ASH WEDNESDAY
Today's Mass embodies the spirit of Lent.
All are reminded to be sorry for sin and to do penance, but not in a
spirit of showy sadness or of inward despair. Rather, let the sincere
and humble prepare with inner joy to celebrate their baptism in
Christ. By living their baptismal promises, they enter more deeply into
Christ's suffering. Knowing God's desire to forgive, to heal, and to
share with all men His own divine life, we discipline our passions
gladly and with confidence in victory. God gives the grace for every
Lenten restraint. Therefore everyone should receive the blessed ashes,
both as a means of grace and as a reminder to do penance unobtrusively,
for personal sins and for the sins of all mankind.
Before the Mass, the celebrant vested in alb, purple stole, and cope, goes up to the altar for the blessing of the ashes.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASHES
The celebrant stands and receives ashes on his head; he then distributes them to the clergy and the congregation, who kneel before him. He admonishes each one as he places ashes on his head:
Remember, man, that you are dust, and into dust you shall return.
THE MASS
Feria IV Cinerum ~ I. classis
INTROIT (Sap. 11:24, 25, 27)
You
are merciful to all, O Lord, and hate none of the things that You have
made. When men repent, You overlook their sins and pardon them; for You
are the Lord our God.
Ps. 56:2. Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You.
V. Glory be . . .
COLLECT
O Lord, may the faithful begin the solemn season of fast with fitting piety, and may they continue through to its end with unwavering devotion. Through our Lord . . .
O Lord, may the faithful begin the solemn season of fast with fitting piety, and may they continue through to its end with unwavering devotion. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
Bernadette Soubirous, in religion Sister Mary Bernard, was born at Lourdes, 7th January 1844. Died at Nevers, in the odour of sanctity, 16th April 1879. She was declared venerable 13th August 1913 and canonised 8th December 1933. The eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin took place between the 11th of February and 16th July 1858, when Bernadette was in her fifteenth year.
O God, protector and friend of the humble, who filled Thy servant, Mary Bernard, with joy by the apparition and the conversation of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that by the simple way of faith we may be counted worthy to see Thee face to face in heaven.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
St. Simeon was a close relative of the Blessed Virgin. The Apostles chose him to succeed the martyred St. James the Lesser as bishop of Jerusalem. In all probability Simeon directed the Christians in their retreat to Pella, when the Holy City was destroyed. During Trajan's persecution, Simeon was denounced to the governor Atticus as being not only a Christian, but also a descendant of David. The venerable bishop endured two days of torture before his crucifixion in the year 106.
Almighty God, look upon our
weakness and the heavy burden we carry because of our own deeds. Let
the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon in Heaven be our
protection. Through Our Lord . . .
Bernadette Soubirous, in religion Sister Mary Bernard, was born at Lourdes, 7th January 1844. Died at Nevers, in the odour of sanctity, 16th April 1879. She was declared venerable 13th August 1913 and canonised 8th December 1933. The eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin took place between the 11th of February and 16th July 1858, when Bernadette was in her fifteenth year.
O God, protector and friend of the humble, who filled Thy servant, Mary Bernard, with joy by the apparition and the conversation of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that by the simple way of faith we may be counted worthy to see Thee face to face in heaven.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
St. Simeon was a close relative of the Blessed Virgin. The Apostles chose him to succeed the martyred St. James the Lesser as bishop of Jerusalem. In all probability Simeon directed the Christians in their retreat to Pella, when the Holy City was destroyed. During Trajan's persecution, Simeon was denounced to the governor Atticus as being not only a Christian, but also a descendant of David. The venerable bishop endured two days of torture before his crucifixion in the year 106.
LESSON (Joel 2:12-19)
Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting,
and in weeping, and 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 out of her bridal chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens 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.
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 out of her bridal chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens 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.
GRADUAL (Ps. 56:2, 4)
Have
pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You. V. He
has sent from heaven, and saved me; He has made them a reproach who
trample upon me.
TRACT (Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9)
O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. V. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All Kneel.) V. Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your name's sake.
GOSPEL (Matt. 6:16-21)
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "And
when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their
faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they
have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head,
and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy
Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay
thee.
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Ps. 29:2-3)
I
will extol You, O Lord, for You have upheld me, and have not let my
enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, I cried out to You and You have healed
me.
SECRET
O Lord, make us truly fit to offer these gifts with which we commemorate the institution of this blessed Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
O Lord, by Thy Sacrifice inflame our souls with that heavenly ardour by which blessed Mary Bernard, Thy Virgin, presented herself as a praise-offering agreeable to Thee.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through our Lord . . .
O Lord, by Thy Sacrifice inflame our souls with that heavenly ardour by which blessed Mary Bernard, Thy Virgin, presented herself as a praise-offering agreeable to Thee.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
O Lord, graciously accept the gifts we offer You in honor of Your blessed martyr bishop Simeon and grant us Your unending assistance through these offerings. Through our Lord . . .
COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Ps. 1:2-3)
He who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night shall bring forth his fruit in due season.
POSTCOMMUNION
O
Lord, may this Sacrament which we have received make our fasting an
acceptable offering to You and a healthful remedy to our souls. Through
our Lord . . .
Commemoration of SAINT BERNADETTE
We,
who are renewed by those holy Mysteries, beseech Thee, O Lord, that
imitating the marvelous constancy of the blessed Mary Bernard, we may
obtain the eternal reward of our patience.
Commemoration of SAINT SIMEON
We are refreshed by the reception of
Your sacred Gift, O Lord. May the prayers of Your blessed martyr bishop
Simeon make us feel the benefit of the sacred rite we have performed.
Through our Lord . . .
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
O
Lord, look with mercy upon those who worship before Your majesty. May
Your heavenly aid always strengthen those who have feasted upon Your
divine Sacrament. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
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