| 27 Wednesday | |
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| violet | Ash Wednesday | |
| | Mass of Ash Wednesday; after the sign of the cross and greeting, the penitential act is omitted.
Preface of Lent III or IV. |
| | [219] Joel 2: 12-18; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14+17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Matt 6:1-6, 16-18 |
| | (Switch to Vol. II of the Lit. of the Hours.)
Hours of Ash Wednesday; Psalter Week 4 today and until Saturday.
Today at Morning Prayer, the psalms of Friday, Week 3 may be used. |
| | The celebrant blesses and distributes ashes after the homily.
Other persons may be associated with the bishop or priest in the imposition of ashes, e.g., deacons, special ministers of communion and other lay persons, when there is true pastoral need. |
| Special ministers of communion and deacons may bring blessed ashes to the sick and those confined to their homes. If a minister is not available, a member of the family or another person may bring the blessed ashes to a shut-in, using one of the formulas in the Roman Missal to impose ashes. |
| For pastoral reasons the blessing and distribution of ashes may take place outside Mass. In this case, the entire liturgy of the word should be celebrated: entrance song, opening prayer, readings and chants, homily, blessing and distribution of ashes, and general intercessions. See the Book of Blessings, nos. 1656ff. |
| Anniversary: | 101st anniversary of the death of P. Lewis Clobus (67) d. 1935 at Mariëndaal, Netherlands.  |
| Anniversary: | 65th anniversary of the death of P. Andrew Zylka (59) d. 1971 at Lusaka, Zambia. |
| Anniversary: | 31st anniversary of the death of F. Francisco Loureiro (91) d. 2005 at Porto, Portugal. |
| Birthday: | 42nd birthday of S. Tafadzwa MADIMUTSA (born this day in 1994). |
| Birthday: | 51st birthday of P. Anold MOYO (born this day in 1985). |
On this day in our Jesuit history...
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| 1585 | Fr. General Acquaviva wrote a severe letter forbidding members of the Society to meddle with politics after Fr. Mathieu and the League (Ste. Union de France) sought to hinder King Henry of Navarre, a Protestant, from succeeding to the throne. |
| 1601 | Feast of Saint Anne Line, Martyr, died on this day. Friend and protector of priests, including several Jesuits. |
| 1767 | A secret decree of Charles III banishes the Society from Spain and seizes its property. It takes effect on April 2nd when troops will take over properties. |
| 1928 | An attack on the life of historian, Fr. Tacchi-Venturi in the parlor of the Jesuit Residence in Rome. He is wounded. |
| 1982 | Pope John Paul II addresses Jesuit provincials at Villa Cavaletti, during this interim stage, between Superior Generals. |
| 1985 | West German TV shows film on life of Friedrich Spee, S.J., a crusader for human rights, and a poet. |
| 2008 | William F. Buckley dies 82. Catholic conservative. Editor of the National Review. "God and Man at Yale." Jesuit Alumnus. |
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