Order of Service - 9th February 2005

"Ashes"
Susan Hanyen, soloist

Preparation, Blessing & Distribution of the Ashes
"From dust were you made and to dust you shall return."

Closing Hymn: "Amazing Grace"

J. Newton, 1779

1. Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

4. When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun. Amen.

PUBLIC pentients are to be expelled from the church on Ash Wednesday. They are to arrive in old clothes, barefoot, keeping their heads down. The bishop, after presiding at the blessing and imposition of ashes on the rest of the community, goes in procession with the cross and candles, the schola and clergy and other ministers into the midst of the church. The penitents are then allowed to come forward and prostrate themselves---with tears---before the bishop. The bishop then places ashes on the head of each of the penitents, saying: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. Do penance that you might have eternal life."

The bishop then blesses the penitential garments ("that whoever is clothed with these garments and begs your mercy will find forgiveness") and places the garments on the penitents one by one. During this clothing rite, the bishop announces to each penitent that the mercy of God is found not only in baptism and confirmation but also in the "medicine of penance."

The penitents again prostrate themselves on the floor while all present surround them and chant the seven penitential psalms and the litany of the saints. Finally the bishop prays for the penitents. They then stand up and the bishop speaks to them about how Adam had been thrown out of Paradise and, in the same way, they are now to be ejected from the church. The bishop then takes one of the penitents by the hand, and the others follow. When the penitents are outside, the bishop says to them with tears: "Behold, you are expelled today from the doors of holy mother church because of your sins." The schola then chants some of the Genesis story of Adam. Finally, the bishop admonishes the penitents not to give up on the mercy of the Lord, but to be busy with fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, alms and other good works. They are told to return on Holy Thursday but not to presume to enter until then. The whole assembly then goes back into the church to celebrate the Mass, closing the doors on the penitents.

As described in the Roman Pontifical