Ash Wednesday

First Reading: Joel 2.12-18: Rend your hearts and not your garments.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51. 1-2, 3-4a, 10-11, 12+15 (R. 1a +4a)

Response:

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Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.20 – 6.2: Be reconciled to God, for now is the acceptable time.

Gospel Acclamation:

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Gospel: Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18: Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Hymn: The glory of these forty days

 [provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises]

 Words: Clarum Decus Jejunii (6th century), possibly by Gregory the Great (540-604), translated by Maurice F. Bell (1862-1947), alt.

Tune: ERHALT UNS HERR, later form of melody from Klug’s Geistliche Lieder (1543), harmonised by J.S. Bach (1685-1750).

1.        The glory of these forty days
            we celebrate with songs of praise;
            for Christ, by whom all things were made
            himself has fasted and has prayed.

 2.       Alone and fasting, Moses saw
            the loving God who gave the law;
            and to Elijah, fasting, came
            the steeds and chariots of flame.

 3.       So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
            delivered from the lion’s might;
            and John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became 
            the herald of Messiah’s name.

 4.       Then grant us, Lord, like them to be            
            full oft in fast and prayer with thee;            
            our spirits strengthen with thy grace,
            and give us joy to see thy face. 

5.        O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
            to thee be every prayer addressed,
            who art in threefold Name adored,
            from age to age, the only Lord.        

Angus Gordon