The church we were touring was the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. In Rome, there are about 1,000 churches, but only four are known as major basilicas because of their historical importance. St. Paul’s is the second-largest church in Rome, second only to St. Peter’s. It is where the Apostle Paul is buried, and it is famous for its large mosaics of the popes that run throughout the church. St. Paul Outside the Walls is also the newest of the major basilicas because the original ancient church burned down in 1823.

The thing I noticed in the church for the first time was a holy water font outside one of the side chapels. It stopped me in my tracks, though I had certainly walked past it at least 100 times before. The font is a typical-looking “birdbath” style, but taller than normal. Beneath the bowl are two marble statues that appear to date from the 18th century. One statue depicts a little girl standing on her tiptoes to dip her finger into the holy water font. The other is a large, hideous devil with wings and horns, cowering in fear of the little girl and her use of the holy water.

The message of the font is remarkable: there is great spiritual power in sacramentals, particularly holy water. In Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus goes to the territory of the Gadarenes — a pagan territory — to heal men possessed by evil spirits, the Gospel says that their plight was so terrible that no one could even travel the road near where they lived. The devil, fully aware of who Jesus was, said, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” (Mt 8:29).

The message is clear: Christ has complete authority over Satan and his demons, and they know it, as their question reveals. Christ gave that same authority to His apostles when He sent them out two by two, specifically instructing them to cast out demons. He also gives that power to the Church itself, as can be seen in the use of sacramentals and holy water. The holy water font in St. Paul Outside the Walls serves as a vivid illustration of just how powerful a tool the Church gives us for protection against the powers of the demonic.

Almost every parish church in the world has a holy water “bucket” available for the faithful to collect holy water for use at home. I would certainly encourage the faithful to make use of holy water in their private prayer. Remember that every time you dip your finger into that font and make the Sign of the Cross, you are scaring the hell out of the devil.

For real.