On Sundays, especially in Easter Time, the blessing and sprinkling of water as a memorial of Baptism may take place from time to time in all churches and chapels, even in Masses anticipated on Saturday evenings. If this rite is celebrated during Mass, it takes the place of the usual Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass.
After the greeting, the priest stands at his chair and faces the people. With a vessel containing the water to be blessed before him, he calls upon the people to pray in these or similar words:
Dear brethren (brothers and sisters), let us humbly beseech the lord our God to bless this water he has created, which will be sprinkled on us as a memorial of our Baptism. May he help us by his grace to remain faithful to the spirit we have received.
And after a brief pause for silence, he continues with hands joined:
Almighty ever-living God, who willed that through water, the fountain of life and the source of purification, even souls should be cleansed and receive the gift of eternal life; be pleased, we pray, to bless this water, by which we seek protection on this your day, O Lord. Renew the living spring of your grace within us and grant that by this water we may be defended from all ills of spirit and body, and so approach you with hearts made clean and worthily receive your salvation. Through Christ our Lord.*
R. Amen.
Afterward, taking the aspergillum, the Priest sprinkles himself and the ministers, then the clergy and people, moving through the church, if appropriate. Meanwhile, one of the following chants, or another appropriate chant is sung.
Antiphon 1 Outside of Easter Time (Ps 51:9)
Sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be cleansed; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.**
Antiphon 1 for Easter Time (cf. Ez 47: 1-2, 9)
I saw water flowing from the Temple, from its right-hand side, alleluia: and all to whom this water came were saved and shall say: Alleluia, alleluia.**
When he returns to his chair and the singing is over, the Priest stands facing the people and, with hands joined, says:
May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the celebration of this Eucharist make us worthy to share at the table of his Kingdom.
R. Amen.
*There are two other options for the prayer of blessing.
**There are several options for chants and hymns both during and outside of Easter Time.
