|
Ash
Wednesday, Lent and Easter prayers and liturgy
[ Lent Prayers][Easter
Prayers][Lent Bible Study]
[ Last Supper sermon
]
[ Easter Prayers ][Ash
Wednesday Liturgy] [Lent
intercessions]
[Liturgy for Lent 1][Lent
2][Lent 3][Lent
4][Lent 5][Palm
Sunday][Easter Day]
The Background to the Season of Lent
Lent probably originated with the pre-Easter baptismal
rituals of catechumens, although the number of days set aside for
fasting varied according to region. Irenaeus (AD 180) testifies
to the variety of durations of pre-Easter fasts in the second century.
Tertullian (AD 200) suggests that Catholics fasted two days prior
to Easter, but that the Montanists (a heretical sect that Tertullian
later joined) fasted longer.
However, the number forty, hallowed by the fasts of
Moses, Elijah, and especially Jesus, probably influenced the later
fixed time of 40 days. The Canons of Nicaea (AD 325) were the first
to mention 40 days of fasting. Initially the forty day Lenten fast
began on a Monday, and was intended only for those who were preparing
to enter the Church at Easter. Lent still begins on a Monday in
many Eastern Churches.
Eventually the West began Lent on Ash Wednesday. In the Western
Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs
forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter.
It is a moveable feast, falling on a different date each year because
it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as
4 February or as late as 10 March.
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes
on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes
used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's
Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches,
the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the
sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some
churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who
presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon
his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister
recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and
to dust you shall return", or "Repent, and believe the
Gospel."
The East has no equivalent to Ash Wednesday.
The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting,
self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity.
Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime,
can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking
spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder
our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our
service to him.
(see churchyear.net/lent.html
: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday)
Forty days alone,
a wilderness of thoughts,
tempting and inviting thoughts,
which could so easily have distracted you
from your task, your mission,
your vision.
Yet you emerged, stronger and more attuned
to all that had to be done,
despite a time constraint
that to our eyes would have seemed hopeless.
We too live in stressful times.
Demands are made of our time,
that leave so little
for the important things of life.
We are easily distracted
in the wilderness of our lives,
by every call to go this way or that,
to turn stone to bread
leap from mountains,
and do all that would keep us from the truth.
We listen to the voices of this world,
and ignore the one who endured all this
and so much more,
and emerged triumphant,
that we might not have to suffer so.
Forgive us, Father,
when we get distracted from our task.
Forgive us those times when we try
to be all things to all men,
and fail to be anything to anyone
It is customary, Lord
to give something up
during the season of Lent.
What would you have me do without?
I who have so much.
Chocolate?
Cream cakes?
Cigarettes?
Sweets?
Swearing?
The list is endless
and I could give up all those things
for the span of 40 days
quite easily and almost painlessly.
But what difference would it make
other than making me feel 'holier'
that my friend who makes no such sacrifice?
What would you have me do without?
I who have so much
Selfishness?
Conceit?
Envy?
Pride?
I fear before I ask,
that the answer might be 'yes'
and the giving up
would be all too real, Lord.
It would be difficult,
painful,
sacrificial,
a real cross to carry for 40 days,
and more?
Loving Father,
all the fancy words
in the world,
expressed in eloquent prose,
decorated with emotion,
spoken with conviction,
cannot compete with a heartfelt
'sorry'
when all other words fail.
There are times
when we are all too aware
of our limitations,
conscious of sin,
and the distance it creates between us.
Sometimes 'sorry'
is all the heart can bear to say aloud.
It is only you
who can read and understand
the language of our hearts,
only you who can translate our 'sorry'
into the prayer we would have prayed,
if we had the words within us.
Then you forgive,
and having forgiven
surround us in an embrace of love,
drawing us close to your heart,
as it was always meant to be.
Thank you, Loving Father,
that you listen to hearts,
as well as voices
Thank you.
Your forgiveness is total,
no notebook,
tape recorder,
or post-it note
to remind you of that moment
when.……..
You take our confession,
offered with hands outstretched,
and gently,
like the loving
heavenly Father that you are,
put it to one side
to be forgotten.
No grudges, no itching for judgement,
no resentment or ill-will.
Not like us
who find it easy to say sorry,
but so hard to forgive
absolutely.
Forgive us, Father,
that we are often more willing
to accept forgiveness,
than to forgive,
more willing to accept your love,
than to share it with those
who have hurt us.
Teach us to forgive,
as you forgive
I prayed
"Please Lord,
my life is a mess,
let your love flow through me
and bring healing."
And like a river
cool refreshing water
you flowed through me.
Not as a gentle stream,
a rivulet of hope,
but a torrent,
sweeping debris away.
All those broken branches,
rust-encrusted items,
and accumulated debris,
which were holding back the flow
swept aside in a torrent of love,
flooding through my veins,
pouring into my heart,
filling my life.
This is healing.
Thank you, Lord
Lord, we would grow with you
New shoots reaching out
Hands stretched upward
Like leaves newly formed
Soaking up your light and warmth
Lord, we would grow with you
Lord, we would grow with you
In sunshine and rain
In darkness and light
In cold days and summer days
From Springtime to Winter
Lord, we would grow with you
Lord, we would grow with you
And bring forth fruit
That is pleasing to you
Fed by your living water
Giving sustainance to others
Lord, we would grow with you
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith
and a generosity of service
that gives without counting cost.
A life overflowing with Grace
poured out from the One
who gave everything,
that we might show
the power of love
to a broken world,
and share the truth
from a living Word.
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith,
and a yearning to share it
Prayers for Lent from Other Sources
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth,
despondency, lust of power, and idle talk; But grant rather the
spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and
not to judge my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
The Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Isaiah 58:6-7
Stretching out Thy divine hands upon the Cross,
Thou hast joined together
that which before was divided,
and by Thy mediation
Thou hast offered as a gift to the Father
the nature of mortal man,
that was under condemnation.
Therefore we sing the praises
of Thy sinless Crucifixion.
St. Joseph the Studite
Father in Heaven,
the light of your truth bestows sight
to the darkness of sinful eyes.
May this season of repentance
bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness
and the gift of Your light.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy
(ICEL)
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all,
take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me
the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore Thee,
a heart to delight in Thee,
to follow and enjoy Thee, for Christ's sake, Amen
St. Ambrose of Milan (AD 339-397)
O Lord,
The house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that you may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases Your sight.
I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it,
to whom shall I cry but to you?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins.
St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)
O Lord and Master of my life,
give me not the spirit of laziness,
despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather the spirit of sobriety,
humility, patience and love to Thy servant. (prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions
and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen (prostration)
St. Ephraim the Syrian (AD 305-373)
Hanging as a vine upon the Wood,
O Christ our Saviour,
Thou hast made the ends of the earth
to drink from the wine of incorruption.
Therefore do I cry aloud:
I am darkened always by the hateful drunkenness of sin;
Give me to drink from the sweet wine of true compunction,
and grant me now the strength, O Saviour,
to fast from sensual pleasures,
for Thou art good and lovest mankind.
St. Joseph Studite, Lenten Triodion
O my all-merciful God and Lord,
Jesus Christ, full of pity:
Through Your great love You came down
and became incarnate in order to save everyone.
O Savior, I ask You to save me by Your grace!
If You save anyone because of their works,
that would not be grace but only reward of duty,
but You are compassionate and full of mercy!
You said, O my Christ,
"Whoever believes in Me shall live and never die."
If then, faith in You saves the lost, then save me,
O my God and Creator, for I believe.
Let faith and not my unworthy works be counted to me, O my God,
for You will find no works which could account me righteous.
O Lord, from now on let me love You as intensely as I have loved
sin,
and work for You as hard as I once worked for the evil one.
I promise that I will work to do Your will,
my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life and forever
more.
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
Father of light,
in You is found no shadow of change
but only the fullness of life and limitless truth.
Open our hearts to the voice of Your Word
and free us from the original darkness
that shadows our vision.
Restore our sight that we may look upon Your Son
who calls us to repentance and a change of heart,
for he lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy
(ICEL)
Father,
You have taught us to overcome our sins
by prayer, fasting, and works of mercy.
When we are discouraged by our weakness,
give us confidence in Your love.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with Your and the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
International Committee on English in the Liturgy
(ICEL)
See Lent Resource - Bible
Study based upon Isaac Watt's hymn 'When I survey the wondrous Cross'
[ Lent Prayers] [Lent
Bible Study] [ Last Supper
sermon ]
[ Easter Prayers ][Ash
Wednesday Liturgy]
[Liturgy for Lent 1][Lent
2][Lent 3][Lent
4][Lent 5]
|
