What Do Catholics Celebrate on Ash Wednesday?
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday, also referred to as the Day of Ashes, is the first day of the 40-day period of Lent that ends with Easter. Lent is a time for Catholics to repent, reflect and prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to the Catholic Online website.
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History
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Catholics began celebrating Ash Wednesday during the sixth century during the time when Pope Gregory the Great reigned over the Catholic Church from 590 to 604, according to the Holiday Spot website. On Ash Wednesday, the bishop would sprinkle the penitents with ashes from burnt palms. The penitents were not allowed back in the church until they performed 40 days of penance. Eventually this practice was abandoned. The service was changed so that all churchgoers received the ashes.
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The ashes on Ash Wednesday are sprinkled with Holy Water and sprayed with incense. The ashes are made from burnt palms that have been blessed by a priest at a Palm Sunday mass the year before.
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Fasting
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On Ash Wednesday, Catholics age 21 to 59 are required to fast between meals and refrain from eating meat. Also, Catholics 14 years and older are obligated to stay clear of meat on Ash Wednesday. Fasting requires eating only one full meal and two smaller meals. If a Catholic is sick, the individual may be exempt from the custom. Fasting is a form of self-denial. In addition, fasting and abstinence demonstrate reverence for God's creations, according to the American Catholic website.
Penance
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For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is a day of atonement and serves as a reminder that God forgives individuals who are sorry for their sins, according to the Catholic Online website. Originally, Ash Wednesday served as a day for those who committed wrongdoings to perform public penance. For Catholics, the ashes still act as a token of an individual's sinful ways and Catholics often keep the ashes on their foreheads during Ash Wednesday as a reminder of humbleness.
Reflection
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Ash Wednesday is also a time of reflection for Catholics. As Ash Wednesday begins the observance of Lent, Catholics are asked to examine their spiritual lives. According to the Explorefaith website, Ash Wednesday is a time of shedding old habits and creating a new existence that brings Catholics closer to God.
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References
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