Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Readings of the day: RB 17 The Number of Psalms to be Sung at the Hours

Mass: Is 55:10-11; Resp. Ps 34; Mt 6:7-17

IN PRAYING, DO NOT BABBLE.

Let us pray as God our master has taught us. To ask the Father in words his Son has given us, to let him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in his ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognize the words of his Son. Let the Son who lives in our hearts be also on our lips. We have him as an advocate for sinners before the Father; when we ask forgiveness for our sins let us use the words given by our advocate. He tells us: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make in the name of Christ than in the words of his own prayer?

(St Cyprian)

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN,

HALLOWED BE THY NAME,

THY KINGDOM COME,

THY WILL BE DONE,

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD;

AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US;

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

If you forgive others their trespasses,

your heavenly Father will also forgive you;

but if you do not forgive others,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

IS IT TIME TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?

IS IT TIME TO FORGIVE?