On Ash Wednesday, the church reaches out to mark our individual foreheads with a cross of ashes. We claim the cross on our bodies, but we spend the Lenten season taking the cross to our hearts and souls. Our Lenten journey invites us to live the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. We surrender to God’s love, abiding mercy, and generous forgiveness. We begin our Lenten journey praying for all people who know the cross of suffering, the pain of loss, the uncertainty of peace, and the exhaustion of heartache. For all people on Ash Wednesday, we pray to the Lord.
For all ministers and students of the gospel. May the Word of God compel us toward the silent encounter of the cross. May silence penetrate our hearts to provide a lasting home for God’s eternal Word. May our silent waiting give way to rejoicing on Easter day. We pray to the Lord.
For the shy and bashful who approach the cross on Ash Wednesday. May our hesitancy to be branded a believer give way to the joy of God. May the ashes of Wednesday lead us to rejoice to renew our baptism on Easter night. We pray to the Lord.
For people who begin fasting, prayer, and almsgiving on Ash Wednesday. May our common rituals of retreat bring fullness of joy, deeper love, and ever-generous hearts on Easter morning. May we thrive in our Lenten journey and become light-hearted in our experience of Christ Jesus. We pray to the Lord.
For people who feel embarrassed to be branded a believer on Ash Wednesday. May we have the courage to enter the boardroom or schoolhouse, the supermarket or public square, bearing on our bodies the symbol of our redemption. May we surrender to God with joy for the renewal of the Church. We pray to the Lord.
For the self-centered and proud who wait in line to be marked with ashes. May we be humbled under the banner of the cross. May the cross of ashes find a home in our humility and in our need for repentance, love, and mercy. We pray to the Lord.
For people preparing for Easter sacraments. May our catechumens and candidates stream toward the cross of ashes waiting for the joy of being marked with the cross in water and oil at the Easter Vigil. May Easter bring fresh perspectives and courage to live our faith in Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. We pray to the Lord.
For the fearful and hopeless who approach the cross on the first day of Lent. May we receive this public ritual not as condemnation. May the cross of ashes remind us that on Good Friday we will kiss the cross of our salvation. May our hearts be ready and steadfast. We pray to the Lord.
For people surviving war, violence, and hatred. May the cross of Christ become food for people starving from viciousness. May healing become our work and justice become our nourishment in this Lenten journey. We pray to the Lord.
For the regretful who realize life has not turned out as planned. May Christ receive the grief of all our loss. May we realize God’s generosity as we grieve what we once outlined for success. May we learn a deeper trust in God as we surrender to the mark of ashes on our foreheads. May God surprise us with a new and loving path to eternal life. We pray to the Lord.
For people leaning on crutches or confined to wheelchairs. May our neighbors and friends who already know the cross of suffering in their bodies, find hope rising from blessed ashes. May the cross on their forehead redeem all human bodies and souls in pain and sorrow. We pray to the Lord.
For people who carry secrets in their hearts on Ash Wednesday. May the journey to the cross not be heavy or burdensome for people discouraged about life. May the past become a doorway to God’s generous mercy. May the cross open us to God’s eternal presence and truth. We pray to the Lord.
For the survivors of hurricanes, storms, and all natural disasters. May they find courage in the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. May the ashes of devastation on our foreheads renew our survival and healing in Christ. May we work diligently for the future of those who know such anguish and loss. We pray to the Lord.
For those who face physical and emotional abuse. May all who live with disrespect even in their households, find hope in the cross of life. May Christ redeem the fearful and those who have been diminished by others. We pray to the Lord.
For people who grieve the loss of employment and security. May the mark of ashes reveal hope for the future among people who have lost their livelihood and a portion of their identity. May hope be born among those who need a new path for survival. We pray to the Lord.
For our youth preparing for Easter sacraments. May they receive the ash mark on the first day of Lent to remind them to turn to God in every aspect of their lives and future. May we relish the delight of the young and find joy in the presence of innocence. We pray to the Lord.
For people who suffer emotional and mental anguish. May the cross of Christ ease the terror people feel in their minds and bodies. May their internal lives find peace and forgiveness, joy and courage to face daily life. We pray to the Lord.
For people starving from food insecurity and poverty. May our fasting wake us to the physical needs of our neighbors. May hope become food for the Lenten season and justice sustain all who feast on God’s presence in the Eucharist. We pray to the Lord.
For grandparents on Ash Wednesday. For our elders who carry the cross for their children and grandchildren who no longer believe in God. May we wait patiently for God. May we carry hope for our next generation in the mystery of the cross. We pray to the Lord.
For people who grieve the loss of a loved one on Ash Wednesday. May we all realize our ultimate home in God’s eternal kingdom. May we remember we are dust and to dust we shall return. May God beckon us all home to heaven. We pray to the Lord.
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About:
Rev. Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C., serves as religious superior of Holy Cross House, our retirement and medical facility at Notre Dame, Indiana. He is an award-winning author, blogger, and visual artist. Learn more: ronaldraab.com
Artwork:
Fr. Ron created this painting and collage a few months ago. Fr. Ron’s artwork has been published in parishes, dioceses, and ecumenical settings around the world.
Published February 2025
