Parce Domine, Parce Populo Tuo

"Beloved searcher of hearts, Thou knowest the infirmities of men;
show pardoning grace to those who return to thee."
 - Verse from Parce Domine

During important liturgical feasts and seasons, such as Lent, often times one may find it hard to express in words the sentiments the soul feels. How - during a time so sacred - can one even begin to describe what wells up in the heart? This poverty which strikes us is, in itself, a reminder of a necessary disposition during Lent: that even the penances and mortifications we desire to perform require complete reliance on the Lord for strength and perseverance. We can do nothing on our own. 

The Lord often works together with His Bride the Church to takes care of His children. Holy Mother Church sees the poverty of Her little ones and provides for them in their need through the prayers of the Liturgy. For where Her child does not know what to say, She gives words; where there is yearning of the heart, She provides the supplication it wishes to express; where the child says, "I do not know how to pray as I ought," She says, "I shall provide prayers for you." 

The prayers of Ash Wednesday give a prime example of Her maternal care:

​"Hear us, O Lord, for Thy mercy is kind: look upon us, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul." - Antiphon before the blessings of ashses

"Let us amend for the better in those things in which we have sinned through ignorance: lest suddenly overtaken by the day of death, we seek space for repentance and are not able to find it. Attend, O Lord, and have mercy: for we have sinned against Thee." - Responsory during distribution of ashes

"Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of the things which Thou has made, overlooking the sins of men for the sake of repenteance, and sparing them: becuase Thou art the Lord our God. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trustheth in Thee." - Introit

"Grant, O Lord, to Thy faithful people, that they may undertake with fitting piety this period of fasting, and complete it with steadfast devotion." - Collect​

"O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. O Lord, remember not our former iniquities, let Thy mercies speedily prevent us: for we are become exceeding poor. Help us, O God our Savior: and for the glory of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us, and forgive us our sins for Thy Name's sake." - Tract

"Make us, we beg Thee, Lord, fit to offer as we should the gifts by which we celebrate the beginning of this venrable observance." - Secret

"May the Sacraments we have received, afford us help, O Lord, that our fasts may be pleasing to Thee and profitably healing to us." - Postcommunion

Again, we can do nothing by our own accord. That is why Holy Mother Church begins our Lenten journey in the context of Mass where we receive the very Source of our strength, the Life of our soul, the Reason for our existence, and the Example of reparation. The final prayer over the people summarizes this reality: "Look graciously, O Lord, upon us who bow down before Thy Majesty: that we who have been refresehd by Thy Divine Gift may ever be sustained by Thy heavenly aid." 

But just as our Lord leaves us not alone through His Spouse the Church, He also gives us His most Blessed Mother. Standing as an image of the Church, Our Lady will walk with us through this Lenten journey. As she stood by the cross of her Son, so too will she stand next to us as we beseech God for His mercy and repent of our sins. She is there - we have only to remember her presence. Let us ask for her aid as we prepare for our salvation. 

AshWednesday Slideshow