Greenbelt 2010 Blesséd Mass of the Edge Penitential Rite

Penitential Rite for the Mass (which recalls the earlier Penitential Rite)

So in order to encounter God in these holy and sacred mysteries, we seek to ready ourselves: our minds, our bodies and our souls…

Hagar was the slave of Abraham, friend of God. By Abraham she bore a child called Ishmael, whom Abraham loved dearly., but Abraham’s wife sought to exclude Hagar and Ishmael in order to give everything to her own child, Isaac.

Reluctantly, Abraham cast Hagar and Ishmael into the desert, reassured by God that Ishmael would be the Father of a great number: the people of Islam.

In desperation, Hagar searches the desert for water, and her cries are heard by God who provides her with a well.

In Islam, this search for water or sa’i  سَعِي (sai-ee) is a part of the hajj or Pilgrimage. The faithful travel seven times between two hills to recall this search for succour from God, taking some water away with them.

In our penitential rite, in our preparation for our life’s journey, Pilgrims filled a small container with water from one of our wells.

They carried it to the other well, calling to mind their sins, their omissions, their need of God and his comfort.

As we witness the pouring of water from one well to another, pour out your heart, pour away your sin.

The water of life, everlasting life brings refreshment not only for today, but for all time.

Each journey is your life’s journey, each outpouring brings you closer to the God who listens to your cries, the cries of the dispossessed.

Walk your sa’i, make your pilgrimage of pentitence, prepare for his sacraments, and let your cries from the wilderness be heard by God.

[Psalm 51
Prayer for forgiveness

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence

and blameless when you pass judgement.
Indeed, I was born guilty,

a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,

and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice;

if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices,

in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Lord have Mercy
Lord have Mercy

Christ have Mercy
Christ have Mercy

Lord have Mercy
Lord have Mercy