Ash Wednesday Mass 17th February 2021 with Pope Francis at Vatican

Ash Wednesday Mass 17th February 2021 with Pope Francis at Vatican

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season during which Catholics are invited to fast, do penance, and remember their own mortality. The ashes symbolize contrition and the faithful are called to seek God who is merciful and always ready to forgive. Watch the Holy Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, Live from St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.

https://youtu.be/wW51YSoLTnc

Daily Reading for Wednesday February 17, 2021
Reading 1, Joel 2:12-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Reading 2, Second Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Reading 1, Joel 2:12-18
12 ‘But now — declares Yahweh- come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.’

13 Tear your hearts and not your clothes, and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and he relents about inflicting disaster.

14 Who knows if he will not come back, relent and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a libation to be presented to Yahweh your God?

15 Blow the ram’s-horn in Zion! Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

16 call the people together, summon the community, assemble the elders, gather the children, even infants at the breast! Call the bridegroom from his bedroom and the bride from her bower!

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, stand weeping between portico and altar, saying, ‘Spare your people, Yahweh! Do not expose your heritage to the contempt, to the sarcasm of the nations! Why give the peoples cause to say, “Where is their God?” ‘

18 Then, becoming jealous over his country, Yahweh took pity on his people.

Ash Wednesday Mass 17th February 2021 with Pope Francis at Vatican

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
3 For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.

4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement,

5 remember, I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.

6 But you delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom.

12 Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.

13 I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodshed, God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.

17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.