Burning of Palms to Ashes in Preparation for Lent

This Traditional Ritual of the Catholic Church in preparation for Lent is usually done on Shrove
Tuesday. The Procession of the Image of Jesus the Nazarene has been incorporated at the end of
this Rite.
The Priest vested with purple cape (or purple stole if there is no cape) goes to the front of the
church where the Rite will take place.

V. ✠ In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

R. Amen
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit

Opening Prayer
V. Let us pray.
God of tender mercy, you fashioned us from the dust of earth and bid us follow your Gospel call
in the company of the Church. Look on us with kindness as we prepare the ashes which will
mark the beginning of our Lenten journey. Grant that we who make the desert pilgrimage might
come to the font of rebirth with a renewed passion for justice.
May our alms serve your people and bring us peace, may prayer sanctify all our deeds, and may
we come at last to the table you set in the place where you reign with Christ and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
R. Amen

Reading
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah

Is this the manner of fasting I would choose,

a day to afflict oneself?
To bow one’s head like a reed,
and lie upon sackcloth and ashes?
Is this what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:

releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke?
Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”

If you remove the yoke from among you,

the accusing finger, and malicious speech,
If you lavish your food on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then your light shall rise in the darkness,
and your gloom shall become like midday.

The word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Burning of Palms
The Gregorian Hymn of Psalm 51 “Miserere Mei Deus” is sung.
Miserere mei Deus
Secundum, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam
Et secundum multitudinem miserationem tuarum dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius, amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea
Iniquitate mea et a peccato
Et a peccato meo munda me.

Tibi soli, tibi, tibi soli peccavi, peccavi et malum, et malum coram te feci
Tibi soli, tibi, tibi soli peccavi, peccavi et malum, et malum coram te feci
Tibi soli, tibi, tibi soli peccavi, peccavi et malum, et malum coram te feci
ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas, et vincas cum judicaris, cum judicaris, cum judicaris.

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam, attendite et videte: Secum dolor meus.

Blessing of Ashes
Please take note that this does not replace the Blessing of the Ashes before the distribution of Ashes on
Ash Wednesday.

V. Lord bless these ashes ✠ by which we will show that we are dust.
Pardon our sins and keep us faithful to the discipline of Lent, for you do not want sinners to die
but to live with the risen Christ, who reigns with you forever and ever.
R. Amen

Final Blessing
V. May the Lord ✠ bless us and protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
R. Amen

V. Go in the peace of Christ.

R. Thanks be to God

Procession
In this part, the Priest blesses the image of Jesus the Nazarene with Incense and then processes
towards the Sanctuary. The Tagalog Miserere is sung. Upon reaching the Sanctuary, the Priest
vests a green (or the Liturgical color of the day) chasuble.

Diyos ko ako’y patawad

Maawa ka at mahabag
Ilawit mo at igawad
Kalinga mo’y hinahangad
Kalinga mo’y hinahangad

1. Ako po na nagkasala 3. Langi’t sa aki’y wala na

Sa twina’y napalamara Ang aba kong kaluluwa
Nagsisi’t nagtitika Sa impyernong nagdurusa
Kandili mo’y siyang pita Ama ko kami’y iadya
Kandili mo’y siyang pita (Koro) Ama ko kami’y iadya (Koro)

2. Aking ikinahahambal 4. Alang-alang O Hesus ko

Tiniis mong kahirapan Sa matimyas na puso mo
Na walang ibang dahilan Iligtas kami sa impyerno
Kundi aming katubusan Sa salang nanagano
Kundi aming katubusan (Koro) Sa salang nanagano (Koro)