Ash Wednesday - 4 PM Mass - March 2, 2022

[Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Music] [Music] uh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] okay um so um good evening brothers and sisters the season of lent is both a time of penance and a time of renewal we approach our practices of prayer fasting and almsgiving or charity with more intensity during these 40 days these three practices should always be part of our life throughout the year we simply try to become more intentional and more disciplined about them in these days so that they might be practiced with regularity throughout the year let us begin these sacred days asking the lord to strengthen us for the journey ahead and to fill us with this holy spirit our opening song is from ashes to the living font number 474 we will sing verses 1 2 and 4. [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] your voice [Music] us [Music] through [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit the grace of our lord jesus christ the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all let us pray 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 forever and ever amen please be seated for our readings a reading from the book of the prophet joel even now says the lord return to me with your whole heart with fasting and weakening and mourning rend your hearts not your garments and return to the lord your god for gracious and merciful is he slow to anger rich in kindness and relenting in punishment perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing offerings and libations for the lord your god blow the trumpet zion proclaim a fast call an assembly gather the people notify the congregation assemble the elders gather the children and infants at the breast let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber between the porch and the altar let the priest the ministers of the lord weep and say sparrow lord your people and make not your heritage a reproach with the nations ruling over them why should they say among the peoples where is their god then the lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people the word of the lord um [Music] be merciful lord for we have sinned be merciful o lord for we have sinned [Music] have mercy on me god in your kindness in your compassion [Music] more and more from my guilt and my sorrow and cleanse me from all of my sins [Music] i know [Music] my sins are always before me against [Music] what you evil in your sight i am [Music] create in the unclean [Music] cast me not away from [Music] and take not your spirit from me [Music] give back to me the joy of your salvation let your willing spirit bear me off and i shall teach awaken to the ones who have wandered and bring them on home to your side [Music] a reading from the second letter of saint paul to the corinthians brothers and sisters we are ambassadors for christ as if god were appealing through us we implore you on behalf of christ be reconciled to god for our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin so that we might become the righteousness of god in him working together then we appeal to you not to receive the grace of god in vain for he says in an acceptable time i heard you and on the day of salvation i helped you behold now is a very acceptable time behold now is the day of salvation the word of the lord if today you hear his voice harden not your hearts praise to you lord jesus christ [Music] christmas glory [Music] if today you hear his voice [Music] jesus christ [Music] the lord be with you a reading from the holy gospel according to matthew jesus said to his disciples take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them otherwise you will have no recompense from your heavenly father when you give alms do not blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others amen i say to you they have received their reward but when you give alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your almsgiving may be secret and your father who sees in secret will repay you when you pray do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them amen i say to you they have received their reward but when you pray go to your inner room close the door and pray to your father in secret and your father who sees in secret will repay you when you fast do not look gloomy like the hypocrites they neglect their appearance so that they may appear to others to be fasting amen i say to you they have received their reward but when you fast anoint your head and wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to your heavenly father who is hidden and your father who sees what is hidden will repay you the gospel of the lord r we need the whole scriptural message given to us on on this ash wednesday every beginning of a lenten season gives us these beautiful scriptures together they they uh communicate an urgency to us about repentance now is the day of salvation don't wait another minute act on the message you've just heard and make sure that in checking that we're going to do this right we're not going to do it to to be seen by others as performing this or that deed or whatever just take full assurance and confidence in the knowledge that your heavenly father who sees you sees everything done by everybody including the hearts of everyone so we want our hearts to be pure and be made more pure as we get draw closer to easter as we enter into the depth of the passion of the lord it begins with us our acknowledgement of being sinners be merciful o lord for we have sinned and we we share in david's uh sentiment from his uh tragic fall into serious offenses where this particular psalm provided for today is one of the best uh known of the of the penitential psalms and have mercy on me o god in your goodness in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me this is what god does for every sinner who comes to him that way as a sinner that we rend our hearts not our garments that we return to the lord with a sense of urgency conveyed today at the beginning of a season not to be confused with new year's resolutions but rather that we are are taking stock of of the preparation uh that this season provides of our hearts of our minds and and everything else behold now is that very acceptable time now is the day of salvation none of us knows the day or the hour there's always a sense of urgency maybe more so right now out there in the world so take this to heart the whole message of this lenten season as we begin and and pray and and we do not have to uh do anything for show whatever do it because you're in the sight of god wherever you are and he sees you and he sees your motivation so we want to turn away from things that are mixed motives and so forth and a kind of a worldly way or ego feeding way of looking at things and doing things with that motivation we want to get rid of that altogether lord cast me not out from your presence and your holy spirit take not from me give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustained within me oh lord open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise that we want to do for all eternity we want to get ready by taking the path that many a saint has taken oftentimes in a very dramatic fashion but the saints became saints by sticking to it you might say persevering even when they fell they persevered they got up again with god's help to return again and ask for his mercy to continue on the road that really does lead to salvation as we endeavor to persevere in the lantern season and celebrate joyfully the season of easter please stand 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 o 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 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 past mystery of your son through christ our lord amen those who are assisting the ushers [Music] we're send down your mercy to set us free mercy oh god [Music] oh mercy on us [Music] us send down your mercy to set us [Music] free the people the children open your hearts to compassion open your hearts to the lord [Music] mercy on us [Music] now is the time to return to god open your lives to forgiveness and mercy open your lives to the [Music] mercy on earth [Music] mercy on us [Music] long is the journey for the mountains us your face give us [Music] lead us to walk in your lord mercy to set us free [Music] wash us undoing [Music] break through the [Music] the silence embrace us with [Music] heart have mercy on us [Music] mercy on [Music] your us to settle the screens um [Music] yes we stand for our prayers of intercession assembled on this day of salvation to begin the acceptable time of lenten conversion we bring these needs to our compassionate god that god will renew a steadfast spirit throughout the church and create a clean heart in all believers we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer that those preparing for easter sacraments will be living signs of god's grace among us we pray to the lord hear our prayer that those estranged from god and the church will return to find the joy of salvation awaiting them we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer that those serving in the military especially in the ukraine who are away from home and community will be drawn closer to christ during this season of lent we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer that we will remember all who have asked for our prayers the attention of this mass is emmett and coleman lee we pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer that the sick in all who suffer illness will experience god's healing grace and our compassion we pray to the lord lord hear our prayer that this community will pray fast and give alms as christ teaches seeking not the praise of others but the blessing of god who sees what is hidden we pray to the lord hear our prayer grant we pray o lord that your people may turn to you with all their heart so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy through christ our lord amen as previously announced uh the collection taken today is for the church in eastern europe any offering you make benefits the impoverished churches of central and eastern europe you may be seated as we prepare the altar [Music] [Music] so [Music] so [Music] so so [Music] uh [Music] so [Music] [Music] there we go [Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Music] brave 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 cleanse from our sins may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the passion of your son who lives and reigns with you forever and ever amen the lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god for the through bodily fasting you rest restrain our faults raise up our minds and bestow both virtue and its rewards through christ our lord through him the angels praise your majesty dominions adore and powers tremble before you heaven and the virtues of heaven and the blessed seraphim worship together with exaltation may our voices we pray join with theirs in humble praise as we acclaim oh [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] [Music] you are indeed holy o lord the fount of all holiness make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall so that they may become for us the body and blood of our lord jesus christ at the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it 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 the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it 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 save us the savior of the world save us [Music] set us [Applause] [Music] free therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection we offer you lord the bread of life and the chalice of salvation giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of christ we may be gathered into one by the holy spirit remember lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her the fullness of charity together francis our pope and ronald our bishop and all their clergy remember also our brothers and sisters have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all have died in your mercy especially kids in ukraine welcome them to the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray but if the blessed virgin mary mother of god will bless the joseph has fast with the blessed apostles and all the saints have pleased throughout the ages you may merit to be coheirs to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your son jesus christ through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever [Music] at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 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 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 for ever and ever the peace of the lord be with you always let us offer each other the sign of peace [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] i must at this moment make one announcement regarding communion to uh in in view of the revised protocols from pope for coverage 19 those desiring to receive communion on the tongue should come into this line and after those who are receiving in the hand 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 am not worthy you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed [Music] shepherd me o god beyond my walks beyond my fears [Music] earth god is my shepherd so nothing shall i want i rest in the meadows [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] gently you raise me and heal my weary you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth my spiritual singular music of your names [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] you have set me up [Music] me [Music] beyond my fears surely your kindness and mercy follow me is [Music] from [Music] foreign [Music] so [Music] last [Music] is [Music] is [Music] of is [Music] his sacrifice [Music] um [Music] [Music] um [Music] um 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 the lord be with you bow down for the blessing 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 i believe there's one announcement if you haven't had the chance yet join the many parishioners who will be reading restore a guided lent journal for prayer and meditation the book is available in the narthex a 10 donation is requested an envelope is available for your donation and consider joining parishioners who have chosen to gather to reflect and discuss the book there are two options available the lord be with you may the blessing of almighty god the father and the son and the holy spirit come down upon you to remain with you forever amen go in the peace of christ [Music] lord my soul [Music] r [Music] is [Music] leads me [Music] sleep [Music] she's awesome

Channel: St. Joseph Parish Downers Grove

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Id: IzKX46z7moU

Length: 58min 32sec (3512 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 03 2022