Ash Wednesday

The Readings

Available from the USCCB here.

First Reading Joel 2:12-18

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 & 17

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2

Gospel Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Prayers of the Faithful

• For God’s Holy Church and its leaders, may this Lent be a time of purification and a strengthening with a renewal of faith, love, and charity, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
• For those most in need due to the pandemic and extreme cold0, may those who have plenty put on Christ and fast from their excess to give aid to those most in need, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
• For those who have wandered far from God’s grace due to sin and despair, through repentance and reconciliation may they return to the One who calls them by name, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
• For the entire St. Columbkille community, especially those who are not able to gather here physically, may we grow in holiness by undertaking the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
• For Eleanor McCarthy; Joan Higley; Susan Hosch; John Portz Family; Jim Kircher; and all who have died, that they may be reconciled with God, Our Father, and join the saints in heaven, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

A Prayer for During the Pandemic

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We turn to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.