INTROIT
Isa 55:1
All you who thirst, come to the waters, says the Lord: and you who have no money, come and drink with joy.
Ps 77:1
Hearken, My people, to My teaching; incline your ears to the words of My mouth.
Glory Be to the Father…
All you who thirst, come to the waters, says the Lord: and you who have no money, come and drink with joy.
COLLECT
Make fruitful, we beseech You, O Lord, the zeal of our fervent devotion; for only if it pleases You shall the fasting we have undertaken be of benefit to us.
Through our Lord…
EPISTLE
Lesson from the Prophecy of Isaias
Isa 49:8-15
Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners: Come out! to those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be. They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; for he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water. I will cut a road through all My mountains, and make My highways level. See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene. Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts His people and shows mercy to His afflicted. But Sion said, The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me. Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you, says the Lord almighty.
GRADUAL
Ps 9:14, 1-2.
On You, O Lord, the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless You are the helper.
℣. Why, O Lord, do You stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? While the wicked man is proud, the afflicted is set on fire.
GOSPEL
Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to John
John 8:12-20
At that time, Jesus spoke to the multitudes of the Jews, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me does not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said to Him, You bear witness to Yourself. Your witness is not true. Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I bear witness to Myself, My witness is true, because I know where I came from and where I go. But you do not know where I came from or where I go. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but with Me is He Who sent Me, the Father. And in your Law it is written that the witness of two persons is true. It is I Who bear witness to Myself, and He Who sent Me, the Father, bears witness to Me. They therefore said to Him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would then know My Father also. Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, while teaching in the temple. And no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
OFFERTORY
Ps 17:3
The Lord is become my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; and in Him will I put my trust.
SECRET
Graciously accept our offerings, O Lord, we beseech You, and mercifully direct our still rebellious wills to You.
Through our Lord…
PREFACE
Lent
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION
Ps 22:1-2
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose; beside restful waters He leads me.
POSTCOMMUNION
May Your holy sacrament cleanse us, we beseech You, O Lord, and may its power make us pleasing to You.
Through our Lord…
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Prayer over the people
Let us pray.
Bow your heads to God.
O God, Who would rather show mercy than anger toward those who hope in you, make us truly sorry for the evil we have done, that we may be worthy of your merciful consolation.
Through our Lord…