Reading
Deuteronomy 7:6,8,9  

For you are a people sacred to the Lord, your God; he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own.  It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations.  It was because the Lord loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  Understand, then, that the Lord, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments,

RESPONSORY
God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.
God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.
From those who would trap me with lying words
-and from the hunter's snare.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon:
When you fast, do not put on a gloomy face like the hypocrites.

Intercessions
Today God our Father brings us to the beginning of Lent. We pray that in this time of salvation he will fill us with the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. Let us humbly ask him:  

Lord, give us your Holy Spirit.

May we be filled and satisfied,
 - by the word which you give us. (R.)
Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments,
 - but above all in the ordinary events of daily life. (R.)
May we abstain from what we do not really need,
 - and help our brothers and sisters in distress.(R.)
May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies,
 - for through his body he gave us life. (R.)

Our Father...

Lord,
protect us in our struggle against evil.
As we being the discipline of Lent,
make this day holy by our self-denial.
Grant this...

Reading
Ezekiel 18:30b-32

Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
 - Renew in me a steadfast spirit.

Antiphon: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to me and live.

Reading
Zechariah 1:3b-4b

Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Be not like your fathers whom the former prophets warned: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn from your evil ways and from your wicked deeds.

Turn away your face from my sins.
 - Blot out all my guilt.

Antiphon: Armed with God's justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.

Reading
Daniel 4:24b
Atone for your sins by good deeds, and for your misdeeds by kindness to the poor; then your prosperity will be long."

My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.
 - A humble contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

Philippians 2:12b-15a

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish.

RESPONSORY
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;  
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;
heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
I make my prayer for mercy;
Glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;  

MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

INTERCESSIONS
All glory and honor to God, for in the blood of Christ he has ratified a new and everlasting covenant with his people, and renews it in the sacrament of the altar.  Let us lift our voices in prayer:
  Bless your people, Lord.
Lord, guide the minds and hearts of peoples and all in public office,
 - may they seek the common good.
Renew the spirit of dedication in those who have left all to follow Christ,
 - may they give clear witness to the holiness of the Church.
You have made all men and women in your image,
 - may they give clear witness to the holiness of the Church.
You have made all men and women in your image,
 - may they always uphold human dignity,
Lead back to your friendship and truth all who have gone astray,
 - teach us how to help them.
Grant that the dead may enter into your glory,
 - to praise you for ever.

Our Father...

Lord,
protect us in our struggle against evil.
As we being the discipline of Lent,
make this day holy by our self-denial.
Grant this...