Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of mandatory fasting during Lent along with Good Friday, they are also days of abstinence that means no meat is to be consumed on these days, a tradition that dates back to Jewish tradition and is an outward sign of the solemness of the season. Ash Wednesday is not actually a day of holy obligation i.e. mandatory to attend, unlike Good Friday, Christmas Day and every Sunday of the year for example. However, Ash Wednesday is one of the best attended days of the year for the Catholic Church, this year it falls on Wednesday the 22nd of February.
I personally love Ash Wednesday and its link to the Jewish roots of our faith and the traditions of 2000 years of church history, along with the majesty of the day it all combines to make it, not by accident, the perfect way to start the Lenten season. Where we are all called upon to repent of our sins and sacrifice, doing our best to make amends for our grievous offences against God. We are following in the footsteps of David, Daniel, Job, Esther and the other great old testament figures of our faith, who would cover themselves in sackcloth and ashes in penance for their sins.
Also, this has been carried on throughout the ages, whether it be a Roman emperor like Theodosius, barred from entering the church due to his excommunication, proceeding to donning penitent robes and covering himself in ashes outside the Cathedral in Milan as a sign of repentance or like King Henry who did the same after being excommunicated, walking through the snow in sackcloth, barefoot to bow at the feet of the Pope. History is littered with examples from peasants to Kings showing repentance in this way.
During the mass the penitent receives the ashes (made from the palms of last year’s Palm Sunday) with the words Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris." ("Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.”) which is taken from Genesis 3.19.
The custom is attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great, this is supposed to remind us of our mortality, which during Lent we must keep fixed in our minds as we do not know when the day of judgement will arrive?
Of course, there are many references to this practice throughout the Bible, the book of Job 42.6 “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” in here we see a direct example of doing penance for one’s sins. In Esther, we see that when she was confronted with the slaughter of her people, she dons rags and covers her hair in ashes and dung, she fasts, she prays desperately with fervour for the salvation of others.
During this time of strife and turmoil in the world and the church, we are offered an even better example by the great prophet Daniel, who although a righteous man beloved by God, does penance for his people, Daniel 9.3 “Then I Daniel turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by Prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes”.
This shows us that all must come together in prayer, fasting and penance for one another.
During Ash Wednesday it is a good idea for those who can, to fast well, that might mean fasting a little more than the minimum requirement of 1 meal and 2 small snacks, maybe just one small meal, or even bread and water if it is safe to do so, this one will show penance to God but will also make fasting during lent a little easier as you will have started Lent strongly.
It is also important to pray fervently during Lent, for Ash Wednesday maybe pray all of the mysteries of the Rosary even if you are not in the habit of praying the full rosary daily, praying all the mysteries in one day will make you realise how little time one rosary really is.
Scripture should be read, Joel and Matthew will be the reading for the day so maybe try reading one or both of the readings so that you benefit from the scripture so much more, or even just read them before mass, so when they are read during mass you may contemplate on them more deeply.
There are many good guides to accompany you doing Lent. Last year I read Lent and Easter with St Benedict by Judith Sutera, which contained Scripture, quotes from St Benedict as well as reflections. It was nice and very helpful that I could start each day with a pre planned set of reflections, adding a little routine and flow to my Lent. This year I will use Let Freedom Ring by Fr Altman, Fr Heilman and Fr Peckman.
Finally, the Lord God loves charity, maybe donate some money to a charity or church organisation, feed a homeless person or even just spend some time with a lonely person or give help to your neighbour. Doing all of this will help arm you with a sense of the season and hopefully help you have a spiritually fruitful Lent.
AC