York Missal: Ash Wednesday (the Use of York, from manuscripts and the early printed editions)

The Sermon and the Blessing of the Ashes

Wednesday at the Beginning of the Fast.

After Sext let the prelate, with the ministers in albs, vested in the sacred vestments and in a cope, make a sermon from the ambo or pulpit on the proper matter of the day, namely how the guilty are to behave themselves in this season, the cross being set up [with the taperers]; and after such sermon, the cross and taperers being present, let him bless the ashes before the altar step [turned to the south], saying:

The Lord be with you. Let us pray.

O God, who desirest not the death but the repentance of sinners, most graciously look upon the frailty of our human condition, and vouchsafe of thy goodness to bless these ashes, which, as a token of humility and to obtain pardon, we have ordained to be laid upon our heads; that we, who know that we are ashes and for the desert of our wickedness shall return to dust, may be found worthy mercifully to obtain the pardon of all our sins and the rewards promised to the penitent. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, who hast mercy upon all, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, winking at the sins of men because of repentance; who also succourest them that labour in necessity: vouchsafe to bless and sanctify these ashes, which thou hast appointed us to bear upon our heads, after the manner of the Ninevites, in token of humility and holy religion, for the cleansing of our offences; and grant, by the calling upon thy name, that all who shall bear them upon their heads to entreat thy mercy may be found worthy to receive from thee the pardon of all their offences, and so this day to begin their fasts, that on the day of the Resurrection they may be found worthy with purified minds to come to the holy Pasch, and hereafter to receive everlasting glory. Through [our Lord].

The Seven Psalms, Preces and Collects

Afterwards let him sprinkle the blessed ashes and cense them; then let the prelate with the ministers, prostrate before the altar, the antiphon Remember not being begun, say the seven penitential psalms [without note], and the choir likewise by itself [with note], the antiphon being taken up again after the psalms: Remember not, Lord, [our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins]. And when it is sung through, let him add Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison, and Our Father.

Let the prelate, standing up with his chaplain, say:

And lead us not [into temptation]. But deliver us [from evil].

We have sinned with our fathers. We have done amiss [and dealt wickedly].

O Lord, deal not with us after our sins. Neither [reward us] after our iniquities.

O remember not our old sins, O Lord. [But have mercy upon us, and that] soon.

Help us, O God of our salvation. And for [the glory of thy name, deliver us].

Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts. And shew [the light of] thy countenance [and we shall be whole].

Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come unto thee.

The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O Lord our God, who art not overcome by our offence, but art appeased by satisfaction, look, we beseech thee, upon thy servants, who confess that they have grievously sinned against thee. Thine it is to give absolution of crimes and to grant pardon to the penitent, who hast said that thou wouldest rather the repentance of sinners than their death. Grant therefore, O Lord, that they may keep unto thee the watches of penance, and, their deeds being amended, may rejoice that everlasting joys are bestowed on them by thee, the living and true God. Through our Lord.

Let us pray.

O God, who art justly angry and mercifully forgivest, look upon the tears of thine afflicted people, and graciously turn away the wrath of thine indignation, which we justly deserve. Through Christ our Lord.

Grant to thy people, we beseech thee, O Lord, the help of consolation; and graciously grant that they who labour under long calamities may breathe again. Through Christ our Lord.

Let us pray.

Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and spare the sins of them that confess unto thee; that those whom the guilt of conscience accuseth, the pardon of thy compassion may absolve. Through Christ.

Let us pray.

Let thy mercy, we beseech thee, O Lord, go before these thy servants, that all their iniquities may be blotted out by speedy pardon. Through Christ.

Let us pray.

Be present, O Lord, to our supplications, and let not the compassion of thy clemency be far from these thy servants: heal their wounds and forgive their sins, that, separated from thee by no iniquities, they may ever cleave to thee their Lord. Through Christ.

The Absolution

Let us pray is not said. The absolution.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who said to his disciples, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; of whose number he hath willed us, though unworthy, to be: himself absolve you, through our ministry, from all your sins which ye have negligently committed in thought, word and deed; and, absolved from the bonds of sins, vouchsafe to bring you to the kingdom of heaven. Through our Lord. Who with God [liveth and reigneth].

[Almighty God] have mercy upon us. [Almighty and merciful God grant you] absolution and remission [of all your sins].

The Giving of the Ashes

Then let the prelate receive the ashes from the dean or the chanter. Afterwards let the prelate give the ashes to the dean and the ministers and to all others upon the head, saying to each one thus:

Remember, O man, that thou art ashes, and unto ashes thou shalt return.

And meanwhile let the antiphon be sung: Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is gracious; according to the multitude of thy mercies look upon us, O Lord. Psalm: Save me, O God: for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. Let this antiphon be repeated after each verse of the psalm.

After the ashes are given, let the prelate say before the altar step:

Shew us thy mercy, O Lord. [And grant us thy salvation.]

The Lord be with you. Let us pray.

O God, who art moved by humble action and appeased by satisfaction, incline the ear of thy goodness, and upon the heads of thy servants, touched with the sprinkling of these ashes, graciously pour out the grace of thy blessing; that thou mayest both fill them with the spirit of compunction, and effectually grant what they have justly asked, and ordain that what is granted remain for ever unbroken. Through our Lord.

The Casting Out of the Penitents

Afterwards, the procession going before, let the prelate go down to the north door [with his own and with the elders of the church] and cast out the guilty with his crozier. If it be other than a bishop, let him put them out with his hand.

Meanwhile, while he casteth out the penitents, let the responsory be sung, In the sweat [of thy face shalt thou eat bread], with the verse Because thou hast [hearkened unto the voice of thy wife]; the responsory Let us amend [for the better], with the verse We have sinned; the responsory Rend [your hearts and not your garments], with the verse Turn ye [unto the Lord your God].

And when the guilty are cast out, let the prelate shut the door, beginning the responsory Behold, Adam [is become as one of us]. And so let him return with his own into the choir.

[Some manuscripts add, for the procession: Antiphon. Let us change our garb for ashes and sackcloth; let us fast and weep before the Lord: for our God is very merciful to forgive our sins. Another antiphon. Between the porch and the altar the priests and Levites, the ministers of the Lord, shall weep and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people; and scatter not the mouths of them that cry unto thee, O Lord.]

The Psalm, Prayer and Procession

Then let the procession be made; and, the priest and the ministers in albs being set in order, in the midst of the choir let the chanter begin the psalm God be merciful unto us [Psalm 67], all except the priest and ministers lying prostrate in the choir. When the psalm is ended with Glory be to the Father, let there be said Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Our Father. And lead us not.

We have sinned, O Lord. We have done amiss.

O Lord, deal not with us after our sins. Neither reward us after our iniquities.

The Lord be with you. Let us pray.

Mercifully hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy people; that we who are justly afflicted for our sins may for the glory of thy name be mercifully delivered. Through Christ.

And so, all rising, let the litany be sung as far as All Saints by two rulers of the choir for the week; and when Holy Mary is said let the procession go forward; and when it is ended let the Mass be sung. [Another manuscript: let the chanter begin the antiphon Let us change our garb, and let the procession go to the altar of Blessed Mary, as is contained in the Processional.]

But in other churches, where there is no casting out of penitents, let the prayer O God, who art moved by humble action, be said. After the ashes are given let a procession be made with the litany as far as All Saints, as is contained in the same Processional. Then let Mass be said.

The Office and Collect of the Mass

At Mass. The Office.

Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, winking at the sins of men because of repentance, and sparing them: for thou art the Lord our God. Psalm. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee.

Let the priest say The Lord be with you and Let us pray; and let the deacon say Let us bow the knee: Rise. And let Let us bow the knee: Rise be said today and from this day until the Vigil of Easter, except on Sundays and feasts of saints.

The collect. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, to begin with holy fasts the defences of the Christian warfare; that, as we go to fight against spiritual wickedness, we may be fortified by the aids of self-denial. Through [our Lord].