Aspergillums, undated

File — Box: 44, tray: 2, Item: 2-3

Scope and Contents

Aspergillums made of metal and wood.

Additional aspergillums can be found as part of sick call sets.

Dates

Creation: undated

Creator

From the Collection: Leonard, William J. (1908-2000) (Compiler, Person)

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

This collection is mostly in English, with some materials in French, German, Italian, Latin, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovenian, and Spanish.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Definition and use

An aspergillum is a wand with a hollow bulb at the end used for sprinkling holy water over a congregation as part of the Asperges rite. The rite usually takes place at the beginning of Mass and functions as a blessing, a preparation for Mass, or a reminder of baptism. The name comes from the antiphon most often chanted during the rite, which in Latin begins “Asperges me” (sprinkle/wash me).

Sources:

“Asperges,” Wikipedia, May 17, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperges.

“Asperges me,” Wikipedia, November 23, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperges_me.