red light that reads the presence of a hand and squirts holy water onto the person’s fingers.” – BBC News

These dispensers are high-tech indeed, motion-censored and dishing out the holy liquid germ-free when an awaiting hand is placed in front of the spigot.

Luciano Marabese, the high-tech creator of the latest line, says churches are clamoring for the devices and he can barely keep up with demand.

According to BBC News, “Mr Marabese says he is receiving hundreds of emails from all over the world requesting information about the product.

“Some people had stopped dipping their hand into the holy water font as they were afraid of infections,” he told Reuters.

“Some people even pretended to touch the water but they just touched the marble edge of the font.”

So, if you’ve been worried about catching a even a cold at the holy watering hole, rest assured. Help is on the way.

Do you think it’s possible to get germs from a bowl of holy water? Are the Italian right on or off the wall? Leave a comment below and contact me at SpringfieldItalian@gmail.com to schedule your private Italian lessons in the Chicago area.

Read about my qualifications here.
Check out services and prices for private and group tutoring.
Browse the collection of links to learn more about Italian language and culture.

Full story here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/11/12/italys-new-swine-flu-defense-high-tech-holy-water-dispenser/

________________________________________________________________________________________