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.

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.


GOSPEL ANTIPHON
If today you hear his voice,/ harden not your hearts.


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.” sees what is hidden will repay you.”


BLESSING AND GIVING OF ASHES

After the homily, the priest joins his hands and says:

Dear friends in Christ,
let us ask our Father
to bless these ashes
which we will use
as the mark of our repentance.

Pause for silent prayer.

Lord,
bless the sinner who asks for your forgiveness
and bless + all those who receive these ashes.
May they keep this lenten season
in preparation for the joy of Easter.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Or:

Lord,
bless these ashes +
by which we show that we are dust.
Pardon our sins
and keep us faithful to the discipline of Lent,
for you do not want sinners to die
but to live with the risen Christ,
who reigns with you for ever and ever.


DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASHES

The minister then places the ashes on those who come forward, saying to each:

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.

Or:

Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return.

Meanwhile some of the following antiphons or other appropriate songs are sung.

Antiphon 1
Come back to the Lord with all your heart;
leave the past in ashes,
and turn to God with tears and fasting,
for he is slow to anger and ready to forgive.

Antiphon 2
Let the priests and ministers of the Lord
lament before his altar, and say:
Spare us, Lord; spare your people!
Do not let us die for we are crying out to you.

Antiphon 3
Lord, take away our wickedness.

These may be repeated after each verse of Psalm 51, "Have mercy on me, O God."


RESPONSORY

Direct our hearts to better things, O Lord;
heal our sin and ignorance.
Lord, do not face us suddenly with death,
but give us time to repent. (See Bar. 3:5)

R. Turn to us with mercy, Lord: we have sinned against you.

V. Help us, God our savior, rescue us for the honor of your name.

R. Turn to us with mercy, Lord; we have sinned against you.

After the giving of ashes the minister's hands are washed; the rite concludes with the general intercessions or prayer of the faithful.


INTERCESSIONS

The intercessions are then said. The minister introduces them and an assisting minister or one of those present announces the intentions. From the following those best suited to the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the particular circumstances may be composed.

Minister: Our merciful Father does not desire the death of sinners but rather that they should turn from their sins and have life. Let us pray that we who are sorry for our sins may fear no future evil and sin no more.

R. Lord, hear our prayer.

Assisting minister: By human weakness we have disfigured the holiness of the Church: pardon all our sins and restore us to full communion with our brothers and sisters. /R.

Grant the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life to those who will be baptized this Easter. /R.

Your mercy is our hope: welcome us to the sacrament of reconciliation. /R.

Give us the will to change our lives, and the lives of others, by charity, good example, and prayer. /R.

Make us a living sign of your love for all to see: people reconciled with you and each other. /R.

The profession of faith is not said.


PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Lord, help us to resist temptation
by our lenten works of charity and penance.
By this sacrifice
may we be prepared to celebrate
the death and resurrection of Christ our Savior
and be cleansed from sin and renewed in spirit.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.


PREFACE OF LENT IV

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

Through our observance of Lent you correct our faults
and raise our minds to you,
you help us to grow in holiness,
and offer us the reward of everlasting life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him the angels and all the choirs of heaven
worship in awe before your presence.
May our voices be one with theirs
as they sing with joy the hymn of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.


COMMUNION ANTIPHON
The man who meditates day and night on the law of the Lord will yield fruit in due season. (Ps 1:2-3)


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord,
through this communion
may our lenten penance give you glory
and bring us your protection
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.


FINAL BLESSING

The minister concludes the rite by saying:

May the Father bless us, for he has adopted us as his children. R. Amen.

May the Son come to help us, for he has received us as brothers and sisters. R. Amen.

May the Spirit be with us, for he has made us his dwelling place. R. Amen.

A priest or deacon then blesses all present:

And may almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.

Prayer Source: Book of Blessings; Prepared by International Commission on English in the Liturgy, A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1989