{"id":10229,"date":"2026-02-17T18:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/psallite.net\/wp\/?p=10229"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:16:20","slug":"ash-wednesday-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psallite.net\/wp\/en\/2026\/02\/17\/ash-wednesday-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Ash Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Massimo Palombella<\/em><\/p>\n

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Unknown Artist, Imposition of the Ashes (from the Missal of Eberhard von Greiffenklau, Walters Manuscript W.174, folio 28r, detail)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Christian liturgy, Lent is a fruitful time, a precious opportunity that the Church offers to everyone to \u201creturn\u201d, to return to God, to return home, to return to the Truth.<\/p>\n

During Lent, we will be accompanied at Vespers by a hymn of unknown authorship, also attributed to St. Gregory the Great, with the following text:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Audi, benigne Conditor,
\nnostras preces cum fletibus,
\nin hoc sacro ieiunio
\nfusas quadragenario.<\/em><\/p>\n

Scrutator alme cordium,
\ninfirma tu scis virium:
\nad te reversis exhibe
\nremissionis gratiam.<\/em><\/p>\n

Multum quidem peccavimus,
\nsed parce confitentibus;
\nad laudem tui nominis
\nconfer medelam languidis.<\/em><\/p>\n

Concede nostrum conteri
\ncorpus per abstinentiam,
\nculpae ut relinquant pabulum
\nieiuna corda criminum.<\/em><\/p>\n

Praesta, beata Trinitas,
\nconcede, simplex Unitas,
\nut fructuosa sint tuis
\nieiuniorum munera. <\/em><\/p>\n

O merciful Creator, hear!
\nTo us in pity bow thine ear:
\naccept the tearful prayer we raise
\nin this our fast of forty days.<\/p>\n

Our hearts are open, Lord, to thee:
\nthou knowest our infirmity;
\npour out on all who seek thy face
\nabundance of thy pardoning grace.<\/p>\n

Our sins are many, this we know;
\nspare us, good Lord, thy mercy show;
\nand for the honour of thy name
\nour fainting souls to life reclaim.<\/p>\n

Give us self-control that springs
\nfrom discipline of outward things,
\nthat fasting inward secretly
\nthe soul may purely dwell with thee.<\/p>\n

We pray thee, Holy Trinity,
\none God, unchanging Unity,
\nthat we from this our abstinence
\nmay reap the fruits of penitence.<\/p>\n

The attached music is a manuscript by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, specifically manuscript codex 59 from the Lateran Archives.<\/p>\n

The interpretation is by the Sistine Chapel Choir. The musical track can be found on the CD \u201cO Crux Benedicta. Lent and Holy Week at the Sistine Chapel\u201d released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2019.<\/p>\n

A blessed Ash Wednesday and heartfelt greetings.<\/p>\n

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\"Icona\"<\/div>\n
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AUDI BENIGNE CONDITOR, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina [manoscritto]<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/i> 1 file <\/i> 1.13 MB<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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