This rite may be done on Ash Wednesday for those who cannot come to the church for Mass and for those who did not arrive on time for the Liturgy of the Word. Those who receive the ashes ought to listen to God’s Word before getting the ashes. This may be done by a priest or a lay presider. This rite is the Liturgy of the Word.
Entrance
If there is no song, the antiphon is said
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.
Everyone remains standing and makes the sign of the cross, as the presider says
In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R/: Amen.
Introduction to the Celebration
Today/tonight, we start the discipline of Lent – we start our journey as a community with Jesus Christ, to his Passion, Death and Resurrection – the mystery of our salvation.This season calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, to be more attentive to the Word of God, to spiritual renewal and penance.Today we will be putting ashes on our foreheads,as a sign of our commitment to recall our baptism and how much we have failed in our baptismal vows, and as a sign of our desire to change our ways and turn to God.
Opening Prayer
The presider, with hands joined, sings or says:
Let us pray.
Everyone pray silently for a while. Then, the presider extends his hands and says or sings
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.
or
Father in heaven,the light of your truth bestows sight to the darkness of sinful eyes. May this season of repentance bring us the blessing of your forgiveness and the gift of your light. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
R/: Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
A reading from the book of the prophet Joel.
Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.
The Word of the Lord.
R/: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Reading II 1 Cor 5:20-6:2
A reading from the second letter of
Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The Word of the Lord.
R/: Thanks be to God.
Gospel: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
[The deacon/priest says or sings: The Lord be with you.
The people answer: And also with you.]
The deacon/priest says or sings:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
The people answer
Glory to you, Lord.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
R/: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
The presider or the homilist gives the homily.
Giving of Ashes
After the homily, the priest places ashes on those who come forward, saying to each:
Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.
Or
Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.
Antiphon 1
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.
Antiphon 2
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.
Antiphon 3
Lord, take away our wickedness.
Prayer of the Faithful
After the giving of ashes, the rite concludes with the general intercessions. The presider gives a brief introduction:
My brothers and sisters, we should pray at all times, but especially during this season of Lent:we should faithfully keep watch with Christ and pray to our Father, let us say: Lord, have mercy.
The intentions are proclaimed.
1. That Christians everywhere may be responsive to the Word of God during this holy season, we pray to the Lord:
2. That people everywhere may work for peace to make these days the acceptable time of God’s help and salvation, we pray to the Lord:
3. That all who have sinned and grown lukewarm may turn to God again during this time of reconciliation, we pray to the Lord:
4. That we ourselves may learn to repent and turn away from sin with all our hearts, we pray to the Lord:
After the intentions, the presider says the concluding prayer.
Lord, may your people turn again to you
and serve you with all their hearts.
With confidence we have asked your help:
may we now know your mercy and love in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/: Amen.
Dismissal
If the presider is ordained, he blesses the people and dismisses them the usual way.
A lay minister says: May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come upon us and remain with us for ever.
R/: Amen.
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