The Brief: A photo of a priest in a mask squirting holy water at people with a water gun became a viral meme on May 15.
DEEP DIVE
During the COVID-19 pandemic where six feet social distancing rules are in strict effect, some must find creative ways to get their jobs done, like clergy who shake hands and touch many people in a day. One priest found a fun way to bless people with holy water: a water gun.
A picture of a priest wearing and mask and using a water gun to bless people (with what most presume is holy water) while maintaining his distance, went viral on Twitter. The picture received over 571,000 likes after it was shared on May 15. According to Buzzfeed, the photos, which were taken by parishioner Larry Peplin, received some attention when they were first posted by St. Ambrose Parish on Facebook in April 2020, but Twitter is where it found a new life.
A Priest giving social distance blessings with a squirt pistol and what, I'm assuming, is Holy water. 2020 folks. pic.twitter.com/iDnYs33hs9
— Jeff Barnaby (@tripgore) May 15, 2020
The photo became a meme almost instantly.
Sinners and quarantine breakers get excommunicated from life. pic.twitter.com/9c9NWE7vC9
— lonefirewarrior (@lonefirewarrior) May 16, 2020
When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death but also make time for some fun along the way pic.twitter.com/z6iCDtKPjA
— long time no seal (@HNSeal2) May 16, 2020
— Dong Copter (@AdamantAnarchy) May 16, 2020
— Mrs. Dong Copter (@HitCockBottom) May 16, 2020
— Twitrarn (@twitrarn) May 16, 2020
Translation: “God bless you… piu piu.”
— π²π½BRFπ² (@bryant_rf) May 16, 2020
The moment was also turned into an appropriate piece of art.
— πππ ππππ₯π βπ£π¦π« ππ πππ£ (@SANTACRUZJ0KER) May 16, 2020
The priest made his movie debut, sort of…
— Jack Hurley (@Hurleyj44) May 16, 2020