The Church’s liturgical year proffers rich treasures in its cycles and practices. With Easter our Alleluias once again ring out. In the Latin Church we experience a monumental shift of tone in our rites. We change from sober violet (and black) vestments to our festive white and gold. Abundant flowers again grace our altars. The penance of Lent pays dividends in the joy of Easter.
Speaking of changes, during most of the year, where it is the practice, the principal Sunday Mass can begin with the “sprinkling rite” with Holy Water. This is a penitential moment of preparation to enter into the sacred mysteries. The priest intones the antiphon, taken from Ps 50/51, “Asperges me hyssopo et mundabor… Sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be purified”, and then he either goes up and down the nave, sprinkling the congregation as he goes, or he stands at the edge of the sanctuary.
