5:30pm Ash Wednesday Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney - Praying for Peace in Ukraine - 2 March 22

[Music] oh [Music] oh oh [Music] [Music] so so [Music] oh [Music] [Music] oh [Music] dc [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] see [Music] [Music] oh [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit [Music] today we have begun our holy penitential season of lent and we do so at a time of crisis back on february the 23rd the holy father pope francis invited everyone to make march the second ash wednesday a day of fasting for peace he said i encourage believers in a special way to devote themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day may the queen of peace protect the world from the folly of war and on monday he renewed that call to offer our prayers and fasting in order to be near to the suffering ukrainian people to be aware that we are all brothers and sisters and to implore god for an end to the war i'm very pleased to welcome to the cathedral con celebrating the holy mass with with me this evening father simon pastor of saint andrews ukrainian catholic church at litkum and vicar general of the ukrainian catholic eparchy for australia and i've asked him to preach this evening at mass even as our thoughts are with the people of ukraine here in australia we've been shocked by the devastating floods which have cost lives and caused immense damage in southern queensland and in northern new south wales and flood rains are even now coming down on this city and the surrounding districts and the waters are rising as astonishing as the pictures and eyewitness accounts of the flooding in our own state are and as tragic as the deaths and catastrophic damage to houses infrastructure and crops are the plight of the ukrainian people is not from nature but from evil men i cannot but help think of the words of king david to the prophet gad please let us fall into the hand of the lord for his mercies are great but do not let me fall into the hands of men let us pray grant our 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 god forever [Music] a reading from the book of the prophet joel now now it is the lord who speaks come back to me with all your heart fasting weeping let your hearts be broken not your garments torn turn to the lord your god again for he is all tenderness and compassion slow to anger rich in graciousness and ready to relent who knows if he will not turn again will not relent will not leave a blessing as he passes oblation and libation for the lord your god sound the trumpet in zion order a fast proclaim a solemn assembly call the people together summon the community assemble the elders gather the children even the infants at the breast let the bridegroom leave his bedroom and the bride her alcove between vestibule and altar let the priests the ministers of the lord lament let them say spare your people lord do not make your heritage a thing of shame a byword for the nations why should it be said among the nations where is their god then the lord jealous on behalf of his land took pity on his people the word of the lord oh [Music] [Music] me [Music] is [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] um [Music] as is [Music] uh [Music] a reading from the second letter of saint paul to the corinthians we are ambassadors for christ it is as though god were appealing through us and the appeal that we make in christ's name is be reconciled to god for our sake god made the sinless one into sin so that in him we might become the goodness of god as his fellow workers we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of god that you have received for he says at the favorable time i have listened to you on the day of salvation i came to your help well now is the favorable time this is the day of salvation the word of the lord call me oh [Music] r [Music] the lord be with you [Music] a reading from the holy gospel [Music] to matthew [Music] 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 arms 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 arms your left hand must not know what your right is doing your arms giving 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 secret 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 he's done in secret and your father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you the gospel of the lord jesus my sincere thanks to his grace the archbishop to the auxiliary bishops of sydney to my dear friend the dean for their compassion and their love for not for our ukrainian community here in sydney but more importantly their prayers and their support for our suffering brothers and sisters in ukraine during my drive from lidcombe to the cathedral i received a call from a friend of mine who i shall not name just to say that he is an army chaplain i asked him rather stupidly where he was and he said i cannot say but you could hear the popping sounds of gunfire in the background we briefly spoke on how to get help to him but then he said what we need the most is prayer and so i thank you all here in this great cathedral church those watching online those who are joining from their parishes and their homes across the christian world who have heeded the call of our holy father and unite today for prayer in prayer and fasting for a country being destroyed before our eyes in today's second letter to the corinthians saint paul calls us to be ambassadors of god's love peace and mercy sin paul reminds us that god works through his people but for us to be true ambassadors to christ of christ we must firstly be reconciled with god god created us as a perfect image of the divine image we find in jesus yet through sin our image has been spoiled yet christ offers us a way through his life his death and his resurrection to restore the fallen image of mankind god gives us that grace the lenten journey on which the latin church is embarking today and my church will begin on monday is one that helps us to restore the image of god that we are called to be it is through prayer through the reception of the divine mysteries the sacraments of confession of communion that we restore our life it is through prayer and dedicating more time to it that we deepen our personal relationship with the god who calls us to be his ambassadors we are called too fast and fasting doesn't just mean giving up things that we really like when many of us were growing up no catholic family would ever eat meat on friday let alone a friday in lent yet today we balk at such regulations and leave it up to our own conscience we should not forget that abstaining from food that abstaining from entertainment that abstaining from alcohol on particular days of lent serves the same purpose as prayer fasting helps us eliminate our dependence on the material on the clutter and the noise which are around us fasting helps us to focus on being more loving the third important part of the great fast of lent is that of charity and that charity includes our attitude towards our neighbor be they here in australia or elsewhere be they living in the same house as we live or many thousands of kilometers away charity is a loving heart in ukrainian the word for poverty is ubotestva which literally means to become like god we through our charity are called to live not in a physical poverty but to distance ourselves from the material things and to allow ourselves to come closer to the image and likeness of god in which we were created it is also an opportunity to share the gifts that we have with those who have very little my dear friends in christ let us be ambassadors of peace of hope and of love the world needs the image of god's love the world needs our prayers ukraine needs your prayers ukrainians all over the world and here in sydney need your prayers by praying in charity for one another by fasting by giving arms and distancing ourselves from the clutter of material possession for at least the time of lent we restore through christ the image of christ himself in us when the lights of the sydney opera house turn back to white in a few days when the front pages are no longer filled with the graphic images of destruction and death in the streets of my spiritual homeland when the news broadcasts no longer lead with what is happening in caves that is when we will need you the most for the suffering will not have ended for many it will have just begun i join with father don today in praying true for the people who are suffering closer to home ravaged by the dreadful floods north of us and those preparing for floods closer to home i also pray for those suffering of war wars that have been forgotten in parts of africa the desolation and the destruction continue our brothers and sisters in the middle east who continue to suffer greatly but today firstly for ukraine so please do not forget us please pray for the intercession of the most holy theotokos of fatima who 100 years ago asked for prayers and the consecration of the world for the conversion of russia let us pray for russia and for her people who are also suffering at this time the mothers who will receive their children's bodies from the front line not knowing why or for what they died for the brave people of russia who were standing in the streets and the squares of the cities who are gathering in bunkers and churches in russia to pray for peace and to decry that which is being done in their name we pray today but above all let us put let us remember the words of the prophet david who says put not your trust in princes or in the sons of men too many have looked towards leaders and politicians to give them answers and bring them peace it is only from god that we receive salvation peace and forgiveness of our sins last year on ash wednesday here in australia most of us experienced for the first time the custom of the imposition of ashes by sprinkling on the top of the head as our usual custom here has been to have the cross marked on our forehead with the ashes this was done because of the covert pandemic as a more covert safe way of receiving the ashes that it is of course a very ancient practice and in many parts of the church the usual way in which the ashes are distributed this year the covert situation is slightly better for us and so here in the cathedral you may choose whether you wish to receive the ashes sprinkled on the top of your head or if you wish to have them marked by the minister on your foreign so when we come to the imposition of ashes if you wish to have them sprinkled and just bow and they'll be sprinkled on your head if you wish to have them marked on your forehead don't bow and now let us bless the ashes dear brothers and sisters let us humbly ask god our father that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of his grace these ashes which we will put on our heads in penitence a god who are moved by acts of humility and respond with forgiveness to works of penance lend your merciful ear to our prayers and in your kindness pour out the grace of your blessing on your servants who are marked with these ashes that as they follow the lenten observances they may be worthy to come with minds made pure to celebrate the paschal mystery of your son through christ our lord [Music] jesus oh [Music] me [Music] [Applause] so [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] foreign foreign me [Music] is [Music] foreign foreign [Music] is [Music] god [Music] [Music] so [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] so [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] mission [Music] oh [Music] [Music] mercedes [Music] foreign [Music] here [Music] is [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] is [Music] foreign [Music] the sign of blessed ashes invites us to respond to god who calls us back to him let us come to him in prayer with penitent hearts for all members of the church as they repent and do penance in this chosen time let us pray to the lord r for the will to discipline ourselves by fasting and self-denial let us pray to the lord r for generosity to the poor and the oppressed by generous arms giving let us pray to the lord for peace in ukraine and an end to the russian invasion for the protection of civilians the shelter of refugees and the reuniting of families in safety let us pray to the lord for all those affected by the present floods in our land that they may recover and flourish and that the present reigns may diminish let us pray to the lord r lord hear our lord for the dead who have entered a state of purification and mercy let us pray to the lord r god of mercy and compassion look upon the petitions of penitent people who call out to you and pray for peace and grace at this time we ask this through christ our lord [Music] is me [Music] is [Music] yesterday pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father as we solemnly offer the annual sacrifice for the beginning of lent we entreat you o lord that through works of penance and charity we may turn away from harmful pleasures and cleansed from our sins may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the passion of your son who lives and reigns forever and ever [Music] the lord be with [Music] your heart [Music] let us give thanks to the lord of god [Music] it is truly right and just a duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god for you will let ourselves denial should give you thanks humble as sinful pride contribute to the feeding of the poor and so help us imitate you in your kindness and so we glorify you with countless angels as with one voice of praise we are [Music] is [Music] to you therefore most merciful father we make humble prayer and petition through jesus christ your son our lord that you accept and bless these gifts these offerings these holy and unblemished sacrifices which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic church be pleased to grant her peace to god unite and govern her throughout the whole world together with your servant francis our pope and anthony our bishop and all those who holding to the truth and on the catholic and apostolic faith remember lord your servants and all gathered here whose faith and devotion are known to you for them we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them for the redemption of their souls in the hope of health and well-being and paying their homage to you the eternal god living and true in communion with whose memory we venerate especially the glorious ever virgin mary mother of our lord god jesus christ and blessed joseph her spouse your blessed apostles and martyrs peter and paul andrew james john thomas james phillip bartholomew matthew simus simon and jude linus cletus clement sixtus cornelius cyprian lawrence chrysogonus john and paul cosmas and damian and all your saints we ask her through their merits and prayers in all things we may be defended by your protecting help therefore lord we pray graciously accept this oblation of our servants that of your whole family order our days in your peace and command that we be delivered from eternal damnation encountered among the flock of those who have chosen be pleased our god we pray to and approve this offering in every respect make it spiritual and acceptable so that it may become for us the body and blood of your most beloved son our lord jesus christ on the day before he was to suffer he took bread in his holy and venerable hands and with eyes raised to heaven to you o god his almighty father giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands and once more giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me the mystery of faith [Music] therefore our lord as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed passion the resurrection from the dead and the glorious ascension into heaven of christ your son our lord we your servants and your holy people offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us this pure victim this holy victim this spotless victim the holy bread of eternal life and the chalice of everlasting salvation be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance and to accept them as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant abel the just the sacrifice of abraham our father in faith and the offering of your high priest melchizedek a holy sacrifice a spotless victim in humble prayer we ask you almighty god command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty so that all of us who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy body and blood of your son may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing remember also lord your servants and all who have gone before us with a sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace grant them o lord we pray in all who sleep in christ a place of refreshment light and peace to us also your servants who those sinners hope in your abundant mercies graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy apostles and martyrs with john the baptist stephen matthias barnabas ignatius alexander marcellinus peter felicity perpetua agatha lucy agnes cecilia anastasia and all your saints admit us we beseech you into their company not weighing our merits but granting us your pardon through christ our lord through whom you continue to make all these good things o lord you sanctify them fill them with life bless them and bestow them upon us for him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honors yours forever [Music] [Music] at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say [Music] is [Music] deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ [Music] the lord jesus christ who said to your apostles peace i leave you my peace i give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign [Music] you forever let us offer each other the sign of peace [Music] [Music] is [Music] uh [Music] behold the lamb of god behold him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i'm not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be bye [Music] [Music] oh oh [Music] yes [Music] so [Music] great [Music] says [Music] [Laughter] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] so me [Music] [Music] foreign he [Music] r let us pray may the sacrament we have received sustain us o lord that our lenten fast may be pleasing to you and be for us a healing remedy through christ our lord i thank you for being at the cathedral this evening for this mass i urge you as you return to your homes to be very careful because of this storm please keep all of those affected by the flooding in your prayers but in a particular way of course we have the people of ukraine in our hearts and in our prayers not only tonight but in the years of our whole lives because this war and the invasion of ukraine has impacted on the whole world and the whole of our lives we will remember this and we will offer to god our prayers for his mercy i want to thank father simon in particular for being here for preaching tonight we don't often enough have a mighty proto-presbyter in the cathedral so we hope to see something more of you and perhaps father justin also in the future the lord be with you [Music] pour out a spirit of compunction o god on those who bow before your majesty and by your mercy may they merit the rewards you promised to those who do penance through christ our lord [Music] mighty god bless you the father and the son and the holy spirit go in peace [Music] you

Channel: St Mary's Cathedral Sydney

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Length: 83min 25sec (5005 seconds)

Published: Tue Mar 01 2022