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"SPRINKLING RITE"
Whenever a group of people gather for a public event, it is usual for them to identify themselves in some way. Uniforms, team jackets, or color-coded name tags announce to both friend and stranger alike common interests or origins. At the Sunday Eucharist we remind ourselves of our kinship with one another and with Christ Jesus through Baptism in the "Sprinkling Rite."
This "Sprinkling Rite," familiar to some as the "Asperges" from the Sunday pre-Vatican II Liturgy (from the first words in Latin that were chanted during this Rite), calls to mind our union with the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus. The Revised Rite of Vatican II reminds us that the Sprinkling Rite is appropriate at all Sunday Liturgies, but most especially during the Paschal Season. In fact, during the Paschal Season the "Sprinkling Rite" should begin each and every Sunday Mass as it expresses the Paschal character of Sunday.
After the sign of the cross and the greeting, the "Sprinkling Rite" is actually the first option for all Sunday Masses, and the Penitential Rite is a second option. Only during the Penitential Seasons of Advent and Lent should the Penitential Rite be preferred.
The "Rite of Sprinkling" is quite simple. The Presider invites the gathered assembly to pray in silence. Then he blesses the water, unless the water blessed during the Holy Saturday Vigil is used, after which, the Presider fills the bucket with this blessed water, and then proceeds to walk through the church generously sprinkling the gathered assembly, or the people may come forward in a procession and sign themselves with the water. In either case, an abundant use of water signifies God's overflowing love and mercy.
As in the Sacrament of Baptism itself, many levels of meaning come into play. The water itself signifies newness of life, cleansing and forgiveness of sins, protection from evil, God's saving deeds, and recalls our dying to self to live for Christ as we experienced during our Baptism when we were submerged three times in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The Gloria is usually sung during this Rite.
After the "Sprinkling Rite" and Opening Prayer, the Liturgy of the Word begins. Immediately we do what baptized people are called to do: we listen to God's Holy Word, we offer prayers for the needs of all, we give thanks and praise and we share in the Body and the Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Conscious of our shared baptismal heritage, we are sent forth to announce the Good News of Jesus which we ourselves have heard and experienced.
The "Sprinkling Rite" is a renewal of our Baptism.
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