Ash Wednesday
The Blessing of Ashes
The priest is vested in alb, purple stole, and cope if one is
available.
Ps. lxviii
[All] Hear us, O Lord, for Thy mercy is kind: look upon us, O Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.
[1.] Save me, O God, for the waters have come in, * even unto my soul.
[2.] Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
[1.] As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world
without end. Amen.
[All] Hear us, O Lord, for Thy mercy is kind: look upon us, O Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.
[Priest] The Lord be with you.
[All] And with thy spirit.
[Priest] O almighty and everlasting God, spare those who are penitent,
be merciful to those who supplicate Thee; and vouchsafe to send Thy holy angel
from heaven, to bless + and sanctify +
these ashes, that they may be a wholesome remedy to all who humbly implore Thy
holy name, and accuse themselves of the consciousness of their sins, deploring
their crimes before Thy divine clemency, or humbly and earnestly beseeching Thy
sovereign mercy: and grant through the invocation of Thy most holy name, that
all who have been sprinkled with them for the remission of sins, may receive
health of body and safety of soul. Through Christ our Lord.
[All] Amen.
[Priest] O God, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather their
repentance, look down most graciously upon the frailty of human nature, and in
Thy goodness vouchsafe to bless + these ashes which
we intend to put upon our heads in token of humility and that we may obtain
pardon; that we who know that we are dust, and for the penalty of our guilt must
return to dust, may deserve to obtain of Thy mercy the pardon of all sins, and
the rewards promised to penitents. Through Christ our Lord.
[All] Amen.
[Priest] O God, who art moved by humility, and appeased by
satisfaction, incline the ear of Thy goodness to our prayers, and favorably pour
forth upon the heads of Thy servants sprinkled with these ashes the grace of Thy
blessing; that Thou mayest both fill them with the spirit of compunction, and
effectually grant what they have just prayed for: and ordain that what Thou hast
granted may be permanently established and remain inviolate. Through Christ our
Lord.
[All] Amen.
[Priest] Almighty and eternal God, who didst grant the remedy of Thy
pardon to the Ninivites doing penance in ashes and sackcloth, mercifully grant
that we may so imitate them in our attitude that like them we may obtain
forgiveness.
[All] Amen.
The priest sprinkles and incenses the ashes three times.
The people receive the ashes kneeling at the altar rail.
[Priest] Remember man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt
return.
While the priest distributes the ashes, the congregation sings
or recites:
[1.] Let us change our garments for ashes and sackcloth. * Let us fast
and lament before the Lord.
[2.] For plenteous in mercy is our God * to forgive our sins.
[1.] Between the porch and the altar, * the priests, the Lord's
ministers shall weep and say:
[2.] Spare O Lord, spare Thy people, * and close not the mouths of
those that sing to Thee, O Lord.
[1.] Let us amend for the better * in those things in which we have
sinned through ignorance:
[2.] Lest, suddenly overtaken by the day of death, * we seek space for
repentance and are not able to find it.
[1.] Attend. O Lord, and have mercy: * for we have sinned against Thee
[2.] Help us, O God, our Savior: * and for the glory of Thy name
deliver us.
[1.] Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
[2.] Attend. O Lord, and have mercy: * for we have sinned against Thee
Having finished the distribution of
ashes, the priest washes his hands, and returns to the altar to pray:
[Priest] The Lord be with you.
[All] And with thy spirit.
[Priest] Grant us O Lord, to begin our Christian warfare with holy
fasts; that as we are about to do battle with the spirits of evil, we may be
defended by the aid of self denial. Through Christ our Lord.
[All] Amen.
Ash Wednesday
Holy Mass
Station: St. Sabina's
1° Class
Introit: Wisdom xi
M iseréris ómnium, Dómine, et nihil
odísti eórum quæ fecísti, dissímulans peccáta hóminum propter pœniténtiam
et parcens illis: quia tu es Dóminus Deus noster. [Ps.
lvi: 2] Miserére mei, Deus, miserére mei, quóniam in te
confídit ánima mea. Glória Patri. Miseréris
ómnium. |
T hou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hate
none of the things which Thou hast made, overlooking the sins of men for
the sake of repentance, and sparing them, because Thou art the Lord, our
God. [Ps.] Have mercy upon me, O God, have
mercy upon me, for my soul trusts in Thee. Glory. Thou hast. |
Collect:
P ræsta, Dómine, fidélibus tuis: ut
jejuniórum veneránda solémnia, et cóngrua pietáte suscípiant, et
secúra devotióne percúrrant. Per Dóminum. |
G rant, O Lord, to Thy faithful people that
they may begin the venerable solemnities of fasting with becoming piety,
and may persevere to the end with devotion. Through our Lord. |
2° ad poscenda
suffragia Sanctórum;
3° pro vivis et defunctis
Epistle: Joel ii: 12-19
Léctio Joëlis Prophétæ. |
A Lesson from the Prophet Joel: |
H æc dicit Dóminus: «Convertímini ad me
in toto corde vestro, in jejúnio, et in fletu, et in planctu. Et
scíndite corda vestra, et non vestiménta vestra, et convertímini ad
Dóminum Deum vestrum: quia benígnus, et miséricors est, pátiens, et
multæ misericórdiæ, et præstáblilis super malítia. Quis scit si
convertátur, et ignóscat et relínquat post et benedictiónem,
sacrifícium, et libámen Domino Deo vestro? Cánite tuba in Sion,
sanctificáte jejúnium, vocáte cœtum, congregáte pópulum
sanctificáte ecclésiam, coadunáte senes, congregáte párvulos, et
sugéntes úbera: egrediátur sponsus de cubíli suo, et sponsa de
thálamo suo. Inter vestibúlum et altáre plorábunt sacerdótes
minístri Dómini, et dicent: «Parce, Dómine, parce pópulo tuo: et ne
des hereditátem tuam in oppróbrium, ut dominéntur eis natiónes.»
Quare dicunt in pópulis. Ubi est Deus eórum?» Zelátus est Dóminus
terram suam, et pepércit pópulo suo. Et respóndit Dóminus et dixit
pópulo suo: «Ecce ego mittam vobis fruméntum, et vinum, et óleum, et
replebímini eis: et non dabo vos ultra oppróbrium in géntibus: dicit
Dóminus omnípotens.» |
T hus saith the Lord: «Be converted to Me
with all your heart, in fasting, in weeping, and in mourning. And rend
your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for He
is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent
of the evil. Who knoweth but He will return and forgive, and leave a
blessing behind Him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the
trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather together
the people, sanctify the Church, assemble the ancients, gather together
the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts. Let the bridegroom go
forth from his bed, and the bride from out of her bridal chamber. Between
the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep and
say: «Spare, O Lord, spare Thy people, and give not Thine inheritance to
reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.» Why should they say
among the nations: Where is their God?» The Lord hath been zealous for
His land, and hath spared His people. And the Lord answered, and said to
His people: «Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you
shall be filled with them, and I will no more make you a reproach among
the nations, saith the Lord.» |
Gradual: Ps. lvi
M iserére mei, Deus, miserére mei:
quóniam in te confídit ánima mea. v.
Misit de cælo, et liberávit me, dedit in oppróbrium conculcántes me. |
H ave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for my soul trusteth in Thee. v. He
hath sent from heaven and delivered me. He has made them a reproach that
trod upon me. |
Tract: Ps. cli
D ómine, non secundum peccáta nostra,
quæ fécimus nos: neque secúndum iniquitátes nostras retríbuas nobis.
[Ps. lxxviii 8-9] Dómine, ne memíneris iniquitátum nostrárum
antiquárum, cito antícipent nos misericórdiæ tuæ: quia páuperes
facti sumus nimis. [Those standing genuflect.]
Adjuva nos, Deus salutáris noster: et propter glóriam nóminis tui,
Dómine, líbera nos, et propítius esto peccátis nostris, propter nomen
tuum. |
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins
we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. [Ps.
lxxviii 8-9] O Lord, remember not our former iniquities, let Thy
mercies go quickly before us, for we are exceedingly poor. [Those
standing genuflect.] Help us, O God, our Savior; and for the glory
of Thy name, O Lord, deliver us; and forgive us our sins for Thy name's
sake. |
Gospel: Matthew vi: 16-21
+ Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secundum
Matthǽum. |
+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel
according to Matthew. |
I n illo tempore : Dixit Jesus discipulis
suis: «Cum jejunátis nolíte fíeri sicut hypócriæ, tristes.
Extérminant enim fácies suas, ut appáreant homínibus jejuántes. Amen
dico vobis, quia recéperunt mercédem suam. Tu autem, cum jejúnas, unge
caput tuum et fáciem tuam lava, ne videáris homínibus jejúnas, sed
Patri tuo, qui est in abscóndito: et Pater tuus, qui videt in abscóndito,
reddet tibi. Nolíte thesaurizáre vobis thesáuros in terra: ubi ærúgo,
et tinea demolítur; et ubi fures effódiunt, et furántur. Thesaurizáte
autem vobis thesáuros in cælo: ubi neque ærúgo neque tínea demolítur:
et ubi fures non effódiunt, nec furántur. Ubi enim est thesáurus tuus,
ibi est et cor tuum.» |
A t that time, Jesus said to His disciples,
«When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, who disfigure
their faces to appear to men as fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have
received their reward. But thou, when thou dost fast, anoint thy head and
wash thy face, so that thou mayest not be seen fasting by men, but by thy
Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who sees in secret, will reward
thee. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust and moth
consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor moth consumes, nor thieves
break in and steal. For where thy treasure is, there also will thy heart
be.» |
Offertory: Ps. xxix
E xaltábo te, Dómine, quóniam
suscepísti me, nec delectásti inimícos meos super me: Dómine, clamávi
ad te, et sanásti me. |
I will extoll Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast
upheld me, and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. O Lord, I have
cried to Thee, and Thou hast healed me. |
Secret:
Fac nos, quǽsumus, Dómine,
his munéribus offeréndis conveniénter aptári: quibus ipsíus
venerábilis sacraménti celebrámus exórdium. Per Dóminum. |
Do Thou, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
duly prepare us for the offering of these gifts, by which we celebrate the
institution of this venerable Sacrament. |
2° ad poscenda
suffragia Sanctórum;
3° pro vivis et defunctis
Preface of Lent
Præfátio de Quadragesima
Communion Hymn: Ps. i
Q ui meditabitur in lege Dómini die ac
nocte, dabit fructum suum in témpore suo. |
H e that shall meditate day and night on
the law of the Lord shall bring forth his fruit in due season. |
Postcommunion:
Percépta nobis, Dómine, prǽbeant
sacraménta subsídium, ut tibi grata sint nostra jejúnia, et nobis
profíciant ad medélam. Per Dóminum. |
May the sacraments which we have
received afford us help, O Lord, that our fasts may be pleasing to Thee,
and a profitable remedy. Through our Lord. |
2° ad poscenda
suffragia Sanctórum;
3° pro vivis et defunctis
Prayer over the People
[Priest] Orémus.
[Deacon or Priest] Humiliáte cápita vestra
Deo. |
[Priest] Let us pray.
[Deacon or Priest] Bow down your heads before
God. |
I nclinántes se Dómine, majestáti tuæ,
propitiátus inténde; ut, qui divíno múnere sunt refécti, cæléstibus
semper nutriántur auxíliis. Per Dóminum. |
L ook down, O God, in Thy mercy, upon those
who bow before Thy majesty; that they who are refreshed by Thy divine gift
may ever be sustained through heavenly aid. Through our Lord. |
V. Benedicámus Dómino.
R. Deo grátias. |
V. Let us bless the Lord
R. Thanks be to God. |
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