Ash Wednesday
Introductory Rites turn to God,
ENTRANCE
After the people have assembled, the presider and the
ministers go to the altar while the entrance song is being
sung.
Entrance Antiphon
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.
or
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Savior is born to
the world.
True peace has descended from heaven.
The presider goes to the chair and all remain standing and
make the sign of the cross as the presider says
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
The people answer The people answer
Amen.
GREETING
The presider, facing the people, extends his hands and
greets all present with
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all.
The people answer Reading I Jl 2:12-18
And also with you.
Introduction to the Celebration
The presider or another minister introduces the Mass
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, to penance,
and to reconcile with God and our neighbor.
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
Master Guide
to be conformed more and more to crucified Lord.
OPENING PRAYER
With hands joined, the presider says
Let us pray.
Everyone prays silently for a while. Then, the presider
extends his hands and says the prayer
L
ord, 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
F ather 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.
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Introduction to Reading I
The commentator says
The prophet calls Gods people to conversion
as individuals and as a community.
We are called to return to Gods mercy and love.
The Lector proceeds with the proclamation.
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.
The people answer
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17
The lector says
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
All say
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
The lector says the verse
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.
All say
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
The lector says the verse
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.
All say
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
The lector says the verse
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.
All say
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
The lector says the verse
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.
All say
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Introduction to Reading II
The commentator says
God always gives us the opportunity to change
and come back to him.
Saint Paul implores us to turn our hearts back to
God
for now is the acceptable time to do so.
Reading II 1 Cor 5:20 - 6:2
The lector proceeds with the proclamation.
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.
The people answer
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The commentator signals the people for the gospel
Let us honor the Holy Gospel.
The music ministry leads the people in singing the
appropriate song. The gospel acclamation must last until
the proclaimer has arrived at the ambo carrying the book of
gospels.
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.
All make the gospel sign.
The gospel is proclaimed. Dear friends in Christ,
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.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will
repay you.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The people answer
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY
The presider or the homilist gives the homily.
Blessing and Giving of Ashes
After the homily, the priest joins his hands and says:
let us ask our Father to bless these ashes
which we will use as the mark of our repentance.
Pause for silent prayer.
Lord, bless the sinner who asks for your
forgiveness and bless all those who receive
these ashes. May they keep this Lenten season
in preparation for the joy of Easter. We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
or
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.
He sprinkles the ashes with holy water in silence.
The priest then places ashes on the crown of his head. 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.

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.
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.
These may be repeated after each verse of Psalm 51.
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.
RESPONSORY
Direct our hearts to better things, O Lord:
heal our sin and ignorance.
Lord, do not face us suddenly with death,
but give us time to repent.
R. Turn to us with mercy, Lord; we have sinned
against you.
V. Help us, God our Savior, rescue us for the
honor of your name.
R. Turn to us with mercy, Lord; we have sinned
against you.
After the giving of ashes, the priest washes his hands; the
rite concludes with the general intercessions.
The profession of faith is not said.
Prayer of the faithful Liturgy of the Eucharist
The presider invites the people to pray
My brothers and sisters, we should pray at all PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
The presider says
times,
Pray brethren* that our sacrifice may be
but especially during this season of Lent:
acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
we should faithfully keep watch with Christ
The people answer
and pray to our Father, let us say:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands,
LORD, HAVE MERCY.
for the praise and glory of his name, for our
The intentions are said at the ambo.
good, and the good of all his Church.
1. That Christians everywhere may be responsive
The presider extends his hands and says

L
to the Word of God during this holy season,
ord, help us to resist temptation by our lenten
we pray to the Lord:
works of charity and penance. By this
2. That people everywhere may work for peace to
sacrifice may we be prepared to celebrate the
make these days the acceptable time of Gods
death and resurrection of Christ our Savior
help and salvation, we pray to the Lord:
and be cleansed from sin and renewed in
3. That all who have sinned and grown lukewarm
spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
may turn to God again during this time of The people answer
reconciliation, we pray to the Lord: Amen.
4. That we ourselves may learn to repent and
turn away from sin with all our hearts, we pray EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
to the Lord: The presider says
5. For the intentions of our mission partners, The Lord be with you.
those who serve in our parish and those The people answer
who asked for our prayers by offering their And also with you.
intentions in this mass, we pray. The presider says
The presider concludes the prayer Lift up your hearts.
Lord, may your people turn again to you The people answer
and serve you with all their hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
The presider says
With confidence we have asked your help:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
may we now know your mercy and love in our
The people answer
lives.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
The people answer Preface
Amen. Communion
If there is no song, the commentator says the antiphon
Ps 1, 2-3
The man who meditates day and night on the law of
the Lord
will yield fruit in due season.
Prayer after Communion
With hands joined, the presider says
Let us pray.
Everyone prays silently for a while.
Then, the presider extends his hands and says the prayer

L ord, 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.
The people answer Amen.
 CONCLUDING RITE
GREETING
The presider, facing the people, extends his hands and
greets all present with The Lord be with you.
The people answer And also with you.
BlessiNG
The presider blesses the people
May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
The people answer Amen.
DISMISSAL
The deacon/presider says
Go in the peace of Christ.
The people answer Thanks be to God.
Ash Wednesday
ENTRANCE
The presider goes to the chair and all remain standing and
make the sign of the cross as the presider says
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
The people answer
GREETING
Amen.
The presider, facing the people, extends his hands and
greets all present with
The Lord be with you.
The people answer And also with you.
Introduction to the Celebration
The presider or another minister introduces the Mass
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, to penance,
and to reconcile with God and our neighbor.
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,
to be conformed more and more to crucified Lord.
THe act of penitence and the gloria
are omitted.
[the rite of imposition of ashes is equivalent
to the act of penitence.]
Presider
OPENING PRAYER
With hands joined, the presider says
Let us pray.
Everyone prays silently for a while. Then, the presider
extends his hands and says the prayer
L ord, 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
F ather 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.
The people answer
Amen.
After the Homily
Rite of imposition of ashes
Blessing and Giving of Ashes
After the homily, the priest joins his hands and says:
Dear friends in Christ,
let us ask our Father to bless these ashes
which we will use as the mark of our repentance.
Pause for silent prayer.
Lord, bless the sinner who asks for your
forgiveness and bless all those who receive
these ashes. May they keep this Lenten season
in preparation for the joy of Easter. We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
or
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.
He sprinkles the ashes with holy water in silence.
The people answer
Amen.
The priest then places ashes on the crown of his head. 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.
Prayer of the faithful CONCLUDING RITE
The presider invites the people to pray
My brothers and sisters, we should pray at all GREETING
The presider, facing the people, extends his hands and
times,
greets all present with The Lord be with you.
but especially during this season of Lent:
The people answer And also with you.
we should faithfully keep watch with Christ
and pray to our Father, let us say: BlessiNG
LORD, HAVE MERCY. The presider blesses the people
The intentions are said at the ambo. May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son
1. That Christians everywhere may be responsive and the Holy Spirit.
to the Word of God during this holy season, The people answer Amen.
we pray to the Lord:
2. That people everywhere may work for peace to
DISMISSAL
The deacon/presider says
make these days the acceptable time of Gods
Go in the peace of Christ.
help and salvation, we pray to the Lord:
The people answer Thanks be to God.
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:
5. For the intentions of our mission partners,
those who serve in our parish and those
who asked for our prayers by offering their
intentions in this mass, we pray.
The presider concludes the 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.
The people answer
Amen.
Ash Wednesday
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.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17
Response
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
1
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.
2
Lector
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.
3
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.
4
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.
GOSPEL Mt 6: 1-6. 16-18
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to
Matthew.
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.
Prayer of the faithful
The presider invites the people to pray
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 said at the ambo.
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 Gods
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:
5. For the intentions of our mission partners,
those who serve in our parish and those
who asked for our prayers by offering their
intentions in this mass, we pray.
The presider concludes the 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.
The people answer
Amen.