INTROIT
 
Judica me (Psalm 43)

  Give sentence with me, O God,
And defend my cause against the ungodly   O deliver my soul from the deceitful and wicked man:
For thou art the God of my strength.  §

  O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me:
And bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.

(Repeat to §.)

THE COLLECT

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Only one Seasonal Prayer is said from this day forth in Masses of the Season; according to the Latin Rite this 2nd Collect is for the Church (as on December 30th), until Maundy Thursday; but according to the Prayer-Book, as follows until Holy Week:

COLLECT 2 Of Ash Wednesday

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.]

THE EPISTLE

Hebrews 9.11-15

CHRIST being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

GRADUAL AND TRACT

  (Psalm 143) Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies:
Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee.
  (Psalm 18) It is the Lord that delivereth me from my cruel enemies,
People  And setteth me up above mine adversaries: thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.

  (Psalm 129) Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up.
People  May Israel now say: yea many a time have they vexed me from my youth up.
  But they have not prevailed against me:
The plowers plowed upon my back.
  And made long furrows:
But the righteous Lord hath hewn the snares of th eungodly in pieces.
 

THE GOSPEL

St. John 8.46-59

JESUS said, Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

OFFERTORY  Psalm 119

I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart: O do well unto thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word: quicken thou me, according to thy word, O Lord.

SECRET

Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that these our oblations may deliver us from every bond of iniquity, and obtain for us the bounteous gifts of thy mercy.  Through.

SECRET 2  Of Ash Wednesday

Grant, we beseeh 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.

PREFACE of the Cross: which is said daily until Maundy Thursday inclusive.

COMMUNION  I Corinthians 11

This is my Body, which is given for you: this cup is the new testament in my Blood, saith the Lord: this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

POSTCOMMUNION

Assist us mercifully, O Lord our God: that we whom thou hast refreshed with holy mysteries may be defended by thy perpetual succour.  Through.

POSTCOMMUNION 2  Of Ash Wednesday

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.
 

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