Water has always been an important part of the church. It has symbolized baptism, rebirth, and cleansing throughout the Bible. In Exodus, the Red Sea, sets the Isrealites free. Before entering their temples, " the Jews underwent a purification process by immersion in a mikvah (it looks like a mini swimming pool...) These ritual purifications by water were the bases of Christian Baptism, which we (Catholics) recall when we bless ourselves (cross ourselves) using holy water upon entering our churches. Devoutly blessing one's self with Holy Water forgives minor sins. " (http://www.fisheaters.com/water.html) When you enter a Catholic Church or Cathedral, you may see water fonts on either side of the door or standing free.
Other than this traditional weekly reminder of the baptism, there are certain masses at which a Priest sprinkles water on the congregation such as on Easter Sunday. On this day he walks through the church with an aspersory and an aspergill. (the first is the bucket of water, the second the stick? that the priest uses to sprinkle the water onto the people.)
This sprinkling, called asperges, can sometimes be found prior to the beginning of the weekly masses. I'm not 100% sure of anything about this practice, because I have never seen it implemtented in any of the Catholic Churches I've been to, but perhaps I may encounter it at World Youth Day in August...? (WYD is an international gathering of young Catholics in one city every three years. This year it's in Madrid, Spain.) According to the Catholic Encyclopedia: “The ceremony [of the Asperges me and the Vidi Aquam] 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.”
A little Latin lesson: asperges means thou shalt sprinkle... bet you didn't guess that one! : )
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