Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, day of repentance and fasting, first day of Lent.
Consecration of the ashes and placing of the ash cross on the foreheads of the faithful.

Invitation

May I draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?

This invitation is intended to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.

Available every day.

Opening words

Prayer, charity and fasting
are the three pillars of Lent.
We are so familiar with them that we almost forget
that they are primarily matters of the heart.
After all, what is the point of praying to God
if our hearts are not with Him?
What good are alms for the poor
if our hearts are not touched by their misery?
What is the point of fasting
if our hearts do not long for what really matters?
Let us pray, share and fast with all our hearts
and thus grow in confidence towards Easter.

FIRST READING          Joel 2, 12-18

Rend your hearts, not your garments.

From the Prophet Joel

Thus says the Lord God:
“Return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping and mourning.
“Rend your hearts and not your garments,
return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.”
Who knows, He may return and relent,
and leave behind a blessing,
a grain offering and a libation for the Lord your God!
“Blow the trumpet in Zion,
proclaim a holy fast,
call a solemn assembly!
“Gather the people,
convene a sacred assembly,
bring together the elders
and gather the children and infants;
let the bridegroom leave his chamber
and the bride her bridal chamber.
“Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
weep and say:
“Spare your people, Lord,
do not let your inheritance be mocked,
do not let the heathens rule over them.
“Must it be said among the nations:
Where is their God?”
Then the Lord stood up for his land
and spared his people.

INTERLUDIUM                     Ps. 51(50), 3-4, 5-6a, 12-13, 14, 17

God, have mercy on me in your kindness,
wash away my sinfulness in your compassion.

God, have mercy on me in your kindness,
wash away my sin in your mercy.
Wash away all my guilt,
cleanse me from all my sins.

I acknowledge that I have done wrong,
I am always mindful of my transgression.
Against you alone have I sinned,
I have done what is wrong in your sight.

Create in me a pure heart, my God,
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain me with a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips,
that my mouth may proclaim your praise.

SECOND READING        II  Cor. 5, 20-6, 2

Be reconciled to God, for now is the favourable time.

From the second letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians
of Corinth

Brothers and sisters,

We are ambassadors for Christ,
God is calling you through our word.
We implore you in Christ’s name:
be reconciled to God!
He who knew no sin
He made sin for us,
so that we might become God’s own holiness through Him.
As God’s co-workers, we urge you:
do not receive his grace in vain.
For he says:
“At the favourable time I answered you,
on the day of salvation I came to your aid.”
Now is the favourable time,
today is the day of salvation.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL              Ps. 51(50), 12a. 14a

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

GOSPEL               Mt. 6, 1-6, 16-18

Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Matthew

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be careful:
do not practise your righteousness before people,
to be seen by others;
otherwise, you will have no reward
from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give alms,
do not sound a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
to be honoured by others.
“Truly, I say to you:
they have already received their reward.
“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.
“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites
who love to stand and pray
in the synagogues
and on the street corners
to be seen by men.
“Truly, I say to you,
they have already received their reward!
“But when you pray,
go into your inner room,
close the door behind you,
and pray to your Father, who is in secret;
and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
“When you fast,
do not look sombre like the hypocrites;
they disfigure their faces
to show people they are fasting.
“Truly, I say to you:
they have already received their reward.
“But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face
so that you do not show people that you are fasting,
but fast before your Father who is in secret
and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”

________________________________________________________

Laudato Si

Encyclical of

POPE FRANCIS

On Care for Our Common Home

The loss of biodiversity
32.The earth’s resources are also being plundered as a result of
economic and commercial activities that are too closely
linked to short-term results. The loss of forests and
woodlands also means the loss of species that could be
could be extremely important resources, not only for food,
but also for curing diseases and providing many other services. The
different species contain genes that could be important resources
for meeting some human needs in the future
or for solving some environmental problems.

To becontinued
Every day at 1 am