Ash Wednesday

February 13, 2026

Kevin D. Dello Iacono, M.A. in Biblical Studies.

The holiest season of the year is about to begin! The season commences mid-week before the First Sunday of Lent
so as to complete exactly 40 days of penance in union with Our Divine Redeemer’s 40 days of fasting in the
desert. Although it is not an obligation to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, it is an obligation to do penance.

Catholics age 14+ must abstain from meat while those ages 18-59 must abstain from meat and fast. Fasting consists of eating just one main meal along with two collations/snacks, which together would not equal a main meal. There is no better way to begin this season as a faithful friend of Christ crucified than by attending Mass and receiving ashes. It is a reminder of one’s mortality and a sign of one’s commitment to do penance.

Ashes will be distributed at all Masses this Wednesday, February 18: 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m. (sung).

• Stations of the Cross at Saint Mary’s on Broadway (recorded video)

ACT OF CHARITY
O MY GOD, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

Fatima Morning Offering
O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.

Morning offering of Saint Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church
O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His Merciful Love. Amen.

O my God! I ask Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.

Morning Offering in Union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Almighty and eternal God, I offer Thee all my prayers, works, and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Thy favors, in reparation for my offenses, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the wants of our holy Mother the Church, for the conversion of sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in Purgatory.

I have the intention to gain all the indulgences attached to the prayers I shall say, and to the good works I shall perform this day. I resolve to gain all of the indulgences I can in favor of the souls in Purgatory. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles’ Creed, Glory Be)

Night Prayer by Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri, Doctor of the Church
LORD Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and thank Thee for all the blessings which Thou hast conferred upon me this day. I offer Thee my rest and all the moments of this night, and I beseech Thee to protect me from all sin. Therefore I place myself within the most sacred Wound of Thy side, and under the protecting mantle of Mary my Mother.

May Thy holy Angels assist me and preserve me in peace. May Thy blessing be upon me forevermore. Amen.

Considerations to Excite Contrition. These considerations, to be practiced before the Examination of Conscience, are taken from the Manual of Prayers (1889) of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH

A Retreat with Saint Thérèse (Catholic Audiobook)

The Seven Penitential Psalms is a penitential devotion recommended for reading and meditation, especially during the Holy Season of Lent.

A Prayer For Daily Neglects
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all its love, all its sufferings and all its merits:

First — To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life.

(Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.)

Second — To purify the good I have done badly this day and during all my life.

(Glory Be to the Father…)

Third — To supply for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and during all my life.

(Glory Be to the Father…)
Say an Act of Contrition.

Bible Verses for Lent

“Memento homo quia pulvis est et pulverem reverteris.” (“Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.” (Genesis 3:19)

“Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

“Repent, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

“And going forth they preached that men should do penance.”
(Mark 6:12)

“They that are whole, need not the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.” (Luke 5:31-32)

“Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him. And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:3-5)

“A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.” (John 13:34-35)

“Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19)

“And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should everywhere do penance.” (Acts 17:30)

“Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.” (Acts 26:19-20)

“… do you presume upon the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:4-8)

“… correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:25)

“It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

“But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (James 4:16)

“Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.” (1 John 1:8-9)

“Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as He is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:5-8)

Articles and Videos for Lent:

I. The 40 Days of Lent by Fr. William Rock, FSSP

II. Thoughts for an Extraordinary Septuagesima by Fr. William Rock, FSSP

III. Ember Days of Lent by Fr. Arnaud Devillers, FSSP

IV. Ashes (a FishEaters.com compilation)

V. Confession (YouTube video) by Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

VI. The Biblical Roots of Ash Wednesday – and the rationale and purpose of the holy season of Lent (YouTube video) by Dr. Brant Pitre

VII. Season of Lent (YouTube video) by Dr. Brant Pitre

VIII. Lenten Reflection: Why Do We Pray, Fast & Give Alms” (YouTube video) by Dr. Brant Pitre

IX. Repentance in the Bible (YouTube video) by Dr. Brant Pitre

X. The Fourth Cup and the New Passover Preview (YouTube video) by By Dr. Brant Pitre

XI. A Sacrifice Once for All Time (YouTube video) by Dr. Brant Pitre

XII. A History of Fasting – Abbot Gueranger’s history of lent, on which Fr. Diaz drew for his sermon of 14th February

XIII. Some Ideas for Lent by Dr. Taylor Marshall

XIV. Maxims for Attaining Perfection by Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri

XV. Spiritual Maxims of Saint Teresa of Avila

XVI. Mortification by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

XVII. The Teachings of the Saints on Mortification and Self-Denial – by a Parish Priest. TAKEN FROM The Catholic Church the Teacher of Mankind. Imprimatur, 1905.

XVIII. Fasting by Scripture Catholic (several Biblical verses with brief explanations on the topic of fasting)

XIX. The Moral Concordances of Saint Anthony of Padua

XX. Abandonment to Divine Providence by Reverend Jean-Pierre de Caussade S.J.

XXI. The Way Of Perfection by Saint Teresa Of Avila, Doctor of the Church

XXII. Nature and Grace – Selections from the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the angelic Doctor of the Church

XXIII. Calvary and the Mass – A Missal Companion by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

XXIV. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas`a Kempis

XXV. The Divine Romance: The Pulpit Of The Cross by Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

XXVI. The Way of the Cross by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, Doctor of the Church

We are all called to change our hearts, to repent and do penance; this mandate constitutes the essence of the New Testament. To express this, the sacred writers employ the term metanoia (μετάνοια), which signifies a fundamental conversion of mind and heart. Fr. John A. Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary notes that with metanoia, “Repentance is shown by faith, baptism, confession of sins, and producing fruits worthy of penance. It means a change of heart from sin to the practice of virtue. As conversion, it is fundamental to the teaching of Christ, was the first thing demanded by Peter on Pentecost, and is considered essential to the pursuit of Christian perfection.”
—Source: Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary (1980).

“I understood that to become a saint one had to suffer much, seek out always the most perfect thing to do, and forget self. I understood, too, that there are many degrees of perfection and each soul was free to respond to the advances of Our Lord, to do little or much for Him, in a word, to choose among the sacrifices He was asking. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I cried out: ‘My God I choose all!’ I do not want to be a saint by halves. I’m not afraid to suffer for You. I fear only one thing: to keep my own will; so take it, for I choose all that Thy will!”
—Taken from Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower), p. 27.

“Let us lose no time, but return to the Lord our God; a delay might bring upon us that curse, which our prophet [Jeremiah] says overtakes the unrepentant sinner; ‘he shall not see good, when good shall come’. The holy season of Lent is fast advancing; the choicest graces are being daily offered us; woe to the man whose mind is distracted by the fashion of this world that passeth away, and takes no thought for eternity and Heaven, and, even in this time of grace, is like ‘tamarick’, a worthless weed ‘of the desert’. Oh how numerous is this class! and how terrible is their spiritual indifference! Pray for them, O ye faithful children of the Church, pray for them without ceasing. Offer up your penances and your almsgivings for them. Despair not; and remember that, each year, many straying sheep are brought to the fold by such intercession as this.”
—Guéranger, Prosper. The Liturgical Year. Translated by Laurence Shepherd. Vol. 5, Lent: Volume I. London: Burns & Oates, 1870. (Thursday of the Second Week of Lent).

“There is no sin or wrong that gives a man a foretaste of hell in this life as anger and impatience.”
—Saint Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue of Divine Providence

“And when I hear it said that God is good and He will pardon us, and then see that men cease not from evil-doing, oh, how it grieves me! The infinite goodness with which God communicates with us, sinners as we are, should constantly make us love and serve Him better; but we, on the contrary, instead of seeing in his goodness an obligation to please Him, convert it into an excuse for sin which will of a certainty lead in the end to our deeper condemnation.”
—Saint Catherine of Genoa, Life and Doctrine

“The state of grace is nothing other than purity, and it gives Heaven to those who clothe themselves in it. Holiness, therefore, is simply the state of grace purified, illuminated, beautified by the most perfect purity, exempt not only from mortal sin but also from the smallest faults; purity will make saints of you! Everything lies in this!”
—Eymard, St. Peter Julian. Holy Communion. Vol. 3 of The Eymard Library. New York: Sentinel Press, 1940.

Ascesis (Greek: ἄσκησις)

ASCESIS: The practice of penance, mortification, and self–denial to promote greater self–mastery and to foster the way of perfection by embracing the way of the cross (Glossary: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2015).

ASCESIS:

• Fidelity to the baptismal promises and resisting temptations, CCC 2340

• Acts and mastery of the will, CCC 1734

• Spiritual growth, CCC 2015

The FOUR LAST THINGS
Life is short and death is sure
The hour of death remains obscure.
A soul you have, and only one,
if that be lost, all hope is gone.
Waste not time, while time shall last;
for after death ’tis ever past.
All-seeing God, thy Judge will be,
and Heaven or Hell thy destiny.
All earthly things will speed away,
Eternity, alone, will stay.
—The New Revised Jesus, Mary, Joseph Novena Manual by Father Joseph F. Stedman.

During the holy season of Lent, in the office of Compline, the Dominicans chant the beautiful responsory ‘Media Vita‘. Some scholars say the ‘Media Vita‘ brought Saint Thomas Aquinas to tears.

“In the midst of life we are in death;
of whom may we seek help but you, O Lord,
who for our offences are justly displeased?
Yet, O God most holy, O holy and mighty,
O holy and merciful Saviour, give us not over unto bitter death. Cast us not away in the time of our old age; forsake us not, O Lord, when our strength fails us.
Yet, O God most holy, O holy and mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour,
give us not over unto bitter death.”

Prayers to conclude this Lenten post…

The Learning Christ Prayer

Teach me, my Lord, to be kind and gentle in all the events of life; in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside, to think of the happiness of others, to hide my pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.

Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden or embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable; that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, proud, and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow traveler in our journey toward eternal life.

As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time, a word of love for Thee. May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity.
Amen.

The Litany of Humility

For Private Use Only.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Charity

Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

To have Charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. ( Matt. 22:36-40)

Cardinal Merry del Val was the Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914)

Here, in this all-embracing prayer, His Eminence Cardinal Merry del Val lays bare in a developmental, step-by-step fashion the embodiment of the totality of his conquest of self and of his entire spiritual life, revealing the secret sanctuary.

Read Saint Benedict’s 12 Degrees Of Humility

Important Explanations Regarding the ‘Litany of Humility’

I. The Litany of Humility and its Implications by Daniel Kocimski

II. An Explanation of the Litany of Humility

III. Why Would Anyone Pray the Litany of Humility? by Emily Borman