Ash Wednesday and Lent
Next week we will come together as a College community for an Ash Wednesday liturgy to mark the beginning of Lent, the liturgical season of fasting and prayer. During the 40 days of Lent, Christians devote time and effort into preparing for the holiest of days: Easter Sunday. This is the meaning and purpose of Lent. Lent is a time for preparation, reflection and spiritual renewal. Traditionally, this is done through almsgiving (being charitable to those in need), through prayer (fostering right relationship with God and neighbour), and through fasting (giving up those things in our life which prevent us from being fully human and fully alive).
During the liturgy, ashes are placed on each person’s forehead. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the ashes are applied, these words can be spoken: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, "Repent and believe in the Gospel" can be spoken. In this case, the ashes serve as a reminder of our grief, that we have sinned and caused division from God. We accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Non-Christians are welcome to receive the ashes which are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.
Lent is meant to be a “spiritual battle” for Catholics to assess their relationship with God and find ways to deepen this connection. As the third Lent in a row under the cloud of a pandemic, this is more important now than ever. Restrictions have impacted our routines and rituals and this Lent offers a more optimistic outlook as we head towards Easter. To experience a fruitful and spiritually rewarding Lent, Catholics are encouraged to go to Mass more often, attend confession, participate in Adoration of the Eucharist, pray the Rosary, pray for people in need, and read the Bible. The National Catholic Register suggests some other practical ways to enrich our Lenten experience. These include:
‘Complete a Work of Mercy. Select a specific spiritual and/or corporal work of mercy. “What pain or suffering are you able to offer for the salvation of souls today? Don’t let your suffering go to waste,” counsels Father Looney. He suggests different ways to bring both into practice starting in Lent in his book A Lenten Journey With Mother Mary. “Do you know someone who is dying? Go and visit that person. Make a meal for the person’s family. Bring words of comfort. Do you know someone who has experienced loss? Send to that person a text message or a card to let him know you are thinking of him. How might you bring relief to someone who is sick? Through words or a kind gesture? Cooking a meal? Running an errand? You can provide the relief someone needs.”’
Louise Barry - Religious Studies Coordinator