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Aspersion (la.aspergere/aspersio), in areligious context, is the act of sprinkling withwater, especiallyholy water. Aspersion is a method used inbaptism as an alternative toimmersion oraffusion. The word is formed of theLatinaspergere, 'to sprinkle', ofad, 'to', andspargo, 'I scatter' (Ezekiel 36:25–26, 1 Corinthians 10:2, cf. Psalm 77:16-20).
In addition, aspersion is performed as part of certain rites to remind people of their baptism, such as the renewal of baptismal vows performed by theCatholic Church andLutheran Church atEaster.
Baptism byaffusion (pouring) was allowed in exceptional circumstances in the early church, being allowed by theDidache:
There are no accounts that clearly show sprinkling rather than pouring or immersion was used.
The normal form of baptism for the first centuries—until at least the twelfth century—was immersion.[citation needed] However, when a person could not be immersed, baptism by aspersion or affusion was performed. There are records of people receiving baptism in prison, awaiting martyrdom, where immersion would be difficult or impossible, but the most common use was for a person who was ill and could not be removed from the bed; it therefore received the name "baptism of the sick." Because of its rarity, doubts arose about its validity, as is shown by St.Cyprian's affirming it in the face of questioning.
At the time, baptism by aspersion, as by affusion, was regarded as a bar to Holy Orders; this appears to spring from the baptized person having put off baptism until he was in danger of death.[citation needed]
In the West, baptism by aspersion and affusion slowly became the common practice in later centuries.
In aspersion, anaspergillum may be used to place the water on the skin.
TheCatholic Church regards baptism by aspersion as valid only if the water actually flows on the person's skin and is thus equivalent to pouring ("affusion").[1] If there is doubt about this,conditional baptism is administered.
While the root of the word "baptize" can mean "to immerse", the word is used in the New Testament also of a mere partial washing (Luke 11:38). Nevertheless, someChristian denominations have taught that baptism not only by aspersion but even byaffusion is invalid.
