Asperges

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Asperges is the ceremony of sprinkling the people with holy water before High Mass in the Roman Catholic Church and some other Churches. It is an act of preparation representing a spiritual cleansing of sins, and is not part of the mass. A brush used for sprinkling is an aspergill (aspergillum), and the vessel for the water is an aspersorium. The act of sprinkling of the water is called aspersion. Asperges originates from the Latin aspergere meaning to sprinkle.

The rite of sprinkling is accompanied by a text from Psalm 51. The Asperges is used by Catholics using the Liturgical rites from before the Second Vatican Council as well as in the Anglican Independent Church, in which it is done on major feast days

During the ceremony, the Priest, vested in a Cope, procedes up and down the aisle sprinkling those present with holy water. He then prepares for Mass by replacing the cope with a Chasuble and the liturgy continues.

During Eastertide the Asperges is replaced by Vidi aquam from Psalm 117.

Text of the Asperges and Vidi Aquam is as follows:

Asperges Me
	Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.	Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall become whiter than snow.
	Ps. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.	Ps. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.
	V.: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto . . .	V.: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost . . .
	Antiphona.Asperges me, Domine . . .	Antiphon. Thou shalt sprinkle me . . .
	V. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. R. Et salutare tuum da nobis. V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.	V. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy. R. And grant us Thy salvation. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come before Thee. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
	Oremus.--Exaudi nos, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, et mittere digneris sanctum Angelum tuum de coelis, qui custodiat, foveat, protegat, visitet atque defendat omnes habitantes in hoc habitaculo. Pro Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.	Let us pray.--Hear us, O holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, and vouchsafe to send Thy holy Angel from heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit and defend all that are assembled in this place: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From Easter to Whitsunday:Vidi Aquam
	Vidi aquam egredientem de templo a latare dextro, alleluia: et omnes ad quos pervenit aqua ista salvi facti sunt et dicent: alleluia, alleluia.	I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia; and all they to whom that water came were saved; and they shall say: alleluia, alleluia.
	Ps. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus: quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.	Ps. Praise the Lord, because He is good; because His mercy endureth forever.
	V.: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto . . .	V.: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost . . .
	V. Ostende nobis . . . as above, withalleluia.	V. Show us . . . as above, withalleluia.