A Prayer for Ash Wednesday - Renewing the Sacramental

Spare me, Thy penitent son, O God, and be merciful to me as I humbly implore Thy assistance (for I am unable to attend Holy Mass on this Ash Wednesday).

Send, O God, Thy holy Angel from heaven to bless me and sanctify me, that I may receive what Thou promisest to give to those who receive Thy blessed ashes today.

Grant me, Almighty and everlasting God, health of body and safety of soul, as I kneel before Thee, accusing myself, conscious of my sins, deploring my misdeeds before Thy divine mercy, and humbly and earnestly beseeching Thy sovereign goodness.

Behold and bless my desire to be marked as Thy faithful and penitent disciple, and grant me strength in the frailty of my human nature. I am but ashes and dust and to dust I will one day return. Pardon me, O merciful Savior, and grant me the rewards Thou promisest to the penitent.

O God, who art moved by humiliation, and appeased by satisfaction, incline the ear of Thy goodness to my prayers and mercifully pour forth upon the head of Thy servant the grace of Thy blessing. May Thy grace move me to deepest contrition and sorrow for my sins, and impart to me Thy forgiveness. May Thy blessing increase the efficacy of my prayers, that my petitions would come before Thee this day, and move Thee to bestow upon me these my holy desires.

Grant, O Lord, that this day, by Thy grace and blessing, I may begin with holy fasting the campaign of Christian warfare: that, as I do battle with the spirits of evil, I may be protected by the help of self-denial. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

This prayer is based on the wording of the blessing of Ashes in the Traditional Mass for Ash Wednesday. For those who cannot attend Mass for some reason, or for those who wish to "renew" the blessings received through the sacramental of blessed ashes, this is a suitable prayer. Please share!

 

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