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The Light of the World
“By the fasting of the body Thou dost curb our vices, elevate our minds, and bestow virtue
and reward” (Preface for Lent).
We pray and do penance in the name of the community, for the entire Church militant. We
know we are united with all our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we implore, one for all and
all for one: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for my soul trusteth in Thee. Thou
hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of the things which Thou hast made, overlooking
the sins of men for the sake of repentance, and sparing them; because Thou art the Lord our
God” (Introit).
Prayer
Grant to Thy faithful, O Lord, that they may undertake the venerable solemnities of fasting with
piety and carry them through with unwavering devotion.
Look with favor, O Lord, on those who bow before Thy majesty, that they who have been
refreshed with the divine gift (the Holy Eucharist) may ever be strengthened by heavenly aid.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 11
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
We gather for the divine services in the sanctuary of the soldier and martyr, St. George.
Together with us he prays the Introit: “When I cried to the Lord, He heard my voice from
them that drew near to me. . . . Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Let
us pray like King Ezechias in the Epistle and like the Roman officer in the Gospel. Lent is
a time for prayer.
“In those days Ezechias was sick even to death; and Isaias, the son of Amos the prophet,
came unto him and said to him, Thus saith the Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou
shalt die, and not live. And Ezechias turned his face towards the wall and prayed to the
Lord and said: I beseech Thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before Thee in truth
and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Ezechias
wept with great weeping. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying: Go and say to
Ezechias, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer and
I have seen thy tears; behold I will add to thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee
and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it” (Epistle).
Ezechias begged for a favor, and more was granted him than he had dared ask for. “Ask
and it shall be given you” (Lk 11:9). “Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain
thee” (Introit).
The Roman soldier comes with great faith to Jesus, urged on by a loving care for his ill
servant (Gospel). He besought the Lord; “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and
is grievously tormented. And Jesus saith to him, I will come and heal him. And the centurion,
making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only
say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having
11
Where two prayers are given during Lent, the second one is usually the Prayer over
the People for that day.
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