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Asperges is the rite of sprinkling a congregation withholy water. The name comes from the first word in the 9th verse ofPsalm 51 (Psalm 50 in theVulgate andSeptuagint) in theLatin translation which is sung during the traditional form of the rite (or optionally in the ordinary rite) except duringEastertide. The 51st Psalm is also one of theantiphons that may be sung in the rite under theMass of Paul VI.
Where the1962 Latin Missal is used, theAsperges is done before the principalMass on Sunday, except onPalm Sunday, when it is replaced with the blessing of palms followed by a procession;[1] it is also omitted when aPontifical High Mass is celebrated on Sundays. TheAsperges is so called from the words intoned at the beginning of the ceremony, taken from Psalm 50:3, throughout the year except atEastertide, whenVidi aquam (based on Ezechiel 47), withPsalm 116:1, is intoned. It precedes every other ceremony that may take place before the Mass, such as the blessing ofpalms or ofcandles. It is performed by the celebrantpriest wearing acope of theliturgical color of the day; the chasuble is never worn for theAsperges, or any other ceremony not strictly part of the Mass, in the traditional rite. It is omitted when theBlessed Sacrament is exposed, though many rubricists think that the sprinkling of thealtar only, not of the congregation, should then be omitted. After intoning the antiphon the priest recites the psalmMiserere orConfitemini, according to the season, sprinkling first the front and platform of the altar, then himself, next the ministers and choir, and lastly the congregation, usually walking through the main part of the church, though he need not go beyond the gate of thesanctuary or choir. The ceremony has been in use at least from the tenth century, growing out of the custom of early antiquity of blessing water for the faithful on Sundays. Its object is to prepare the congregation for the celebration of the Mass by moving them to sentiments ofpenance and reverence suggested by the words of the 50th psalm, or by impressing on them that they are about to assist at thesacrifice of our redemption as suggested in the psalm used atEaster time.[2]
Both theAsperges and theVidi aquam are structured like the Introit of the Tridentine Mass: 1st verse (which includes Alleluias in Eastertide), 2nd verse (always from the Psalms), Gloria Patri (omitted in Passiontide), and then the 1st verse again.
"On Sundays, especially inEastertide, the blessing of holy water and sprinkling with it may be carried out in memory of baptism. ... If the rite is performed withinMass it takes the place of the usual penitential act at the beginning of the Mass."[3]
During theEaster Vigil,Christmas, and theFeast of the Baptism of the Lord, many Catholic parish Masses reserve a part of the Mass during which theConfiteor or tropes may be said (at the start of the Mass) to renew the Baptismal promises; this may be accompanied by the use of holy water to bless the congregation. This Renewal of Baptismal Vows, along with Asperges, is common among Lutherans and Anglicans as well. During the Funeral Mass, thecasket is blessed with holy water and incense.
Thepriest blesses the water with one of the three prayers proposed (one of which is reserved for Eastertide). He may also bless salt and put it in the water, if local conditions or custom of the people favours doing so. Then he takes asprinkler (called anaspergillum, while the container it is dipped into is called anaspersorium), and sprinkles the clergy and people, preferably walking through the church to do so.
While the sprinkling is being done, an antiphon or a hymn is sung. TheRoman Missal proposes several, based on the following verses ofScripture:
But other suitable hymns are permitted.
Often, the antiphonAsperges Me is sung, except during theEaster season and onPalm Sunday, when it is replaced by the more lengthy and florid antiphon,Vidi aquam.
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In theEastern Orthodox Church and thoseEastern Catholic Churches which follow theByzantine Rite, the sprinkling of holy water takes place on numerous occasions. The most important is on theGreat Feast ofTheophany (Epiphany) following theGreat Blessing of Waters at the end of theDivine Liturgy.[4] The Great Blessing takes place twice: once on the Eve of the feast, and once on the day of the feast. At both blessings, the priest sprinkles the entiretemple (church building) and thefaithful. He then begins the process of going to each family's home to sprinkle it with the blessed "Theophany water".
Somemonasteries and churches have the tradition of blessing holy water and sprinkling on the first day of each month. There are also severalfeast days during the year when sprinkling with holy water is prescribed, such asBright Friday (Friday inEaster Week), the Feast of theProcession of the Cross on the first day of theDormition Fast, and the Feast ofMid-Pentecost (25 days afterEaster), when the fields are blessed with holy water. Certain ceremonies will also call for the blessing of holy water, such as theconsecration of a church.
The form ofaspergillum (holy water sprinkler) may differ from place to place. TheGreek Orthodox will use arandistirion which is a standing vessel with a tapered lid. The tip of the lid is pierced with small holes, from which the holy water is sprinkled. TheRussian Orthodox will use a whisk made of cotton, straw or hair from which the holy water is flung.
The blessing takes place at a holy water font orbaptismal font which has been placed in the center of the temple. There are two types of blessings: the Great Blessing of Waters (used on Theophany) and theLesser Blessing of Waters (used at other times). After blessing the holy water, the priest will bless himself and drink some of the holy water. He then stands next to the holy water font holding a blessing cross in his left hand and the aspergillum in his right. Each of the clergy and faithful come forward, drink a little of the newly blessed holy water and then kiss the cross in the priest's hand as he sprinkles them on the head with holy water. During this process, the choir will chant hymns, which differ depending upon the type of blessing being celebrated. He will also sprinkle the sanctuary and the entire church.
InLutheranism, asperges occurs as a part of theDivine Service on Easter Sunday as a remembrance of baptism.[5] The formula used is nearly identical to that of the Roman Catholic Church.[6][7]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wynne, John Joseph (1907). "Asperges". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company.| Sacraments | |||||||||||
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