Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Ash Wednesday (Fast and Abstinence)
Office – Psalter Week 4
Ordinary for Lent
Mass prop. Preface of Lent III or IV
Vestment: Violet
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
THE SEASON OF LENT is a time for the preparation for the celebration of Easter. The liturgy prepares the catechumens for the celebration of the Paschal mystery by the various stages of Christian initiation; it also prepares the faithful, who recall their baptism and do penance in preparation for Easter (LYGN27).
The beginning of Lent is marked with the blessing and imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday or, for pastoral reasons, on the First Sunday of Lent. The act of putting on ashes symbolizes our fragility and mortality as well as our need to be redeemed by the mercy of God.
During Lent, one of the following acclamations is used instead of Alleluia as a response to the verse before the Gospel:
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Glory to you, O Christ, Wisdom of God the Father.
Glory to you, O Christ, Word of God.
Glory to you, O Christ, Son of the living God.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord.
Salvation, glory, and power belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Wisdom 11:24.25.27
You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook the sins of man, to bring him to repentance, for you are the Lord our God.
The Penitential Act is omitted, and the Distribution of Ashes takes its place.
COLLECT
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian’s service, so that we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord.
FIRSTREADING
“Tear your hearts and not your garments.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel 2:12-18
“Even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and tear your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”’ Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
The word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Tuesday, February 13th, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 51:3-4.5-6ab.12- 13.14 and 17 (R. cf. 3a)
R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. R/.
My transgressions, 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. R/.
R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
Renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me. R/.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
Sustain in me a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R/.
SECOND READING
“Be reconciled to God. Behold, now is the acceptable time. ”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:2)
Brethren: We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The word of the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6: 1-6, 16- 18)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As we begin our Lenten Journey, let us ask for the grace to be truly repentant of our sins and to embrace that life of holiness to which we have been called.
FOR THE CHURCH: that, through her ministry, many more persons will come to encounter our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR CIVIL LEADERS: that, in the discharge of their duties, they may give priority of life of the citizenry. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE WEIGHED DOWN BY SIN: that, trusting in the infinite mercy of God, they may give up their sinful ways and come to experience the joy of living in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY: that we may continue to experience God’s mercy and be agents of mercy to our needy brothers and sisters. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD: especially the members of our parish community and families that they may find peace in the kingdom of Our Father. We pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
CELEBRANT:
Lord God, grant that through our Lenten practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we may be strengthened in our resolve to please you in all our ways. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Lent is a season in the Church’s liturgical calendar when the members are expected to be sorry for their sins, do penance, sacrifice, give alms, and intensify and enrich their prayer life. It is called Ash Wednesday because of the ash each person is expected to be marked with on the forehead, to remind us of our sinfulness and mortality. Today’s Gospel is appropriate for Lenten observances. It touches on three important religious practices, namely: almsgiving, fasting and prayer. All these practices are very important for a deeper spiritual communion. However, Christians should not be showy in observing any of these. Any form of attention-seeking behavior contradicts true piety.
True piety is secretly practicing these acts, acknowledging God who sees in secret. Desist from unnecessary attention. Be humble.
DEAR FRIENDS IN CHRIST,
During this 40 days of Lent, we encourage you to make extra effort to attend Daily Masses, pray the Rosary and attend Stations of the cross wherever you are. Allow Our Lady to accompany you in this forty day journey too.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR LENT
Do not just pray for yourself, pray for others who may be in need of just a slice of bread to survive today. Let your fast, supply their needs. Pray now and act immediately.
Any good you do now, will come to pay you back someday, keep doing good.
Let Us Pray,
Lord Jesus, remind me of my death each day that I may live wisely. Amen.
PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION
– O my God, help me to make a good Communion.
Mary, my dearest mother, pray to Jesus for me.
My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the altar of God.
-Act of Sorrow
O my God,
I am sorry for all my sins
because they offend you who are so good.
With your help I will not sin again.
– Jesus I love you,
all I have is thine,
do with me whatever you will.
– I believe, O Lord, and I
confess that Thou art truly the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, Who comest
into the world to save sinners, of whom
I am first. I believe also that this is truly
Thine own pure Body, and that this is
truly Thine own precious Blood
-ACT OF FAITH
O God,
because you said it,
I believe that I shall receive the Body of Jesus to eat,
and the Blood of Jesus to drink.
I believe this with all my heart.
PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION
O Sacrament most holy!
O Sacrament divine!
all praise and all thanksgiving
be every moment thine (3x)
Jesus I love you all I have is yours
yours I am and Yours I want to be
do with me whatever you wish (3x)
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, fill me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Hide me within your wounds.
Do not allow me to be separated from you.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of death call me
and bid me come to you that
I may praise you for ever and ever.
Amen.
ACT OF FAITH
O Jesus,
I believe that you have come to me
in Holy Communion
because you have said it and your word is true.
ACT OF THANKS
O Jesus, I thank you
for coming to me in Holy Communion.
