Ember Wednesday

EMBER WEDNESDAY

During these Ember Days every Christian should beg a blessing upon the new planting and sowing of crops that will feed the earth's millions. Everyone should also offer to God the first fruits of the spring harvest. Moreover, this is a time to pray for the deacons who will be ordained to the priesthood on the coming Saturday.

INTROIT Ps. 67:8, 9
O God, when You went forth at the head of Your people, marching with them and dwelling among them, alleluia! the earth trembled and the skies dripped with rain, alleluia, alleluia!
Ps. 67:2. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.
V. Glory be . . .

LET US PRAY:
May the Holy Comforter, who proceeds from You, O Lord, enlighten our minds and guide us in all truth, as Your Son has promised; who lives and rules with You in the unity of the same Holy Spirit . . .

LESSON Acts 2:14-21
In those days, Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: "Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day: But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And upon my servants indeed and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord to come. And it shalt come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Alleluia! V. Ps. 32:6
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all the celestial bodies thereof were created.

COLLECT
Almighty and merciful God, grant that the Holy Spirit may come and dwell in us, that we may be a temple of His glory. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON Acts 5:12-16
In those days, by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them: but the people magnified them. And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities. And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

Alleluia, alleluia! (Here all kneel.)
V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love.
 

SEQUENCE
Holy Spirit, come and shine
On our souls with beams divine
Issuing from your radiance bright.
Come, O Father of the poor,
Ever bounteous of your store,
Come, our heart's unfailing light.

Come, Consoler, kindest, best,
Come our bosom's dearest guest,
Sweet refreshment, sweet repose.
Rest in labor, coolness sweet,
Tempering the burning heat,
Truest comfort of our woes.

O divinest light, impart
Unto every faithful heart
Plenteous streams from love's bright flood.
But for your blest Deity,
Nothing pure in man could be;
Nothing harmless, nothing good.

Wash away each sinful stain;
Gently shed your gracious rain
On the dry and fruitless soul.
Heal each wound and bend each will,
Warm our hearts benumbed and chill,
All our wayward steps control.

Unto all your faithful just,
Who in you confide and trust,
Deign the sevenfold gift to send.
Grant us virtue's blest increase,
Grant a death of hope and peace,
Grant the joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 6:44-52
At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: "No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. And I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Every one that hath heard of the Father and hath learned cometh forth me. Not that any man hath seen the Father: but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 118:47-48
I will meditate on Your commandments, which I love dearly; and I will lift up my hands to Your commands, which I cherish, alleluia!

SECRET 
Accept the gifts we offer You, O Lord, and grant that the celebration of these sacred rites may be reflected in our holy lives. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, alleluia! My peace I give to you, alleluia, alleluia!

POSTCOMMUNION
We have received the Sacrament of Heaven, O Lord. We now humbly beg that the sacred rite, which we have celebrated, may be our joy for all eternity. Through our Lord . . .