MASS



ASH WEDNESDAY

According to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church

In the course of today's Mass, ashes are blessed and distributed. These are made from the olive branches or branches of other trees that were blessed the previous year.

Introductory Rites and Liturgy of the Word

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON          Wis 11: 24, 25, 27
Misereris omnium, Domine, et nihil odisti eorum quae fecisti, dissimulans peccata hominum propter paenitentiam et parcens illis, quia tu es Dominus Deus noster.
You are merciful to all, O Lord,
and despise nothing that you have made.
You overlook people's sins, to bring them to repentance,
and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God.


The Penitential Act is omitted, and the Distribution of Ashes takes its place.


COLLECT
Concede nobis, Domine, praesidia militiae christianae sanctis inchoare ieiuniis, ut, contra spiritales nequitias pugnaturi, continentiae muniamur auxiliis.
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting
this campaign of Christian service,
so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils,
we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel                                         2:12-18
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.


- PSALM 51 -
51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

Miserére, Dómine, quia peccávimus.
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.     
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.     
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.     
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.     
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.     


SECOND READING

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians                     5:20-6:2
Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Hodie, nolite obdurare corda vestra, sed vocem Domine audite.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.


GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew                     6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."


Blessing and Distribution of Ashes

After the Homily, the Priest, standing with hands joined, says:

Deum Patrem, fratres carissimi, suppliciter deprecemur, ut hos cineres, quos paenitentiae causa capitibus nostris imponimus, ubertate gratiae suae benedicere dignetur.
Dear brethren (brothers and sisters), let us humbly ask God our Father
that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of his grace
these ashes, which we will put on our heads in penitence.

After a brief prayer in silence, and, with hands extended, he continues:

Deus, qui humiliatione flecteris et satisfactione placaris, aurem tuae pietatis precibus nostris inclina, et super famulos tuos, horum cinerum aspersione contactos, gratiam tuae benedictionis effunde propitius, ut, quadragesimalem observantiam prosequentes, ad Filii tui paschale mysterium celebrandum purificatis mentibus pervenire mereantur.
O God, who are moved by acts of humility
and respond with forgiveness to works of penance,
lend your merciful ear to our prayers
and in your kindness pour out the grace of your  blessing
on your servants who are marked with these ashes,
that, as they follow the Lenten observances,
they may be worthy to come with minds made pure
to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of your Son.
Through Christ our Lord
R. Amen.

Or:

Deus, qui non mortem sed conversionem desideras peccatorum, preces nostras clementer exaudi, et hos cineres, quos capitibus nostris imponi decernimus benedicere pro tua pietate dignare, ut qui nos cinerem esse et in pulverem reversuros cognoscimus quadragesimalis exercitationis studio, peccatorum veniam et novitatem vitae, ad imaginem Filii tui resurgentis, consequi valeamus.
O God, who desire not the death of sinners,
but their conversion,
mercifully hear our prayers
and in your kindness be pleased to bless + these ashes,
which we intend to receive upon our heads,
that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes
and shall return to dust,
may, through a steadfast observance of Lent,
gain pardon for sins and newness of life
after the likeness of your Risen Son.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

He sprinkles the ashes with holy water, without saying anything.

Then the Priest places ashes on the head of all those present who come to him, and says
to each one:

Paenitemini, et credite Evangelio.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.

Or:

Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Meanwhile, the following are sung:

ANTIPHON 1
Immutemur habitu, in cinere et cilicio, ieiunemus, et ploremus ante Dominum, quia multum misericors est dimittere peccata nostra Deus noster.
Let us change our garments to sackcloth and ashes,
let us fast and weep before the Lord,
that our God, rich in mercy, might forgive us our sins.

ANTIPHON 2          Cf. Jl 2: 17; Est 4: 17
Inter vestibulum et altare plorabunt sacerdotes ministri Domini, et dicent: Parce, Domine, parce populo tuo, et ne claudas ora canentium te, Domine
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,
stand between the porch and the altar and weep and cry out:
Spare, O Lord, spare your people;
do not close the mouths of those who sing your praise, O Lord.

ANTIPHON 3           Ps 51 (50): 3
Dele, Domine, iniquitatem meam.
Blot out my transgressions, O Lord.

This may be repeated after each verse of Psalm 51 (50): Have mercy on me, O God.

RESPONSORY           Cf. Bar 3: 2; Ps 79 (78): 9
Emendemus in melius, quae ignoranter peccavimus, ne subito praeoccupati die mortis quaeramus spatium paenitentiae, et invenire non possimus. Attende, Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi. Adiuva nos, Deus salutaris noster, et propter honorem nominis tui, Domine, libera nos.
R. Let us correct our faults which we have committed in ignorance,
let us not be taken unawares by the day of our death,
looking in vain for leisure to repent.
* Hear us, O Lord, and show us your mercy, for we have sinned against you.
V. Help us, O God our Savior;
for the sake of your name, O Lord, set us free.
* Hear us, O Lord, and show us your mercy, for we have sinned against you.

Another appropriate chant may also be sung.

After the distribution of ashes, the Priest washes his hands and proceeds to the Universal
Prayer, and continues the Mass in the usual way.

The Creed is not said.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist



PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Sacrificium quadragesimalis initii sollemniter immolamus, te, Domine, deprecantes, ut per paenitentiae caritatisque labores a noxiis voluptatibus temperemus, et, a peccatis mundati, ad celebrandam Filii tui passionem mereamur esse devoti.
As we solemnly offer
the annual sacrifice for the beginning of Lent,
we entreat you, O Lord,
that, through works of penance and charity,
we may turn away from harmful pleasures
and, cleansed from our sins, may become worthy
to celebrate devoutly the Passion of your Son.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.


Preface III or IV of Lent.

PREFACE OF LENT III
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus: Qui nos per abstinentiam tibi gratias referre voluisti, ut ipsa et nos peccatores ab insolentia mitigaret, et, egentium proficiens alimento, imitatores tuae benignitatis efficeret. Et ideo, cum innumeris Angelis, una te magnificamus laudis voce dicentes: Sanctus.

It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God.

For you will that our self-denial should give you thanks,
humble our sinful pride,
contribute to the feeding of the poor,
and so help us imitate you in your kindness.

And so we glorify you with countless Angels,
as with one voice of praise we acclaim:

Holy, holy, holy...


PREFACE OF LENT IV
Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus: Qui corporali ieiunio vitia comprimis, mentem elevas, virtutem largiris et praemia: per Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Caeli caelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: Sanctus.

It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God.

For through bodily fasting you restrain our faults,
raise up our minds, and bestow both virtue and its rewards,
through Christ our lord.

Through him the Angels praise your majesty,
Dominions adore and Powers tremble before you.
Heaven and the Virtues of heaven
and the blessed Seraphim worship together with exultation.
May our voices, we pray,
join with theirs in humble praise, as we acclaim:

Holy, holy, holy...


COMMUNION ANTIPHON         Cf. Ps 1: 2-3
Qui meditabitur in lege Domini die ac nocte, dabit fructum suum in tempore suo.
He who ponders the law of the Lord day and night
will yield fruit in due season.


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Percepta nobis, Domine, praebeant sacramenta subsidium, ut tibi grata sint nostra ieiunia, et nobis proficiant ad medelam.
May the Sacrament we have received sustain us, O Lord,
that our Lenten fast may be pleasing to you
and be for us a healing remedy.
Through Christ our Lord.


PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
For the dismissal, the Priest stands facing the people and, extending his hands over them, says this prayer:

Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God,
on those who bow before your majesty,
and by your mercy may they merit the rewards you promise
to those who do penance.
Through Christ our Lord.

The blessing and distribution of ashes may also take place outside Mass. In this case, the rite is preceded by a Liturgy of the Word, with the Collect, and the readings with their chants as at Mass. Then there follow the Homily and the blessing and distribution of ashes. The rite is concluded with the Universal Prayer, the Blessing, and the Dismissal of the Faithful.



Source: The Roman Missal




 
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