1. Plural of asperges; the sprinkling of holy water on the congregation at the beginning of a Catholic Mass.
Usage: religious; liturgical; formal

Examples

• The priest performed the aspergeses before the start of Sunday Mass.
• During the aspergeses, the congregation bowed their heads respectfully.
• The ritual of aspergeses dates back centuries in Catholic tradition.
• The holy water used in aspergeses is blessed by the priest.
• Many parishioners appreciate the symbolic cleansing of aspergeses at the beginning of worship.