Mass on Ash Wednesday - February 17, 2021

[Music] so [Music] we stand here before we stand here [Music] jesus [Music] save us comfort us is [Music] is [Music] our kingdom [Music] r [Music] is [Music] is [Music] good afternoon and welcome to the basilica of the national shrine of immaculate conception as we begin the season of lent on this ash wednesday we're happy to welcome all of you who join us physically here in mary shrine and those who join us at home through our live stream broadcast today's livestream broadcast is sponsored by one individual in memory of a friend who died suddenly and as providence would have it the sponsor died the next day and so we raise them and their families to god in prayer this afternoon remind those who who are here physically in mary shrine that you must keep your face mask on covering your nose as well as your mouth for the entirety of mass we ask that for the distribution of ashes as well as holy communion you do not come forward until as to do so by the ushers and then at the end of mass everyone must leave the upper church by the east side doors in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit the grace of our lord jesus christ and the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all let us pray grant oh 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 a reading from the book of the prophet joel even now says the lord return to me with your whole heart with fasting and weeping 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 in zion proclaim a fast call an assembly gather the people notify the congregation assemble the elders gather the children and the infants at the breast let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber between the porch and the altar let the priests and the ministers of the lord weep and say spare o 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 [Music] lord for we have [Music] seen have mercy on me o god in your goodness in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my face [Music] [Music] for i acknowledge my offense and my sin is before me always [Music] is [Music] is a clean heart create for me o god and a steadfast spirit [Music] is [Music] give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustained in me [Music] oh please 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 [Music] praise to you lord jesus christ [Music] peace [Music] is [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 other 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 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 neglected their appearance so that they may appear to others to be fasting amen i say to you they've 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 father who is hidden and your father who sees what is hidden will repay you the gospel of the lord if today you hear his voice harden not your hearts these words of today's gospel acclamation set the tone for the entire lenten season as we come together on this ash wednesday as we hear the voice of the lord speak through the scriptures the season of lent invites us to draw more closely to god by opening our hearts to the lord and respond to the ongoing call to conversion and perfection of life as our holy father pope francis states in his message for lent this year lent is a time for believing for welcoming god into our lives and allowing him to make his dwelling among us the season of lent has a twofold character the baptismal and the penitential the first purpose of lent is that this is the final preparation period for the catechumens who will be baptized at easter as well as for the candidates who will be received into full communion with the catholic church at easter for us who are baptized lent is our annual 40 day retreat when the church summons us to conform ourselves more closely to jesus to the ancient potential practices of prayer fasting and almsgiving or works of mercy we begin our lenten journey today by having ashes placed on our head as an outward sign which stems from the biblical tradition of covering oneself with ashes as a symbol of mourning contrition and penance unlike pre-coronavirus years when we had an ash cross placed on our forehead this year the holy see has modified this practice and instructed that we return to the more ancient practice of having ashes placed on the top of our heads the custom of being basically covered with ashes was introduced into the catholic church back in the second century but only around the year 1000 did the placing of ashes on the head become part of this ash wednesday liturgy as a symbol of recognizing our sinfulness and our repentance by having ashes placed on our head today we are publicly stating that we are sinners and now with lent as saint paul proclaims in today's second reading the time has arrived for us to do penance for our sins and to be renewed by god's mercy we are now entering a period of 40 days in which we strive to rend our hearts as the prophet joel advises in today's first reading so that our hearts are conformed more perfectly to god's heart the ashes sprinkled on our heads this afternoon are an outward sign an outward symbol but we must also internalize this outward expression so that today's observance will not be something we do just because it is ash wednesday and forget about tomorrow but because today we are undertaking a lenten reformation of the heart and taking to heart the words of saint paul in a letter to the corinthians be reconciled to god for those who are joining us through our livestream broadcast you may be feeling as though you are basically missing out on not receiving ashes today a friend of mine confined to home told me that since she cannot get out for ashes on ass wednesday she was thinking about going to the backyard to get some dirt to put on her head i discourage this but this statement also serves as a reminder a reminder that the ashes are only a symbol they are not magic they are not necessary for the observance of lent what is necessary is that we take up the battle against spiritual evils as we prayed in the opening prayer of today's mass what is necessary is that we turn to the lord with our whole heart as the prophet joel summoned what is necessary is to strive for a steadfast observance of lent as we will pray during the blessing of ashes our lenten observances our liturgies the scriptures and our prayers are the fortification necessary to take up battle against spiritual evils and the path that leads to reconciliation with god holiness and change are a process holiness does not come about overnight and none of us will be living saints by easter the path to holiness lasts a lifetime but lent is a time that the church gives us to basically supercharge our efforts pope francis observes is the favorable season for renewing our encounter with christ living in his word in the sacraments and in our neighbor traditionally as lent begins not only do we receive ashes but we also undertake a penitential practice another set of my friends suggested that like most activities these past 11 months lens should lend should be canceled this year because of the coronavirus to which another added we've been living lent for the past year while the pandemic has imposed what seems to be a perpetual lent for many my guess is that while some folks use these days to build their spiritual life especially reaching out to others and help those who are in greater need there are also those who did a lot of complaining a lot of moaning about the chronovirus shutdown and so lent 2021 is a good opportunity for us to take an inventory of our lives and what we have compared to what we do not have as well as compared to the many who have lost so very much including the loss of life penance is not punishment penance is therapeutic and helps us grow in the christian life and in holiness and so whatever you plan to undertake for lent whatever you have decided to give up for lent or to do for lend is meant to help you grow it is meant to help all of us renew our encounter with god father son and spirit it is that renewal which will help us as we will pray in the closing prayer of today's mass to mirror the rewards that god promises to those who do penance 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 impenitence oh god who desire not the death of sinners but their conversion mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless these ashes which we intend to receive upon our heads that we who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust may through a steadfast observance of lent gain pardon for sins and newness of life after the likeness of your risen son who lives and reigns forever and ever remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return please [Music] [Music] me [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] time [Music] day [Music] oh [Music] me [Music] my [Music] [Music] foreign is [Music] for thy mercies [Music] [Music] is [Music] us [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] so [Music] trusting in god's infinite mercy let us now present these our requests to the lord for all members of the church on earth that our example during lent will reveal to the world the truth of christ's redeeming love let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for all who are entrusted with public office may their service advance the common good and bring relief to those who are in need let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer that the sacrifices we offer this lent will bear spiritual fruit in our own lives and in the lives of others let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer that god will call many to serve his church as priests deacons and consecrated religious let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for the intentions of our pilgrims and benefactors and for the intentions that they have entrusted to the shrine's lenten remembrance let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for all those who have died from the effects of the coronavirus may they share in the fullness of life with the saints in god's heavenly kingdom let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer a father in heaven may the season of repentance bring us the blessing of your forgiveness and the gift of your eternal peace through christ our lord we invite you to join in support of the ministry of the basilica of the national shrine contributions to the basilica can be made at collection points located at the east side doors of the basilica as you exit following mass thank you for your continued support and [Music] generosity [Music] [Music] oh give me [Music] [Music] is [Music] [Music] is [Music] jesus christ 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 cleanse from our sins become worthy to celebrate devout the passion of your son who lives and reigns forever and ever the lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god 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 through bodily fasting you 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 dominion the door and powers tremble before you heaven and the virtues of heaven and the blessed seraph worship together with exaltation may our voices we pray join with theirs in humble praise as we acclaim [Music] heaven and earth blessed is you are indeed holy o lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise for through your son our lord jesus christ by the power and working of the holy spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name therefore o lord we humbly implore you by the same spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son our lord jesus christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries for on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread and 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 the chalice and 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 r therefore oh lord as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to a second coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice look we pray upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with his holy spirit may become one body one spirit in christ may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the most blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for our unfailing help may this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray o lord advance the peace and salvation of all the world be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant francis our pope wilton our bishop and his assistant bishops the order of bishops all the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you in your compassion o merciful father gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through christ our lord through whom you bestow upon the world all that is good through him and with him and in him o god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever man [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 [Music] is [Music] is [Music] r [Music] is [Music] me [Music] is [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 am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed [Music] my [Music] foreign [Music] oh [Music] of god [Music] as they ask me every day [Music] is [Music] those times [Music] [Music] [Music] is [Music] is [Music] and r your wigs [Music] his righteousness [Music] oh [Music] wait for [Music] is [Music] songs [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] is [Music] is [Music] reach uh [Music] [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Music] is [Music] foreign so let us pray may the sacrament we have received sustain also 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 promise to those who do penance through christ our lord the lord be with you may almighty god bless you the father the son and the holy spirit go forth the mass is ended [Music] [Music] you

Channel: National Shrine

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Keywords: Basilica Special Livestream, Ash Wednesday, Catholic Mass, Mass February 17 2021, February 17 2021 Mass, Mass on Ash Wednesday, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, National Shrine, Mary’s Shrine, Basilica in D.C., Mass at the Basilica, Choir of the Basilica

Id: NjyuzovQuaI

Length: 66min 0sec (3960 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 17 2021