Ash Wednesday in the Catholic Church

Just few days ago the world celebrated "love" on Valentine's Day.  Because "Love makes the world go run".  It is an English idiom and proverb, which means that love is important and essential in this world so that life is more enjoyable when people love one another.

Well, TODAY, Wednesday and February 17, we begin a journey that will lead us to the sacrificing love of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (Jn 3:16)

ASH WEDNESDAY begins our Lenten journey in preparation for the big event which is Easter Sunday. Now, Ash Wednesday always falls 46 days before Easter Sunday. Holy Mother Church encourages all Catholics to attend Holy Mass on this day in order to mark the beginning of our Lenten journey with our Lord Jesus Christ as He endures His Calvary for the redemption of humanity.

Short Gospel Reflection:  

The Gospel for Ash Wednesday is from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.  Jesus tells His disciples to be careful not to parade one's uprightness to attract attention.  Jesus criticizes those who do good just to be seen by others.

In other words, Jesus is primarily concerned about our inner motivation for doing things rather than the external action.  He wants us to do what is right and good because we desire to help others, love others, and make our world a better place.

The Gospel proclamation is fitting and timely as we will not be seen with blessed ashes on our forehead in observance of health protocol. What the Church want for us in the inner motivation of sincere repentance for our sins as our preparation for Easter Sunday.

Liturgical celebration during the pandemic:

Our liturgical celebration especially during this Lenten Season, Pachal Triduum and Easter Season have been modified to keep just the essentials and at the same time to help the faithful experience with solemnity and fruitfulness the Paschal Mystery of the Lord.

Thus, the liturgical celebrations will take into account the recommendations of health experts and at the same time provide the faithful with solemn and meaningful celebrations according to the requirements of the liturgical principles of the Church.

Blessing and Distribution of Ashes:

It is called Ash Wednesday because literally ashes are distributed within the Mass.  These ashes are normally from the burning of the blessed palms of the previous year's celebration of Palm Sunday.  But because of the pandemic, there may be difficulty to collect blessed palms for last year's Palm Sunday.  In their place, the CBCP allows that the blessed ashes can be from dried branches of leaves of plants or trees for the Ash Wednesday in 2021.

After the homily, the priest prepares and blesses the ashes.  Because of the pandemic and as a precautionary measure, the Vatican issues proper guidelines on the distribution of blessed ashes.

The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note on January 12, 2021 on how Ash Wednesday is to be celebrated this second year of the pandemic.

After the blessing of the ashes, the priest addresses all those present and just only once says the following prescribed formula:

"Repent, and believe in the Gospel," or

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Then, the priest cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The priest, with the assistance of Lay Ministers or others authorized persons, takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one in silence (i.e. without anymore repeating the prescribed formula as shown above.)

Day of Repentance:

The symbolism of the distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality, and calls us to repentance.  

Fasting and Abstinence:

The Universal Church requires us to fast and abstain from meat in keeping with the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday.

Fasting is mandatory from ages 18 to 60.  This means they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during Ash Wednesday, with no other food intake in-between.

Abstinence covers those with age of 14 and above, who are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat on Ash Wednesday.

A Journey of Hope:

The Lenten Season is a fitting time to climb the holy mountain of Easter.  It is our journey of hope towards our redemption from sin, when our Lord Jesus Christ rises again from the dead on EASTER SUNDAY.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!