In the Vetus Ordo, Usus Antiquior, there are four prayers for the blessing of ashes.
In the Novus Ordo there is one, split into one of two … yes… options (aka a defining characteristic of the Novus Ordo).
The business of blessing ashes, which come into physical contact with the people present, is a serious affair. It is of such importance that the first thing the priest does is invoke the help of an angel! Moreover, at the end, he prays against evil spirits. In the TLM, at least.
Here are the prayers of the TLM and NO side by side. Have a good look, maybe even reading them aloud so that you can compare them more easily.
| Almighty and everlasting God, spare those who are penitent, be merciful to those who implore Thee; and vouchsafe to send Thy holy Angel from heaven, to bless + and sancti+fy these ashes, that they may be a wholesome remedy to all who humbly implore Thy holy Name, and who accuse themselves, conscious of their sins, deploring their misdeeds before Thy divine mercy, or humbly and earnestly beseeching Thy sovereign goodness: and grant through the invocation of Thy most holy Name that whosoever shall be sprinkled with them for the remission of their sins may receive both health of body and safety of soul. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. |
OPTION 1
Dear brethren [or brothers and sisters], let us humbly ask God our Father that he be pleased to bless with the abundance of his grace these ashes, which we will put on our heads in penitence. O God, who are moved by acts of humility and respond with forgiveness to works of penance, lend your merciful ear to our prayers and in your kindness pour out the grace of your + blessing on your servants who are marked with these ashes, that, as R. Amen. [“deploring their misdeeds”… like… what? Running their air conditioners?] |
| O God, who desirest not the death, but the repentance of sinners, look down most graciously upon the frailty of human nature; and in Thy goodness vouchsafe to bless + these ashes which we purpose to put upon our heads in token of our lowliness and to obtain forgiveness: so that we who know that we are but ashes, and for the demerits of our wickedness are to return to dust, may deserve to obtain of Thy mercy, the pardon of all our sins, and the rewards promised to the penitent. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen. |
OPTION 2 [Don’t use both… just one!]
O God, who desire not the death of R. Amen. [“forgiveness… wickedness…” I don’t feel affirmed!] |
| O God, who art moved by humiliation, and appeased by satisfaction: incline the ear of Thy goodness to our prayers and mercifully pour forth upon the heads of Thy servants sprinkled with these ashes the grace of Thy blessing: that Thou mayest both fill them with the spirit of compunction, and effectually grant what they have justly prayed for: and ordain that what Thou hast granted may be permanently established and remain unchanged. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen. |
[“humiliation? … satisfaction?… compunction?” What a downer. Can’t have that! Somebody, quick, play a guitar!] |
| Almighty and everlasting God, who didst vouchsafe Thy healing pardon to the Ninevites doing penance in sackcloth and ashes, mercifully grant that we may so imitate them in our outward attitude as to follow them in obtaining forgiveness. Through our Lord.
R. Amen. |
[“Nin… Nine… what?”] |
| After distribution | Ummmm…. |
| Grant us, O Lord, to begin with holy fasts the campaign of our Christian warfare: that, as we do battle with the spirits of evil, we may be protected by the help of self denial. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. | [“WARFARE?!?… SPIRITS OF EVIL?!? … SELF-DENIAL?!?” What is this? Tolkien?] |
Loading ...
Read more here, in a close comparison of the two:
https://onepeterfive.com/comparison-of-old-and-new-prayers-for-blessing-of-ashes/
At least Option 2 in the NO actually blesses the thing it purports to bless. Could be worse… right? Right?!
(Happy fast to all!)
Interestingly, it seems the prayer after the distribution of ashes was preserved in the new missal as the new collect for the day. I’m glad we hung on to that one.