Today's word is "PISCINA".

[trof]

from "An Online Dictionary of Episcopal Terminology"
http://www.holycross.net/anonline.htm
From Latin, meaning "fish pond." The piscina is the stone or porcelain basin (traditionally set in the south wall of the Sanctuary) from which a drain pipe carries to the ground the water used in the ablutions. It is also the most convenient way for many Altar Guilds to dispose of the remaining consecrated wine after a service. The piscina is never, ever, to be hooked up to the building's plumbing.

So we're out to dinner at a local seafood spot last night and after an excellent meal I step out front for a smoke.
There's a little guy already on the front stoop, doing the same. He's a smidge over 5 feet tall, weighs maybe 90 pounds wringing wet, as they say, and looks to be on the yonder side of 75.
Snow white hair. Black slacks, black tassel loafers, white sort-sleeved shirt with a white clerical collar.
All white. No black collar band. Summer uniform, I guess.

"Good evening", he says, noticing my cigarette. "I see you're a sinner too. Thanks for joining me."
"Ah yes. We are all sinners in God's eyes, are we not?"
"So true."
"May I ask what denomination you represent?"
"I was an Episcopal priest for over fifty years."
"My wife is Episcopal. Do you have a church here?"
"No, actually I decided to become non-denominational after I retired. You might say it's better for business. He chuckles. I'm here tonight attending a wedding rehearsal dinner. When I first retired, I ministerd to people at hospitals and nursing homes. At my age this has become too depressing, so I stopped. I quit doing funerals, too. Just too depressing. There, but for the grace of god...well...you can see."
"I don't blame you a bit."
I am liking this old guy.

"What denomination are you?"
"I'm afraid I'm not a deist."
"I see. Well, you aren't a Baptist, then?"
"No, far from it."
"It has been my experience that Baptists are very humorless people. They just seem to be very serious about the most mundane things, and have little sense of humor regarding man's spiritual and temporal failings. I find the humanity of man's failings to be quite humorous at times."
"I agree."

"Would you like to hear a funny story?"
"Sure."
"Do you know what a piscina is?"
"Never heard of it."


"A piscina is a little sink, usually located in the vestry. It's where consecrated fluids may be disposed of. Normally the priest will drink the small remnants of communion wine, after all the communicants have come to the altar rail. But there are some priests who are alcoholics, or recovering alcoholics, and they cannot. Canon law allows them to dispose of consecrated fluids by pouring them into the piscina. The piscina must NOT be connected to the plumbing used for other...um...'wastes'. The drain pipe must go deep into the earth."
"How deep?"
"I don't really know. Deep."

"So, what's the story?"
"Oh, yes. I was attending the opening of a new Episcopal church recently. After the ceremonies, the priest said 'I want to show you something.' As he walked me back toward the vestry, he said 'You won't believe this.' He led me into the room and pointed to the piscena. It was a virginal white urinal. Evidently the plumbing contractor had no idea what a piscena was, and made his best guess."

I learn something new almost every day.
;-)

[short bus president]

1. ***snarf***

pesky latin roots ALWAYS get the contractor in trouble...

[RagingInMiami]

2. It also means pool in Spanish

[Lannes]

3. and Piscine in French

[calico1]

4. Yes, that is what a swimming pool is called. n/t

[kodi]

5. The piscina is never, ever used as altar boys sneek drinking the wine

just ask one.

[Lisa]

6. they're lucky he didn't install a fish tank!

(another possiblity with that Latin root ...)


Pretty funny! I hope they keep the urinal (which seems perfectly functional for its new purpose) and that it becomes an in-joke at the church. Thanks for the laugh, trof!