Notes from the Pastor [4]
(Please note this is an archival post that is decades old. Msgr. Awalt passed away a number of years ago.)
Let us consider a drop of water. I have already mentioned blessing yourself with water as you enter the church. Sometimes the Penitential Rite is conducted with the sprinkling of water upon the congregation, again reminding them of both baptism and as we beseech God for mercy and forgiveness. Mercy does not mean just forgiveness; rather is is also asking for God’s help and presence in our lives– in living out the vocation He has given us.
While many drops are scattered in the sprinkling, there is a single drop of water placed into the wine of the chalice just prior to the offertory prayer. The drop of water in the wine along with the bread will be consecrated into the body and blood of Christ. The drop of water is symbolic of our union with the person of Jesus (His presence) at Mass as we go to the Father. The prayer used at the mingling of water and wine is pregnant with meaning: “Through the mystery of this water and wine may we share in the divinity of Christ who humbles himself to share in our humanity.”
What an incredible journey for this little drop of water… what a journey for us as we approach the Father through Christ!
William J. Awalt
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Blogger Priest 
Not exactly the same. The Asperges/Vidi aquam during Paschal Times. is a 15century rite which precedes the Main Sunday Mass, Missa Cantata, is performed by the celebrant who sprinkles the congregation with holy water while verse 8 from Psalm 50 is sung/chanted. This rite grew out of a 9th century practice of the priest blessing holy water on Sundays.
The Asperges is performed by the priest before Mass, dressed in his alb, stole and sometimes cope of the current liturgical color and accompanied by a server on his left baring the vessel of holy water. The Antiphon Asperges Me is intoned, the altar sprinkled three times. then himself and his server and then the congregation, usually going down and then up the main isle while sprinkling.
Something similar to this may be provided in the Novus Ordo but I have never experienced it, therefore I am led to believe it is seldom if ever used in the ordinary form.
The Aspergis is still a very important part of the Traditional Latin High Mass in the Roman Rite.. This is the sprinkling of holy water gping down the maon aisle by the celebrant before the Mass begins at the prayers at the foot of the altar. Vatican II elimated this as they did so many traditional and historic practices.