Replies

Joel
Chapter 2

Yet 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.

14

Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.

15

Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly;

16

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.

17

¹ Between the porch and the altar let the priests, 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?'"

18

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Matthew
Chapter 6

1

¹ "(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

2

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites ² do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

3

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,

4

so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

5

"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.

6

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.

16

"When you fast, ¹² do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

17

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

18

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.

2 Corinthians
Chapter 5

20: So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21: ¹³ 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.

2 Corinthians
Chapter 6
1: ¹ ² Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2: For he says: "In an acceptable time ³ 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.

Santa Sabina, Rome

Station Churches

Day I - Ash Wednesday
“Remember, O man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return” (Prayer for the Deposition of Ashes).

From as early as the third century, the Church of Rome observed the season of Lent by journey each day to a "Station Church" or one of the ancient and prominent churches of Rome. Here the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father, would lead the people in prayer. It is a symbol of unity as well as a pilgrimage of faith. Unfortunately, the custom ceased during the Avignon papacy in 1305 but interest was revived by Saint Leo XIII at the turn of the 20th century. Blessed John XXIII fully was restored the custom in 1959.

Today, from the earliest times, the Mass is celebrated in the Church of Santa Sabina, "The gem of the Aventine", and home of the Dominicans. Santa Sabina was one of a group of martyrs who shed her blood for our faith during the Vesparian persecutions (69-79). At 5:00 in the evening on Ash Wednesday, the Holy Father will come here to participate at an Ecumenical penance service where he will receive ashes.

Thank you for posting this. But I must ask why is this not a Caucus or Devotional thread?

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