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Privileged Feria of I Class

Before Mass shall be blessed ashes made of branches of olive or other trees blessed in the year foregoing; and the blessing shall be done in this manner:

§ The Office being said, the Priest, wearing a violet Cope, or without a Chasuble (the Ministers being vested in like manner), shall go to bless the ashes, which shall be set in a vessel on the Altar.  And first the Choir shall sing the Antiphon following.

BLESSING OF ASHES

Antiphon: Psalm 69

  Hear me, O Lord,
For thy lovingkindness is comfortable:
  Turn thee unto me
According to the multitude of thy mercies. §

  Save me, O God,
For the waters are come in even unto my soul.
  Glory be ...
As it was ...

    (Repeat to §.)
 

Then the Priest, standing at the Epistle corner without turning to the People, and with his hands joined (which shall be observed in like manner in the prayers appointed for all blessings) shall say:

V.  The Lord be with you.
R.  And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, we beseech thee to spare them they are penitent, and to be favourable to them that call upon thee.  Vouchsafe, we pray thee, to send thy holy Angel from heaven to bl+ess and sanc+tify these ashes, that they may be a wholesome medicine to all them that humbly call upon thy holy Name, who in their consciences by sin are accused, who in the sight of thy heavenly mercy bewail their sins, and earnestly and meekly implore thy gracious loving-kindness.  And we beseech thee to grant to al them that call upon thy holy Name, that being sprinkled with these ashes for the remission of their sins, they may be preserved evermore both in body and soul.  Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: we beseech thee to have compassion on the frailty of our mortal nature, and of thy goodness to bl+ess these ashes now to be set upon our heads for a token of humility and for the remission of our sins: that we, acknowledging ourselves to be but dust and ashes, and that by reason of our vileness we must return unto the same, may of thy mercy be found worthy to obtain the pardon of our offences and the reward that thou dost promise to them that are penitent.  Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, who turnest unto them that abase themselves and art favourable unto them that offer atonement: incline thy merciful ear unto our prayers; and of thy pity pour forth upon the heads of thy servants now sprinkled with these ashes the grace of thy heavenly benediction: that they being filled with the spirit of true repentance may effectually obtain those things that they have asked according to thy will.  And we beseech thee to ordain that we, being stablished in these thy blessings, may cleave unto the same to life everlasting.  Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who upon the people of Nineveh, repenting in dust and ashes, didst bestow the healing of thy loving-kindness: mercifully grant, that we, who now do imitate them in outward fashion, may be made like unto them in the obtaining of thy pardon.  Through.

§ Then shall the Priest, setting incense in the censer, sprinkle the ashes thrice with holy water, saying the Antiphon Thou shalt purge, without singing and not saying the Psalm; and he shall cense them thrice.
 

Thereafter the first of the Priests that are present shall draw near to the Altar and set ashes on the head of the Celebrant, who shall not genuflect.  But if none be present, the Celebrant himself, kneeling afore the Altar, shall set ashes on his own head, saying nothing.  And forthwith the Choir shall sing the Antiphon.

Antiphon: Joel 2

  Let us change our raiment
For sackcloth and ashes:
  Let us fast and mourn before the Lord:
For our God is merciful to forgive us our sins.

  Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar,
  And let them say, Spare, O Lord, spare thy people,
And shut not up, O Lord, the mouths of them that praise thee.

Then shall follow this Respond.

Esther 13 and Joel 2

  Let us amend the sins that in our ignorance we have committed:
Lest the day of death come upon us suddenly,
  And we find no place for repentance though we seek it.
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against thee.

Psalm 79

  Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of thy Name deliver us, O Lord.
Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against thee.
  Glory be ...
As it was ...
All:       Hear, Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against thee.

§ And the Priest, while the Antiphon and Respond are in singing, with his head uncovered, shall first set ashes on the head of the first of the Priests from whom he received them, and then upon the Ministers being vested and kneeling afore the Altar.  And he shall say:

Genesis 3

  Remember, O man, that dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
 
 
§ Then shall the rest draw near, first the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, according to their order, and after that the People; and all, meekly kneeling before the Altar, shall receive the ashes from the Priest after the manner appointed for the Ministers.  And when all the ashes have been delivered, the Priest shall say:

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we, who now with prayer and fasting do put upon us the armour of our Christian warfare, being defended by the power of abstinence, may fight manfully against all spiritual wickedness.  Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.
 

AT THE MASS

INTROIT

Misereris omnium (Wisdom 11)

  Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord,
  And abhorrest nothing which thou hast made,
  And winkest at the sins of men, because they should amend,
  And sparest them, for thou art the Lord our God.  §

  (Psalm 57) Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:
  For my soul trusteth in thee.
   Glory be ...
  As it was ...

(Repeat to §.)

THE COLLECT

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Who.]

¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.

§ On this day these two prayers that follow are read after the Collect of the Day, but thereafter until Passion Sunday in Masses of the Season, when the above Collect is read after the one appointed for the day, then only the first one of these Prayers shall be said, and from Passion Sunday until Palm Sunday, only the Ash Wednesday Collect shall be said after the Collect for the day in Masses of the Season.

COLLECT 2  Of the Saints

Defend us, O Lord, we beseech thee, from all dangers both of body and soul: and at the intercession of thy blessed and glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N., and of all thy Saints, grant us thy saving health and peace; that being defended from all adversities and all false doctrines, thy Church may serve thee in all freedom and quietness.  (Through.)

COLLECT 3  For the quick and dead

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast dominion both of the quick and of the dead, who likewise hast mercy upon all men, whom by reason of their faith and works thou hast foreknown: we commend unto thee all those for whom we now do offer our prayers, whether in this world they still be held in the bonds of the flesh, or being delivered therefrom have passed into that which is to come; beseeching thee that at the intercession of all thy Saints they may of thy bountiful goodness obtain the remission of all their sins.  Through.
 

THE LESSON

Joel 2.12-17

TURN ye even to me, saith the LORD, with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

GRADUAL

  (Psalm 57) Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:
  For my soul trusteth in thee.
  He shall send from heaven and save me
  From the reproof of him that would eat me up.

TRACT

§ And this Tract is said on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from today on until Monday in Holy Week, unless a proper Tract be appointed.

  (Psalm 103) O Lord, deal not with us after our sins:
  Nor reward us according to our wickedness.
  (Psalm 79)  Lord, remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us,
  And that soon, for we are come to great misery.

ALL GENUFLECT

  Help us, O God  of our salvation,
  For the glory of thy Name, O Lord
  O deliver us and be merciful unto our sins,
  For thy Name’s sake.

THE GOSPEL

St. Matthew 6.16-21

WHEN ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

OFFERTORY  Psalm 30

I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up, and not made my foes to triumph over me: O Lord, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

SECRET

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that like as we do by these our oblations bring to remembrance the institution of this holy Sacrament, so we may by thee be enabled to offer the same according to thy will.  Through.

SECRET 2 Of the Saints

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation, and by the power of this Sacrament defend us from all dangers both of body and soul: granting us in this world the succour of thy grace, and in the world to come life everlasting.  (Through).

SECRET 3 For the quick and dead

O God, to whom alone is known the number of thine elect, whom thou hast chosen to set in eternal felicity: grant, we beseech thee, that at the intercession of all thy Saints the names of all them that are commemorated to our prayers and of all thy faithful people may be found written in the book of them that are ordained to everlasting blessedness.  Through.

PREFACE OF LENT, which is said daily until Passion Sunday even upon Feasts, unless a proper Preface be appointed for them.

COMMUNION  Psalm 1

He who doth meditate on the law of the Lord day and night will bring forth his fruit in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION

We beseech thee, Lord, mercifully to protect us who have now received this holy Sacrament: that this our fast may be acceptable in thy sight, and profitable unto us for the healing of our souls.  Through.

POSTCOMMUNION 2  Of the Saints

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the gifts now offered by us in these holy mysteries may evermore cleanse and defend us: that at the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N., and of all thy Saints, we may be absolved from all our offences and defended against al adversities.  (Through.)

POSTCOMMUNION 3  For the Quick and Dead

Almighty and most merciful God, cleanse us, we pray thee, by the Sacrament which we have received: and at the intercession of all thy Saints grant this holy Communion may bring upon us not guilt to our damnation but pardon to our salvation; that it may cleanse the guilty and confirm the feeble, that it may strengthen us against every danger in this world, and obtain for thy faithful people both quick and dead the remission of all their sins.  Through.

§ Then the Priest without any other Salutation to the People, shall say: Let us pray.  And the Deacon, if any be ministering in the office of Deacon, shall turn about to the People with hands joined and say, Bow down before the Lord.  Else shall the Priest himself say thus, standing in the same place afore the book and not turning about to the People.

COLLECT

Look down in mercy, O Lord, upon us now kneeling before thy majesty: that we which have been partakers of thy heavenly gifts may evermore be strengthened with thy heavenly succour.  Through.

§ And in this manner of saying the Prayer over the People is to be observed, in ferial Masses only, until the Wednesday in Holy Week.

Afterwards,

V.  Let us bless the Lord.
R.  Thanks be to God.
 

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