The Asperges is a rite in which the priest sprinkles the people with holy water before the Mass while verses from Psalm 51 (50) are sung, followed by short responses and a Collect. This rite is performed throughout the year, Sunday by Sunday, though during Eastertide the antiphon Vidi Aquam from Ezekiel 47 is used with verses from Ps. 117 (116). The Asperges runs:
“Thou shalt purge me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness. Glory be…
GRACIOUSLY hear us O Lord, holy Father Almighty, everlasting God: and vouchsafe to send thy holy Angel from heaven to guard, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all who dwell in this house; through Christ our Lord. Amen. “
Though the rite is properly done in a liturgical setting with a sacramental (holy water), the antiphon and the accompanying prayers, with their themes of cleansing, renewal, mercy, salvation, and protection, can be sung by the faithful anywhere. But an especially appropriate and meaningful context to recite the Asperges is while washing oneself—in the shower, the bath, or even just while washing one’s hands at the sink. If we are awake to our holistic existence as soul and body, as psycho-somatic creatures, and that the health of the soul affects the health of the body and visa versa, then any opportunity to wash ourselves physically can become an opportunity to purify ourselves spiritually as well. In a sense, we can make washing a sacramental action if done intentionally, with prayer and devotion. And a wonderful way to do that can be through the private recitation (or better yet, singing, with the wonderful ancient melody) of that communal Sunday morning holy rite.
In addition, the powerful Collect at the end of the rite implores God to send an angel to “guard, cherish, protect, visit, and defend” all the inhabitants of the house, making this rite of washing and of protection a perfect prayer in times of sickness and pestilence.
If you’d like to print out your own Asperges card, here’s a downloadable pdf.