Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Liturgy: Ash Wednesday

For the imposition of ashes. The penitent kneels. The leader makes the sign of the cross on the penitent's forehead with ashes, saying:

Leader: Remember, (name), that you are dust. Dust you are, and to dust you shall return. (Ps 103:14, Gen 3:19).

Penitent: But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord's love is with us. (Ps 103:17)


It's a small variation from the usual order for imposition of ashes. The slightly lengthened "Remember" recalls a verse from Ps 103 where God remembers that we are dust in compassion for our weakness, and the penitent praises God's faithfulness with words soon following from the same Psalm.

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