Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday services at St Judes are at 6:30pm (English) and 8pm (Spanish)

An old poem, asking God to teach the speaker how to repent, from 17th century poet John Donne:

At the round earth's imagined corners blow

Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise

From death, you numberless infinities

Of souls, and to your scattered bodies go;

All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow,

All whom war, dea[r]th, age, agues, tyrannies,

Despair, law, chance hath slain, and you, whose eyes

Shall behold God, and never taste death's woe.

But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space;

For, if above all these my sins abound,

'Tis late to ask abundance of Thy grace,

When we are there. Here on this lowly ground,

Teach me how to repent, for that's as good

As if Thou hadst seal'd my pardon with Thy blood.

A fitting reflection for an Ash Wednesday, as for the next 40 days are days of learning how to ask for and receive and live God's Mercy. When we do this, we prepare ourselves for His death and Resurrection at Easter, when God does seal our pardon with His blood, which is more than enough for any poor, penitent sinner's redemption. A Blessed Lent to all! Feel free to stop by the Faith Formation Office to check out Lent prayer books and such to help you and your family along in your praying, fasting, almsgiving journey to Easter.


How is your family observing Lent this year? Comment below!