Rite of Imposition of Ashes Outside Mass

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

Wis 11. 24-25. 27

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

Reading I : Jl 2:12-18

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 Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

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.

For I acknowledge my offense,
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 Saint Paul to the Corinthians.

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.

Meanwhile some of the following antiphons or appropriate songs are sung.

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.

Rite of Blessing Palms to Ashes

This rite is done in the evening before Ash Wednesday. This may be done as the first part of the Mass or as a separate rite.

Greeting and Sign of the Cross
The Presider makes the sign of the cross and greets those assembled, hoping that God calls the faithful to do penance and show mercy. All remain silent for a brief period.
The presider says
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
R/: Amen.

Opening Prayer
The presider says
Let us pray.
God of tender mercy, you fashioned us from the dust of the earth and bid us follow Your Gospel call in the company of the Church. Look on us with kindness as we prepare the ashes which will mark the beginning of our Lenten journey grant that we who make the desert pilgrimage might come to the font of rebirth with a renewed passion for justice. May our aims serve Your people and bring us peace, may prayer sanctify all our needs, and may we come at last to the table You set in the place where You reign with Christ and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
R/: Amen.

Scripture Reading Is 58: 5-10
A lector proclaims
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: that a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

The Word of the Lord.
R/: Thanks be to God.

Psalm and Burning of Ashes
The lector or choir leads the assembly in Psalm 51 as the palms are burned.

Have mercy on me, God in Your kindness.
In Your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against You, You alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in Your sight I have done.

That You may be justified when You give sentence
and be without reproach when You judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed You love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones You have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away Your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit.

Give me again the joy of Your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors Your ways
and sinners may return to You.

O rescue me, God my helper,
and my tongue shall ring our Your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare Your praise.

For in sacrifice You take no delight,
burnt offering from me You would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart You will not spurn.

In Your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on Your altar.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen.

Blessing
The presider says the prayer
Lord, bless these ashes + by which we show that we are dust. Pardon our sins and keep us faithful to the discipline of Lent, for You do not want sinners to die but to live with the risen Christ, Who reigns with you for ever and ever.
R/: Amen.

If a Mass follows, after the blessing, the presider together with the people, make a procession towards the Church. The people may sing an appropriate hymn. When the presider has reached his place in the sanctuary, he faces the people and begins the opening prayer of the Mass. The Mass continues in the usual manner.