Sign of the Cross

Greeting

Praised be God our Father
who, through Jesus, has rescued us from the darkness of sin.
May the light of God's love be with you .

Introduction

With Ash Wednesday we begin the season of Lent
which is a preparation for the celebration of the PASCHAL MYSTERY
- the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Today, through the Ashes Ceremony, we signify our readiness to repent,
to be renewed and to live according to the demands of the Gospel.

The Penitential Rite is celebrated after the Homily.

Opening Prayer

God of love and mercy,
as we begin the discipline of Lent,
make this day holy by our self-denial and prayer.
Lead us onward through these forty days
from darkness, sin, and death
to the new land of light, freedom, and life
which your Son has won for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
our reconciliation and our peace,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

After the Homily the Presider goes to the table where the Ashes are placed.
He addresses the community in these or similar words.

We have come here to recall who we are
- a people baptized into Jesus Christ,
but a people who have not lived up to our calling.
And so we are here to be called again
by the all-powerful Word of God
to a change of heart
and a willingness to live out the demands
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To hear that call more clearly,
let us examine our lives in the light of the gospel.

The Litany of Repentance

Jesus, we have not loved you with our whole heart, a
nd mind, and strength… and so we cry out to you:
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, we have not seen and loved you in our brothers and sisters,
but have been blind to human need and suffering,
indifferent to injustice and corruption…
and so we cry out to you:
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, we have made idols of money, property, education, position… and
have tended to put our trust in these rather than in you….
and so we cry out to you:
Lord, have mercy.

The Blessing of Ashes

Father, we acknowledge our need to change our hearts
and turn to you again.
We were buried with Christ in Baptism,
dying to sin, rising with him to new life.
Yet the power of your love
is still not fully revealed in us and in our world.

Father, bless these ashes +
and bless us who receive them.
May this signing with ashes
mark a new commitment of ourselves to you.

At the end of Lent, may we be ready
to celebrate Christ's passion with joy,
and on the day of resurrection
to rejoice with him forever.
Through him may your name be blessed and praised,
now and forever.
AMEN. Solemn / Sung

The Distribution of Ashes

Ministers may select from the following formulae.
The Penitent may respond, Amen.

Minister:    Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

or

Minister:    Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL (optional)

P         Let us pray to our heavenly Father that we may open our hearts
           to hear the call of Jesus to repentance.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, make us your faithful people. (Please repeat)

1. That we may welcome LENT as an acceptable time
   of salvation through our works of fasting, prayer, and sharing:
   we pray:
   
2. That the Word of God may inspire us to have a change of heart,
   to turn away from sin and to choose to do good:
   we pray:
   
3. That those who continue to engage in exploiting others,
   drug trafficking, corruption and violence may hear
   the voice of God calling them to repent and change their lives.
   We pray:
4. That those who think they are better than others may join
   the rest of God's people in asking God's mercy and forgiveness.
   We pray:

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P     Compassionate God,
       may this season of repentance bring us your forgiveness
       and lead us to the joy of Christ's victory over sin and death.
      We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Instruction before the Presentation of the Gifts (optional)

We have proclaimed our sinfulness and our desire to repent.
Let us now unite ourselves with Christ in this Eucharist
so that we will have the power to live up to our promises
and live anew in the Spirit.

Prayer over the Gifts

Father, you always welcome us whenever we turn to you.
Be pleased with this sign of repentance -
the ashes on our foreheads, and accept this bread and wine -
a sign that we are yours.
Grant that we may pass from death to life
through Jesus Christ, your Son,
whose victory over death is our one true source of hope.
We give you praise and glory in his name, now and forever. AMEN

[Presider may use one of the Lenten Prefaces and a suitable Eucharistic Prayer or
Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation I or II ]

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

God has invited us to return to him with all our hearts.
We do so now by saying / singing: Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace and reconciliation
on this day of salvation.
In your mercy keep us free from the sin of hypocrisy
and protect us in time of trial
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

St Paul appeals to us in these words:
"In Christ's name, be reconciled to God!
Do not receive the grace of God in vain."
Lord Jesus,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom,
where you live for ever and ever.

Exchange of Peace
We cannot be reconciled to God if we are not reconciled to one another.
So let us give a sign of peace to those beside us.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Heavenly Father,
        your Son is the food that nourishes the whole world
       giving life in abundance to all people.
       May this bread,
       broken and shared be the sign of your continual blessing:
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

Behold the Christ,
in whom God is reconciling the world.
Blessed are we who are invited to share in his holy banquet.

Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion

God of mercy and compassion,
we thank you for giving us a share in the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus.
May we keep close to him
as he leads us through these forty days
to celebrate the glory of his Resurrection.
All this we ask through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

And may almighty God bless you, +
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN.

Dismissal     

Our celebration is ended.
Go and keep holy this Season of Lent through penance and prayer.