Before Mass Begins: A meditation on silence…

Liturgical silence is something much more grand: it is a symbol of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit who animates the entire action of the celebration. For this reason it constitutes a point of arrival within a liturgical sequence. Precisely because it is a symbol of the Spirit, it has the power to express the Spirit’s multifaceted action. In this way, going over again the moments I just mentioned, silence moves to sorrow for sin and the desire for conversion. It awakens a readiness to hear the Word and awakens prayer. It disposes us to adore the Body and Blood of Christ. It suggests to each one, in the intimacy of communion, what the Spirit would effect in our lives to conform us to the Bread broken. For all these reasons we are called to enact with extreme care the symbolic gesture of silence. Through it the Spirit gives us shape, gives us form.  (Pope Francis, Desidero Desideravi, 52)

What is my intention at Mass today?

Whenever a priest celebrates Mass, he has at least two specific intentions.  The first intention is to celebrate the Mass according to the rubrics the Church provided for how to say the Mass.  The second is to apply the grace of that Mass toward a specific need or intention. This second intention, commonly called “the intention of the Mass,” are special intentions offered to God as prayers of intercession and thanksgiving in and through the Eucharist.  Since the graces of the Mass being infinite, many intentions can be offered up at a single Mass. While a priest may only accept one intention at a single Mass, he may have many other intentions not attached to an offering. In addition, the faithful may bring their own intentions to the Mass, which they each carry privately and place upon the altar spiritually in prayer.
 

Preparation Prayers Before Mass From The Roman Missal said at the entry to the sanctuary before ascending the altar.

Prayer to Our Lady:

O Mater pietatis et misericordiae, beatissima Virgo Maria, ego miser et indignus peccator
ad te confugio toto corde et afféctu,
et precor pietatem tuam,
ut, sicut dulcissimo Filio tuo in Cruce pendénti astitisti, ita et mihi, misero peccatori, et sacerdotibus omnibus, hic et in tota sancta Ecclésia hodie offeréntibus, cleménter assistere dignéris,
ut, tua gratia adiuti,
dignam et acceptabilem hostiam
in conspéctu summere et individual Trinitatis offérre valeamus. Amen .

O most blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of tenderness and mercy,
I, a miserable and unworthy sinner,
fly to you with all the affection of my heart
and I beseech your motherly love,
that, as you stood by your most dear Son,
while he hung on the Cross,
so, in your kindness,
you may be pleased to stand by me, a poor sinner,
and all Priests who today are offering the Sacrificehere and throughout the entire holy Church, so that with your gracious help
we may offer a worthy and acceptable oblation
in the sight of the most high and undivided Trinity.

Amen.

 

Formula of Intention
(Said by the priest, worthy of reflection by the faithful)

 

Ego volo celebrare Missam,
et conficere Corpus et Sanguinem Domini nostri Iesu Christi, iuxta ritum Sanctae Romanae Ecclésiae,
ad laudem omnipoténtis Dei totiusque Curiae triumphantis, ad utilitatem meam totiusque Curiae militantis,
pro omnibus qui se commendavérunt orationibus meis in génere et in spécie,
et pro felici statu sanctae Romanae Ecclésiae.
Amen.
Gaudium cum pace,
emendationem vitae, spatium verae preniténtiae, gratiam et consolationem Sancti Spiritus, perseverantiam in bonis opéribus,
tribuat nobis omnipotens et miséricors Dominus. Amen.

 

My intention is to celebrate Mass
and to consecrate the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to the Rite of Holy Roman Church,
to the praise of almighty God
and all the Church triumphant,
for my good
and that of all the Church militant,
for all who have commended themselves to my prayers
in general and in particular,
and for the welfare of Holy Roman Church.
Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord
grant us joy with peace,
amendment of life,
room for true repentance,
the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit
and perseverance in good works.
Amen.

 

From here please refer to the glossy pages in the middle of the blue Isaac Jogues Missal to understand the actions taking place during the Mass.  

 

Liturgy of the Word

Introit
Wisdom 11: 24-25, 27; Psalm 56

Your mercy extends to all things, O Lord, and you despise none of the things you have made. You overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance. You grant them your pardon, because you are the Lord our God. V. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul confides in you.

Collect

Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 
 

First Reading
Joel 2:12-18

Gradual

Psalm 57: 2,4

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul confides in you. V. He has sent from heaven and saved me; he has put to shame those who trampled upon me. 

Second Reading

II Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Tract

Lord, do not requite us according to the sins we have committed or according to our iniquity. V. Lord, remember not our sins of old; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. V. Help us, O God, our Savior, and for the glory of your name, deliver us, O Lord; and forgive us our sins, for your name's sake. 

Gospel 
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Blessing and Distribution of Ashes 

Dear brethren, let us humbly ask God our Father that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of His grace these ashes, which we will put on our heads in penitence. 

O God, who are moved by acts of humilty and respond with forgiveness to works of penance, lend your merciful ear to our prayers and in your kindness pour out the grace of your blessing on your servants who are marked with these ashes, that, as they follow the Lenten observances, they may be worthy to come with minds made pure to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of your Son. 

Remember, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. 

Antiphon I

Let us change our garments to sackcloth and ashes, let us fast and weep before the Lord, that our God, rich in mercy, might forgive us our sins. 

Antiphon II

Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, stand between the porch and the altar and weep and cry out: Spare, O Lord, spare your people; do not close the mouths of those who sing your praise, O Lord. 

Responsory

Let us correct our faults which we have committed in ignorance, let us not be taken unawares by the day of our death, looking in vain for leisure to repent. Hear us, O Lord, and show us your mercy, for we have sinned against you. V. Help us, O God our Savior; for the sake of your name, O Lord, set us free. 

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory 
Psalm 30:2-3

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me; O Lord, I called out unto you, and you healed me. 

Prayer over the Offerings 

As we solemnly offer the annual sacrifice for the beginning of Lent, we entreat you, O Lord, that, through works of penance and charity, we may turn away from harmful pleasures and, cleansed from our sins, may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the Passion of your Son. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. 

Sanctus

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Agnus Dei 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Communion will be distributed at the altar rail.  Please kneel at the red cushions and wait for the priest to come to you.

Communion Antiphon
Psalm 1:2b,3b

He who meditates day and night on the law of the Lord, shall bear fruit in due season.

Prayer after Communion

May the Sacrament we have received sustain us, O Lord, that our Lenten fast may be pleasing to you and be for us a healing remedy. Through Christ our Lord. 

Prayer over the People 

Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before your majesty, and by your mercy may they merit the rewards you promise to those who do penance. Though Christ our Lord. 

Marian Antiphon