Ash Wednesday
Massimo Palombella
Happy beginning of Lent.
With today’s day, the Church gives us a time for the quality of our lives. Forty days to make space for the Lord, to remove what is not necessary and to have the possibility to be with ourselves, to name our discomforts, our anger, our pain, and thus allow the Lord to love us in truth.
The entrance antiphon, the Introit of today’s celebration is taken from Chapter 11 of the Book of Wisdom (Wis 11:24-25. 27), with the following text:
“Misereris omnium, Domine, et nihil odisti eorum quae fecisti,
dissimulans peccata hominum propter paenitentiam, et parcens illis:
quia tu es Dominus Deus noster.”
(Your mercy extends to all things, O Lord, and you despise none of the things you have made.
You overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance.
You grant them your pardon, because you are the Lord our God).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The live interpretation is by the Musical Chapel of the Milan Cathedral at the concert in the Basilica of St Martin and St Mary of the Assumption in Treviglio on 11 November 2023.
A blessed Ash Wednesday and heartfelt greetings.
