Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast
made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily
lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain
of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_This Collect is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect
appointed for the day_.
FOR THE EPISTLE. Joel ii. 12.
Turn ye even to me, saith the Lord, with all your heart, and with
fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart,
and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return, and
repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat-offering and
a drink-offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion,
sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people,
sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the
children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go
forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet; let the
priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and
the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give
not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over
them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their
God?
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. vi. 16.
When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for
they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that thou appear
not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret; and
thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
| _The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for Ash-Wednesday may be used_
| _on every day thereafter in the same week_.