The time of Lent is a time of preparation for the glorious celebration of Easter, the Resurrection of Christ. It is not enough to not eat meat on Fridays. If you give up ice cream or some other food product, this is not enough. If you go to church more, this is not enough. We must do this and so much more. We must cloth the poor, tend the sick, feed the hungry, visit those in prison, bury the dead. And not just during Lent, but throughout the year. If we compartmentalize these actions into a 40 day period, what does this say about us? Or to go farther, if we go to church on Sunday but not any other day of the week, what does this say about our lives as Christians? Do we pray daily? Are we true Christians then? I answer you no. To live a Christian life is to walk with Christ and strive toward union with God at all times, day and night. In our lives as modern people we are chained to the clock and we are trained to make schedules and follow them. If we are late then there are repercussions. What do you think the repercussions would be for our souls if we were late for our "appointment" with God? Sanctify your day with prayer! St. Paul exhorts us to pray unceasingly at all times. If you are walking somewhere, say a prayer. If you are waiting in line, say a prayer. If you are watching the news, pray for the people you see and hear about. If you are listening to music, use that music to the glory of God. If you are eating, say a prayer. Before you sleep, especially before you sleep, say a prayer. When you wake up say a pray and give thanks to God that He has allowed you another day in his creation. This time of Lent is given to us as a gift. It is a reminder for us of the things that are to come and that we must be ready and vigilant, "for we know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh." My brothers and sisters, be mindful of each day we have and be mindful to be prepared through prayer, fasting, and recent confession. Ah yes, confession. The sacrament of confession and reconciliation is one of the most important ways in which to prepare ourselves. It is not something we should go to once or twice in our lives but often. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is to do what it says, reconcile us to the Church. When we sin, which we all do, one is separated from Christ and from His Holy Church. It is only through the Church that we may be reconciled to Him. I cannot stress how important confession is, if we keep things bottled up inside we will become spiritually sick, not to mention be separated from God and unable to come to know Him better. "Brethren, be sober, be vigilant for our adversary the devil, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith." As we make this journey together let us remember all of these things and ask that our Lord will grant us strength and spiritual growth in this time of preparation and may He find us worthy to witness His glorious Resurrection.
In the name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Holy Father,
R. hear us.
Just Father,
R. graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
R. have mercy on us.
God, the Son, the Redeemer of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
R. have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who desireth not the death of the sinner, but that he convert and live,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who on Mt Sinai gave the law to Moses after he had fasted for forty days,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who by the prayers of the fasting Moses, forgave the sins of his people,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who guarded the fasting Daniel in the lions' den,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who spared the Ninivites when they fasted and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who delivered the Ninivites from the destruction of their city when they repented and put on sackcloth, ashes, and hair-shirts,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who forgave King David's sin when he confessed his sin, donned a hair-shirt, and repented,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who heard and comforted Judith as she prostrated herself before Thee, wearing a hair-shirt and ashes,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who saved Jonah when he cried out to Thee from the belly of the whale,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who from the army of the Assyrians delivered Ezechial and Thy people as they fasted, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who granted Esther as she fasted that she find grace in the eyes of the king,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who from the gallows freed Mardoch who donned sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who aided the Maccabees as they fasted, wore sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who manifested Thyself to Anna in the temple as she fasted and constantly prayed to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who revealed many mysteries to the Prophets as they fasted and afflicted themselves with many penances,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who heard the priests of Israel as they prayed and offered sacrifice for Thy people,
R. have mercy on us.
O Lord, who fasted for forty days and nights in the desert,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who instituted the Lenten fast through Thine apostles,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, Thou who illuminated Paul as he prayed and fasted for three days,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who forgives the sins of men on account of their repentance,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who chose us and tempered us in the furnace of humility,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who testeth Thy elect like gold in the furnace,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who granteth a time and a place for repentance to sinners,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who chastiseth every son whom Thou receiveth and loveth,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who wisheth that no one to perish, but all to turn back and repent,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who by Thy grace came before Matthew sitting in the toll-booth,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, Thou who justified the repentant tax-collector,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who received in a fatherly fashion the prodigal son returning to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who made the spring of living water flow for the Samaritan woman,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who received tax-collectors and sinners, and ate with them,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who cast out demons from Mary Magdalene,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who looked upon Peter who denied Thee three times,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who received the penitent thief into Paradise,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who taketh away our iniquities, wickedness and sins,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who bids us to put on ashes, gird our hair-shirts, and lament our sins to avert Thy wrath,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who hath mercy on all who turn to Thee in fasting, weeping, and contrition,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who forgeteth all our sins after we repent,
R. have mercy on us.
O God, who art merciful and ready to forgive,
R. have mercy on us.
Be merciful,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful.
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From every mental and bodily danger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From all ill will and anger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From all drunkenness,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From every impurity and shame,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From anger, quarrels, and disputes,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From all carelessness and sloth,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From all stubbornness and hardness of heart,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From a sudden and unexpected death,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
From perpetual damnation,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy Baptism and Thy fast,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy three temptations,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy thirst and hunger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy labors and sorrows,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through the sentence of death trice brought against Thee,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Through Thy terrible and cruel sacrifice upon the Cross,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
On judgement day,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
We sinners,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst be merciful to us,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst lead us to true repentance,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That we may bear worthy fruits of repentance,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That we may weep for our sins and to seek after Thy grace,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst purify Thy Church with this holy Lent and free her from all wickedness,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That we may always present ourselves as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to Thee,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst grant us forgiveness and remission of all our sins,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That through the tribulations of this season Thou wouldst grant us to enter into future glory,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Son of God,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Our Father ...
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
V. Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord's ministers shall weep.
R. Spare, O Lord, spare thy people. (Joel 2:17)
V. O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins,
R. Nor reward with us as our iniquities deserve. (Ps 102:11)
V. O Lord, do not remember our iniquities of old,
R. Nor take vengeance upon our sins.
V. Help us, O God our Savior,
R. And on account of the glory of Thy name, O Lord, free us.
V. Be merciful to our sins, O Lord,
R. On account of Thy Holy Name.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
Let us pray
O almighty and everlasting God, spare the repentant, be merciful to those who implore Thee, and grant us the favor of Thy mercy so that this Lent may be a wholesome remedy of mind and body to all who humbly implore Thee and who deplore their sins. Grant that whosoever calls upon Thee the remission of their sins, that may receive health of body and soul, and the reward promised to those faithfully serving Thee, eternal blessedness.
O God, who hast wonderfully created man, and more wonderfully redeemed him, grant us, we beseech Thee, such strength of mind and reason against the allurements of sin that we may serve Thy majesty with a sincere heart.
Graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who are justly afflicted for our sins may mercifully be freed for the glory of Thy Name.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy loving-kindness ever guard Thy household, that with Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and in good deeds may be devoted to Thy name.
O God, who desirest not the death but the repentance of sinners, look down most kindly upon the frailty of our human nature, and aid our efforts with Thy goodness, so that through Thy great mercy we may obtain pardon for our sins, steadfastness in Thy service, and arrive finally at the promised reward for those who persevere in Thy service.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen.