Liturgical Information
Ash Wednesday (ABC)
Liturgical Color: Violet
Themes & Motives: repentance, simplicity, sober reflection
Introit:
Lord, you are merciful to all, and hate nothing you have created.
You overlook the sins of men to bring them to repentance.
You are the Lord our God. (See Wisdom 11:24-25,27)
Opening Prayer:
Lord,
protect us in our struggle against evil.
As we begin the discipline of Lent,
make this day holy by our self-denial.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lectionary Readings:
- Joel 2:12-18 [Rend your heart and not your garments. /v.13]
- Psalm 51:3-4 / 5-6 / 12-13 / 14,17 [R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
- II Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2 [Now is the "the acceptable time," now is "the day of salvation." /v.2]
- Gospel Verse: Mt 4:4 [Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.]
- Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 [And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. /v.18]
See CNP's Book of Sung Gospels - 3rd Edition CNP Catalog #3012-3
Antiphons during Distribution of Ashes:
- 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. (See Joel 2:13)
- 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. (See Joel 2:17; Est 13:17)
- Lord, take away our wickedness. (Psalm 51:3)
These may be repeated after each verse of Psalm 51.
Offertory Antiphon: **
I will extol you, O Lord, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.
Verses of Psalm 91 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Prayer over the Gifts:
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.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Preface of Lent IV: [The Reward of Fasting]
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...
Communion Antiphon:
The man who meditates day and night on the law of the Lord will yield fruit in due season. (Psalm 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. Amen.
** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published.
The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin in the Graduale Romanum.
The English is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.
The English translation of the Introit, Opening Prayer, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Gifts, Preface, Communion Antiphon and Prayer after Communion from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the First Reading, Second Reading and Gospel are taken from the New American Standard Bible ® © Copyright 1973 The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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