Aspersion

Encyclopedia : A : AS : ASP : Aspersion

Aspersion is the act of sprinkling with water, especially holy water. Aspersion is a method used in baptism as an alternative to immersion ^[1] or affusion. The word is formed of the Latin aspergere, 'to sprinkle', of ad, 'to', and spargo, 'I scatter'.^[1]

In addition, aspersion is performed as part of certain rites to remind people of their baptism, such as the renewal of baptismal vows performed by the Roman Catholic Church on Easter.

Contents

1 Apostolic times
2 Early Christianity
3 Later Developments
4 References

Apostolic times

St. Peter is said to have once baptized five thousand people in one day; this was most likely accomplished by aspersion ^[2] or affusion. Baptism by affusion was certainly in practice in Apostolic times, being prescribed by the Didache

And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

but there are no accounts that clearly show that sprinkling rather than pouring was used.

Early Christianity

The normal form of baptism for the first centuries -- until at least the twelth century -- was immersion. However, when a person could not be immersed, baptism by aspersion or affusion was performed, which certainly included aspersion as well as affusion. There are records of people receiving baptism in prison, awaiting martyrdom, where immersion would be difficult or impossible, but the commonest use was for a person who was ill and could not be removed from the bed; it therefore received the name "baptism of the sick." Because of its rarity, doubt were entertained about its validity, as is shown by St. Cyprian's affirming it in the face of questioning.

You have asked also, dearest son, what I thought of those who obtain God's grace in sickness and weakness, whether they are to be accounted legitimate Christians, for that they are not to be washed, but sprinkled, with the saving water. In this point, my diffidence and modesty prejudges none, so as to prevent any from feeling what he thinks right, and from doing what he feels to be right. As far as my poor understanding conceives it, I think that the divine benefits can in no respect be mutilated and weakened; nor can anything less occur in that case, where, with full and entire faith both of the giver and receiver, is accepted what is drawn from the divine gifts. . . .nor ought it to trouble any one that sick people seem to be sprinkled or affused, when they obtain the Lord's grace, when Holy Scripture speaks by the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, and says, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from alI your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you." Also in Numbers: "And the man that shall be unclean until the evening shall be purified on the third day, and on the seventh day shall be clean: but if he shall not be purified on the third day, on the seventh day he shall not be clean. And that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of sprinkling hath not been sprinkled upon him." And again: "And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: thou shall sprinkle them with the water of purification." And again: "The water of sprinkling is a purification." Whence it appears that the sprinkling also of water prevails equally with the washing of salvation; and that when this is done in the Church, where the faith both of receiver and giver is sound, all things hold and may be con- summated and perfected by the majesty of the Lord and by the truth of faith.

At the time, baptism by aspersion, as by infusion, was regarded as a bar to Holy Orders; this appears to spring from the baptized person having put off baptism until he was in danger of death.

Later Developments

Baptism by aspersion and infusion slowly became the common practice in later centuries.

While the Roman Catholic Church regards aspersion as valid if properly performed, the proper performance requires that the water must touch the skin of the person baptized. If there was doubt about this, a conditional baptism may be performed.

In subsequent times, because the root of "baptize" means not only "to wash" but "to immerse" some Christians have denied that baptism by aspersion is valid.

References

This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. [link]
Maskell, William. 1846. Monumenta ritualia ecclesiæ anglicanæ. I. 209. [link]
[The Didache]
[Catholic Encyclopedia "Baptism"]
[Cyprian Epistle 75]

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.