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Introduction
Ashes can be given to people who cannot participate in Mass on Ash Wednesday. In these cases, ashes are to be given within a Celebration of the Word of God. Following is a short Celebration of the Word that can be used for this purpose on Ash Wednesday.
Prepare a small prayer focus for the celebration with a cross, a candle and the Ashes brought from Mass in a small dish.
Celebration of the Word of God and Distribution of Ashes
The Introductory Rites
All make the sign of the cross as the leader of prayer says:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
Leader:
Blessed be the God of all consolation,
who has shown us his great mercy.
Bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All:
Blessed be God for ever.
Leader:
Let us pray.
(pause for silent prayer)
Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting
this campaign of Christian service,
so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils,
we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All:
Amen.
The Gospel reading that follows may be read by the leader or another person.
The Liturgy of the Word
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. (6:1-6. 16-18)
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
All:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A period of silence is given so that everyone can reflect on the Gospel reading.
The Distribution of Ashes
Leader:
Dear friends,
let us implore God our Father
to renew us in spirit
as these ashes are placed on our heads
as a sign of repentance.
(pause for silent prayer)
Then the leader of prayer places ashes on each person, saying to each:
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
or:
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
After the Distribution of Ashes, the celebration concludes as with the Lord’s Prayer and a blessing.
Leader:
With trust in the God of all goodness, we pray as Jesus taught us:
All:
Our Father…
Then all make the Sign of the Cross, as the leader of prayer says:
May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All:
Amen.
Excerpts from the English Translation of The Roman Missal, © 2010, International Committee on English in the Liturgy Corporation, Inc. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English Translation of the Lectionary for Mass, © 1969, 1981, ICEL. Readings from the Jerusalem Bible © 1966, 1967, 1968, Darton Longman and Todd Ltd. Extracts from Sunday Celebration of the Word and Hours, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ottawa, © 1995, Concacan Inc.
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