This is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Wednesday begins Lent on Ash Wednesday. Today will be the last time to sing the Gloria and the Alleluia until the Easter Triduum.
In preparation for Lent, I would like to talk about the penitential rite that we will be doing throughout the season of Lent. There are 3 basic versions of this rite that can be done – it is the one at the very beginning of mass, where in some shape, we recall that we are sinners and ask for God’s mercy. Each version calls for an acknowledgement of our sins, followed by a prayer of absolution by the priest, and each version contains the “Lord, have mercy” in some form.
1. The Confiteor can be said – “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned…” followed by the absolution prayer, and with the simple form of the “Lord, have mercy” repeated after. This is the option that we did during Advent.
2. This is the option we will be doing during Lent:
The priest says: “Have mercy on us, O Lord.”
We respond: “For we have sinned against you.”
Priest: “Show us, O Lord, your mercy.”
All: “And grant us your salvation.”
The absolution prayer follows, and then the simple “Lord, have mercy” is recited by the deacon or priest.
3. The “Lord, have mercy” can be done with what are called tropes or an invitation - “You were sent to heal the contrite of heart, Lord, have mercy”. It is followed by the absolution prayer. This is what we do for a majority of the year.
Sometimes we sing the “Lord, have mercy” in Greek – Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison is Christ, have mercy. This is taken from the Eastern Catholic Churches perhaps as early as the 1st century, but there is a lot of evidence of its widespread use by the 4th century. It was adopted for use in the Roman Catholic Church by the 6th century. It is yet another sign of the ‘universal’ aspect of our Church and our worship.
The second option that we are doing during Lent pulls its text from the beauty of Psalm 51:
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment.
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment.
This option for the rite is found on page 4 in the hymnal as #2. Please be ready to reply to Father during Mass!