Published by the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society concerning the POCSP

ST. PETER’S RAMBLER

Quinquagesima Feb. 18, 2021 [Edition 2, Volume 6]

SUNDAY HYMNS Quinquagesima & () This week’s newsletter covers the Bishop’s Appeal, some background to Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral the Ordinariate’s Ash Wednesday liturgy (and its source material), an Only Begotten, Word of God Eternal Tr. Maxwell J. Blacker (1822-1888) account of the Office book’s implementation in a community, an- Christ is Made the Sure Foundation (1861) nouncements from around the Ordinariate, a poem for Valentine’s Day, tr. J M Neale (1818-1866) and more. Happy ! St. John the Baptist, Bridgeport Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word (1823) The newsletter has been erratic for the last month. We apologize for the tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) interruption, and are doing what we can to resume regular release. O Food of Men Wayfaring Would you consider writing a Parish Profile? Is there a ministry, good tr. Athelstan Riley (1858-1945) work, or event you’d like others to know about? Would you help ex- O God, Unseen, Yet Ever Near (1836) Edward Osler (1798-1863) cerpt passages? Email [email protected] to tell us St. Thomas More, Scranton more. Thank you to all the contributors this week! I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath The opinions expressed here by different authors are their own, and do not officially Isaac Watts (1674-1748) represent the POCSP unless otherwise indicated. When I’m Afflicted, Poor, and Low (1719) Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Heal Us, Emmanuel (1779) William Cowper (1731-1800) Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (1862) Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885) BISHOP’S APPEAL 2021 St. Mary the Virgin, Arlington On Saturday and Sunday, Ordi- Thine Arm, O Lord, in Days of Old (1866) nariate parishes announced the E.H. Plumptre (1821-1891) Bishop’s appeal for 2021, which Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (1867) will be directed to the seminari- Walter Chalmers Smith (1824-1908) an fund, community develop- God is My Strong Salvation (1822) ment, clergy formation, and communication (especially important given James Montgomery (1771-1854) the POCSP’s scope). The goal is $330,000 between all communities. Christ for the World We Sing (1869) The appeal highlighted the diocese’s five seminarians: Rev. Mr. Patrick Samuel Wolcott (1813-1886) McCain, and Mr. Roberto Brunel, and Mr. Andrew Westerman at the St. Thomas More, Toronto Pontifical North American College in Rome, and Mr. Luke McDonald King of Glory and Mr. Christian Francke at the Benedict XVI House of Formation in George Herbert (1593-1633) Houston. It also highlighted the four ordinations of the last year: Fr. Ar- Thine Forever, God of Love (1847) mando Alejandro, Fr. Nathan Davis, Fr. Matthew Hummel, and Fr. Scott Mary Fawler Maude (1819-1913) Wooten. He That is Down Need Fear No Fall It also highlighted the reception into full communion of the Western John Bunyan (1628-1688) North Carolina Ordinariate Members and the Oakwood Catholic Com- Praise, My Soul the King of Heaven (1834) munity in Georgia, as well as the raising to quasi-parish status of Corpus Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) Christi in Charleston and Presentation in Montgomery. The appeal letter St. Alban’s, Rochester was signed on , the fifth anniversary of Bp. Lopes’ consecra- God of Grace and God of Glory (1930) tion. Henry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969) Shall Reign, Where’er the Sun (1719) To learn more or to donate, please visit: Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Peter | Bishop's Appeal 2021 | Houston, Texas

Have a submission or an announcement? Want to help? Contact [email protected]. Enjoyed the paper? Please donate $2 or more to the Diocesan seminarian fund, at https://ordinariate.net/give-to-sff. Feel free to print out and distribute copies. A Commination Or Denouncing of God’s Anger and Judgement against sinners (to be used on the first Day of ) The Commination is included as an object of historical interest on Ash Wednesday. Some notes are given on page 4. After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended... BRETHREN, in the Primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as stood convicted of notorious sin were put to open penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that oth- ers, admonished by their example, might be the more afraid to offend. Instead whereof, until the said discipline may be restored again, (which is much to be wished,) it is thought good, that at this time (in the presence of you all) should be read the general sentences of God's cursing against impenitent sinners, gathered out of the seven and twen- tieth Chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of Scripture; and that ye should answer to every Sentence, Amen: To the intent that, be- ing admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners, ye may the rather be moved to earnest and true repentance; and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from such vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to be due. CURSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten image, to worship it. Answer. Amen. Cursed is he that curseth his father or mother. Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way. Cursed is he that perverteth the judgement of the stranger, the fatherless, and widow. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. Cursed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the innocent. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord. Cursed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adulterers, covetous persons, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners. NOW seeing that all they are accursed (as the prophet David beareth witness) who do err and go astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgement hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing and lamenting our sinful life, acknowledging and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the axe put unto the root of the trees, so that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: he shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to endure when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the bam; but he will burn the chaff with un- quenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall sud- den destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto them, selves; which despised the goodness, patience, and long, sufferance of God, when he calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me, (saith the Lord,) but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgement, which shall be pro- nounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his an- gels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light; that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; and though they be like purple, yet they shall be made white as wool. Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all your wicked- ness, and your sin shall not be your destruction: Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done: Make you new hearts, and a new spirit: Wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel, seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God? Tom ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have sinned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. For he was wounded for our offences, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners; assuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spir- it; seeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving: This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand; and he will set us on his right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his glorious kingdom: Unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen. Kneeling, [they pray] Psalm 51, Miserere mei, deus. Lord, have mercy upon us. Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father… Minister. O Lord, save thy servants; Answer. That put their trust in thee. Minister. Send unto them help from above. Answer. And evermore mightily defend them. Minister. Help us, O God our Saviour. Answer. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners, for thy Name's sake. Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Let us pray. O LORD, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen. O MOST mighty God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from his sin, and be saved: Mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and com- fort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to for- give sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into judgement with thy servants, who are vile earth, and miserable sinners; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Answer. TURN thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be favourable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a merciful God, Full of compassion. Longsuffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them, And let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Minister. THE Lord bless us, and keep us; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for ever- more. Amen.

AROUND THE ORDINARIATE · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Feb. 13 & 14, the American Heritage Girls held a bake sale after · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Sat. Feb. 14th at 4 PM was celebrated solemn choral Evensong for the Cathedral’s anniversary · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 16) will include confession, benediction, and a pancake supper (4 PM on) · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 PM the KoC will have a Lenten Fried Catfish Dinner · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Sunday, Feb. 21 Lenten Sung Mattins at 10:50 AM, preceding the 11:15 Mass · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— Saturday, Feb. 20 the Dominican Sisters will host a women’s retreat, 8:00-2:30 PM · OLW Cathedral, Houston TX— recruiting for a “seminarian suppers” ministry for the house of formation · St. Mary the Virgin, Arlington TX— Events for the week are cancelled due to weather in Texas · St. Mary the Virgin, Arlington TX— , followed by meals (offered by different ministries) Lenten Fridays at 6 PM · St. Thomas Becket, Fort Worth TX— Ash Wednesday Mass cancelled due to weather · St. Alban, Rochester NY— Stations of the Cross and Benediction, Lenten Fridays at 7 PM (and confession at 12 PM) · St. Alban, Rochester NY—As of Feb. 21, every Sunday will have 7 PM Evensong, with Solemn Evensong on First Sundays · St. John the Baptist, Bridgeport PA— Stations of the Cross and Benediction on Lenten Fridays at 7:30 PM · Incarnation, Orlando FL— The KoC wil host a Men’s Holy Hour at 6:30 AM Ember Saturday (Feb. 27) · Incarnation, Orlando FL— Sunday School now occurs 9:15-10 AM on Sunday, for children 10-14. Contact to volunteer. · OLSJ, Louisville KY— “God & Geek” study continues, now reading through “The World’s Last Night” by CS Lewis · St. Aelred’s, Athens GA— Ladies Reading Group meets Tuesdays, 6 PM, now reading “The Sadness of Christ” by St. Thomas More · St. Aelred’s, Athens GA— Volunteers sought: ushers, sacristans, helpers to green the Church, and cooking · St. Aelred’s, Athens GA— Volunteers sought for Sunday Brunch in February and Lenten Fish Fries (I, III, V Sundays) · St. Aelred’s, Athens GA— Feb. 16, pancakes and confession were provided for Shrove Tuesday · St. Barnabas, Omaha— Feb. 16 5:30-7:30 PM, Shrove Tuesday party was held in the Undercroft · St. Barnabas, Omaha— Fireside Theology restarts in March on 3rd Sundays, 6:30 PM, watching Ven. Fulton Sheen, pizza provided · St. Barnabas, Omaha— Midweek Morning Prayer is now Wednesdays at 9 AM · St. Thomas More, Toronto ON— Mass is now only online due to local restrictions · Minnesota Members of the Ordinariate— Feb. 27 8:30-10 AM, Mattins and Mass will be held for Ember Saturday at the Cathedral · Minnesota Members of the Ordinariate— Jan. 30, Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin & Mattins was held at Cathedral’s Cana Chapel · Western N. Carolina Ordinariate Members— Mass was held on Quinquagesima, preceded by confessions · St. Benedict, Edmunton AB— Ladies Book Study now on Zoom, Thursdays at 7 PM · Annunciation, Ottowa ON— Online devotions on Lenten Thursdays at 8 PM from St. Gregory Prayer Book and devotional reading · St. George, Republic MI— Lenten Companions are available · St. George, Republic MI— Fridays at 6 PM, the Catechism Class is held in the Church · St. George, Republic MI— Volunteers needed to help clear ice · St. John the Evangelist, Calgary AL— Meeting held to discuss the future of the Holy House, and a Gilbertine Academy, on Feb. 4 (the feast of St. Gilbert) Amoretti IX A Commination While the name Ash Wednesday persisted in the Long-while I sought to what I might compare Prayer Book, the rite itself did not. Instead, a Those powreful Eyes, which lighten my dark Spright: scriptural penitential service, excerpted here, was Yet find I nought on Earth, to which I dare composed, including a threat of a coming re- institution of corporate penance. Often titled for Resemble th' Image of the goodly Light. Ash Wednesday, this service was sometimes en- Not to the Sun; for they do shine by Night: visioned for more regular use. The American Nor to the Moon; for they are changed never: BCP early on eliminated the service—Benjamin Nor to the Stars; for they have purer Sight: Franklin’s proposed BCP abridgment did the Nor to the Fire; for they consume not ever: same in 1773. Instead, a very reduced service for Ash Wednesday was Nor to the Lightning; for they still persever: used for most of the Episcopal Church’s history, no longer provided as a separate service (or for use at other times of the year). The service persist- Nor to the Diamond; for they are more tender: ed in the Canadian 1918 BCP, but was modified in the 1962 BCP. The Nor unto Chrystal; for nought may them sever: 1892 BCP in American actually reintroduced much of the 1662 BCP for Nor unto Glass; such Baseness mought offend her. optional use. In the 1979 BCP and the 1985 BAS (in Canada), the service Then to the Maker self they likest be, was heavily modified, integrating the imposition of ashes and a litany of Whose Light doth lighten all that here we see. penance (in place of the Litany). Prior to this point, Anglo-Catholics had used the Tridentine service translated when desiring to impose Ashes. -Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) was an Elizabe- Divine Worship: The Missal, rather than combining the services, includes a than poet, most know for the Farie Queen, con- shortened version of the Commination preceding the imposition of ashes, sidered one of the greatest poets in the English preserving both the historical structure of the Commination, and the rite language. His Amoretti are written in conversa- of the imposition of ashes, which shaped both Anglo-Catholics and his- tion with the BCP, here Day 30/31 of the psal- toric English Catholicism. ter (esp. Ps. 144 and 148), as well as Psalm 36.

St. Alban’s Ordinariate Parish Sees Daily Office Success St. Alban’s continues to provide a window into just how Ordinariate parish communities can suc- ceed in getting their faithful praying the Daily Office. The Ordinariate community in Rochester, N.Y., deployed a thoughtful strategy to lay the foundation for what Bishop Steven Lopes had eloquently envisioned for Ordinariate parishes and the Daily Office. St. Alban’s recognized that making the Office a prayed reality in the church, required cultivating the culture of the Office prayed at home. So the following strategy was employed: 1, give the faithful a brief catechesis on the Daily Office and why they should all pray it; 2, invite the faithful to join the parish pre-order and promise to teach them how to pray the Daily Office; 3, obtain enough books for liturgical use and have extras to give to parishioners on fixed or limited incomes as need- ed; 4, distribute the books upon arrival and sign people up for classes; 5, encourage the faithful to take up the Office and join in parish Evensong through repeated invitation. St. Alban’s ordered 100 copies of Divine Worship: Daily Office at a bulk rate, which included pre-ordered copies from the com- munity’s members in addition to covering St. Alban’s liturgical needs. So far, 50 copies have been distributed to the faithful. Fr. Nathan Davis offered classes in three different formats: over Zoom, in-person, and with families on pastoral visits. About two dozen individuals, so far, have gone through formation in how to pray the Daily Office. The rate of participation at St. Alban’s is very high, esp. since the growing parish community is seeing between 60-70 people on Sundays for Mass. Altogeth- er, St. Alban’s experience shows there’s true receptivity and eagerness to pray the Daily Office that comes not only from Catholics of the Anglican tradition, but also lifelong Roman Catholics with no prior experience of the Daily Office or the An- glican tradition before joining St. Alban’s. The parish community’s success has greatly encouraged Fr. Davis, who is now expanding St. Alban’s Sunday Evensong sched- ule from just one Sunday to every Sunday of the month at 7 pm. First Sundays will remain Solemn Choral Evensong with Benediction. This is just the foundation. More opportunities for parish Evensong are coming down the pike as St. Alban’s culture of praying the Daily Office continues to strengthen and grow. Peter Jesserer Smith is the ACS Vice President and a staff writer for the National Catholic Register. The Cycle of Prayer (prayer.covert.org/cycle/) (purchase here) Sunday, February 14 Morning Evening Diocese of Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, México Archdiocese of Kaifeng, China Diocese of Rarotonga, Cook Islands Diocese of Los Teques, Venezuela Diocese of Tricarico, Italy Hungarian Catholic Eparchy of Nyíregyháza, Hungary Archdiocese of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil Maronite Catholic Eparchy of San Charbel en Buenos Aires, Argentina Diocese of Umtata, South Africa Monday, February 15 Diocese of Cametá, Para, Brazil Archdiocese of Berlin, Germany Diocese of Gurk, Austria Diocese of Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela Diocese of Kandy, Sri Lanka Eritrean Catholic Eparchy of Segheneity, Eritrea Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, Italy Diocese of Viterbo, Italy Archdiocese of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, February 16 Diocese of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil Diocese of Hazaribag, India Diocese of Kamyanets-Podilskyi, Ukraine Diocese of Menongue, Angola Diocese of Kidapawan, Philippines Diocese of Mỹ Tho, Viet Nam Diocese of Laval, France Diocese of Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada Archdiocese of Warsaw, Poland Wednesday, February 17 Archdiocese of Bombay, India Diocese of Alcalá de Henares, Spain Diocese of Callao, Peru Diocese of Kannur, India Maronite Catholic Archdiocese of Cipro, Cyprus Diocese of Ootacamund, India Diocese of Meerut, India Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Sydney, Australia Diocese of Puntarenas, Costa Rica Thursday, February 18 Diocese of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino, Italy Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, USA Diocese of Guajará-Mirim, Rondonia, Brazil Diocese of Saint-Brieuc, France Diocese of San Clemente a Saratov, Russian Federation Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago, American Samoa Diocese of San Roque de Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Argentina Diocese of Vijayapuram, India Diocese of Valdivia, Chile Friday, February 19 Diocese of Créteil, France Diocese of Iguatu, Ceara, Brazil Diocese of El Tigre, Venezuela Diocese of Mawlamyine, Myanmar Diocese of Franca, Sao Paulo, Brazil Diocese of Ozieri, Italy Diocese of Mbaïki, Central African Republic Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli, Libya Diocese of Venado Tuerto, Argentina Saturday, February 20 Territorial Prelature of Moyobamba, Peru Archdiocese of Košice, Slovakia Diocese of Sarh, Chad Archdiocese of Lipa, Philippines Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang, China Diocese of Nancheng, China Diocese of Zhengzhou, China Diocese of Toledo, Parana, Brazil

COVERDALE PSALTER E-BOOK Discerning the Priesthood A reader submitted his project to provide an e After conversation with the Bish- -book of the Coverdale psalter, arranged cur- op, Mr. Joshua Johnson, the organ- rently on the Orthodox schema of the heb- izer of the Western North Carolina domadal psalter. He is interested in format- Ordinariate Group and a former ting e-books to make them more user- minister, has gotten tentative ap- friendly, especially for devotional use (which proval to start priestly formation at the Cathedral, the normal structure of a Kindle book is pending approval from Rome. The process takes not!). As a Catholic, he two years, and involves intensive weeks of for- gives some interesting mation at the Cathedral, with study between these thoughts on the role of the Coverdale in ecu- weeks. Members of his community were received menism, as well as the appeal of the Ortho- by the Bishop at St. Aelred’s in December (and Fr. dox schema as a devotion. He has expressed Tipton has previously helped provide ministry to interest in restructuring it to allow other sche- the community). Their community will be based in mas as well—the monthly psalter being the the Hendersonville-Asheville area, and has met consistently for Mass bi-weekly. They are growing most natural follow up! (here, here) fast.

LESSONS FOR THE WEEK (2020-2021 ORDO) (purchase here) THE SUNDAY CALLED QUINQUAGESIMA OR SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT (OT 6) (Violet) Feb. 14: MP Pss: 148-150 Lessons: Gen 12:1-9 ♦ 1 Cor 12:4-end DWM 218 Creed, Lec 77 (Sun.) EP 2 114-115 Gen 6:5-end ♦ Lk 17:20-end Cathedral: Anniversary of the Dedication, DWM 910, MP Ps 132, 1 Kgs 8:1-13, Jn 10:22-30 Te Deum; EP Ps 29 & 46, 1 Kgs 8:54-62, Heb 10:19-25 Pre-Lenten Feria (Violet) Feb. 15: MP Pss: 25 Lessons: Gen 31:1-9, 13-21 ♦ Mt 23:13-end D 218, L 335 (Mon.) EP 9, 15 Gen 31:22-32:2 ♦ Rom 12 Pre-Lenten Feria (Shrove Tuesday) (Violet) Feb. 16: MP Pss: 26, 28 Lessons: Gen 32:3-30 ♦ Mt 24:1-28 D 218, L 336 (Tues.) EP 36, 39 Gen 33 ♦ Rom 13 Ash Wednesday (Violet) Feb. 17: MP Pss: 32, 143 Lessons: Is 58 ♦ Mk 2:13-22 D 223, L 219 (Wed.) EP 102, 130 Dn 9:3-19 ♦ Heb 3:12-4:13 [See Ordo for further notes on the Penitential Office for the Blessing and Imposition of Ashes] Thursday After Ash Wednesday (Violet) Feb. 18: MP Pss: 37:I Lessons: Gen 35:1-20 ♦ Mt 24:29-end D 232, L 220 (Thurs.) EP 37:II Gen 37 ♦ Rom 14 Friday After Ash Wednesday (Violet) Feb. 19: MP Pss: 31 Lessons: Gen 39 ♦ Mt 25:1-30 D 234, L 221 (Fri.) EP 35 Gen 40 ♦ Rom 15 Saturday After Ash Wednesday [BVM: Mass of Saint Mary 3] (Violet) Feb. 20: MP Pss: 30, 32 Lessons: Gen 41:1-40 ♦ Mt 25:31-end D 236, L 222; D 993, L 707-712 (Sat.) EP 1 42-43 Gen 41:41-end ♦ Rom 16

Quinquagesima, , & Ash Wednesday The Fathers and Doctors of the Church richly attest to the importance of the pre-Lenten Sundays as a call to ongoing con- version of life and a summons to turn to the Lord in metanoia or repentance. Pope Saint Gregory the Great likened the se- quence of these Sundays to the call of the householder in Our Lord’s parable of the workers in the vineyard (then read on ). More recently, St. Pope Paul VI famously compared the ‘gesimas to the ringing of bells calling the faithful to church at various intervals before Mass to be ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The last few days before the beginning of Lent are known as Shrovetide, a period so named because it was once the time for making a good confession and for cleaning out the pantry prior to the Lenten fast. In the Middle Ages, when the rules of fast- ing and abstinence were stricter, eggs, fats, and most dairy products had to be used up before Ash Wednesday-hence the old English custom of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, with great plates of bacon and sausage! Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent by bidding us contemplate our mortality and turn to God in penitence even as He turns to us in mercy. The Sacred Liturgy for Ash Wednesday as celebrated at Our Lady of Walsingham testifies to the syn- thetic tradition of worship according to the Ordinariate form of the and richly frames this season of prayer and preparation for the Paschal Mystery. The day’s service begins with a Penitential Office derived from the Sarum Use of medieval England and preserved in the BCP. Then the Holy Eucharist commences this day somewhat abruptly without the usual opening prayers and moves through the Liturgy of the Word to the Invitation to a Holy Lent, after the homily, and then to the somber Imposition of Ashes. Hearkening back to ancient liturgical forms, the rite for blessing and distributing ashes prepares for the Holy Sacrifice and culminates in the solemn injunction from Genesis 3: Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris (“Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shaft return”). Thus signed with the ashes of death yet fed with the food of immortality, we will be ready to begin these forty days and to fast and pray with Jesus in the wilderness. Dr. Clint Brand is an instituted acolyte at the Cathedral, a professor at the University of St. Thomas, and a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory.