You may have noticed that during the Easter season we have been using the Sprinkling Rite at Sunday Mass in place of the Penitential Act (“Lord, have mercy”). Some parishioners have asked why we do this, especially when they may not see it done in every Catholic church.

During the Easter season, the Church especially invites us to remember our Baptism, through which we share in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The blessed water used in the Sprinkling Rite reminds us that through Baptism we were washed clean, made children of God, and given new life in Christ.

As the priest sprinkles the congregation with holy water, we are invited to renew in our hearts the grace of our Baptism and remember that Easter is not only something Jesus experienced long ago—it is a new life we are called to live today.

You may notice that some Catholic churches choose not to use the Sprinkling Rite during Easter. The Church allows for either option. Here at St. Matthew, we choose to make use of this beautiful Easter tradition throughout the Easter season through Pentecost, helping us celebrate more deeply the joy of the Resurrection and renew our awareness of the gift of Baptism.

We also encourage parishioners to keep holy water in their homes and make use of this beautiful Catholic tradition throughout the year. Blessing ourselves with holy water reminds us that we belong to Christ, renews our awareness of God’s presence, and recalls the grace first given to us in Baptism. Consider blessing yourself each day—perhaps when leaving home in the morning, upon returning home, or before bed.

If you would like holy water for your home, you are welcome to take it from our Baptismal Font, a beautiful reminder of the Baptism through which we became children of God.

May this Easter season renew in all of us the joy of being God’s beloved sons and daughters, living the new life Christ has won for us.