With it’s roots dating back to the time of Pope Gelasious I in the 5th Century, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer wrote a new prayer in 1549 that placed more emphasis on penitence rather than upon the fast like than the Gelasian version. It was obviously inspired by Psalm 51, which was traditionally the Psalm for Ash Wednesday (not in the current lectionary). It was tradition for many centuries to repeat this collect every day through the entirety of Lent, last prescribed in the 1928 BCP: “This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.”
Ash Wednesday
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
(Sources: Commentary on the American Prayer Book by Marion Hatchett and the 1928 and 1979 American Book of Common Prayer.)
1 Comment
Grandy · February 4, 2018 at 12:52 am
Collect For Ash Wednesday. Thanks for this Collect not only because of the season, but for its personalness in communicating with God.