February 2026

The Collect for Ash Wednesday, as set in the Book of Common Prayer, reads as follows:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reflecting on this, Bishop Wand, who was Bishop of London 1945-55, wrote:

His love cannot be effective so long as we impose a barrier and keep it out. Every parent knows that through sad experience. You can do nothing with a child so long as it remains sulky and sullen. Something is necessary to change the attitude, and then love can enter in and do its work. And so we ask God to give us new and contrite hearts.

Somehow this Collect and reflection seem pertinent at this moment in time. All of us are in need of God’s love and can be transformed by it. For this to happen, we must not sulk like a chastened child and erect barriers of reason through which we rationalise things said and done.

A heart transformed by God will desire that others are also transformed in the self-same way. We therefore have to allow others to be contrite and move on. Dwelling on errors in perpetuity serves nobody well.

What a great thing it will be for more hearts to be transformed this Lent, and this year!

Please God, let it be that the Blessed Saints, most particularly Our Lady, continue to pray for us!