| 4 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: | 106th anniversary of the death of P. William Sandiford (91) d. 1970 at Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England.  |
| Anniversary: | 64th anniversary of the death of P. James Berry (80) d. 2012 at Harare, Zimbabwe. |
On this day in our Jesuit history...
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| The Novena of Grace begins on this day. |
| 1777 | Disgrace and dismissal from office of Carvalho (Marquis de Pombal) the Society's bitterest enemy, by Queen Mary of Portugal. |
| 1887 | Fr. General Beckx, the 22nd General dies. His term was 33 years long. |
| 1911 | Charles de Smedt, S.J. dies. He gave new life and vigor to the Bollandists. 2014. Canonization of Blessed Jose de Anchieta. Letter of Fr. General on this occasion. |
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