Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
[ad_1] noun Roman Catholic Church.
- the rite of sprinkling the altar, clergy, and people with holy water before High Mass.
noun RC Church
- a short rite preceding Mass, in which the celebrant sprinkles those present with holy water to the accompaniment of the chant Asperges me, Domine
- the chant opening with these words
1550s, from Latin asperges, 2nd person singular future indicative of aspergere “to scatter, strew upon, sprinkle,” from ad “to” (see ad-) + spargere “to sprinkle” (see sparse). The word is taken from the phrase Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor, from Psalm 51 (Vulgate), sung during the rite of sprinkling a congregation with holy water.